KRAKOW, Poland, July 25 (Reuters) – If Italy can replicate
the coolness in front of goal shown by Andrea Pirlo when he
dinked in his cheeky penalty against England, the Azzurri might
have a chance of troubling Germany in Thursday’s Euro 2012
semi-final.

In 120 goalless minutes against a poor English side Italy
wasted chance after chance on Sunday but the fact they were
creative and always tried to win the game bodes well for a
nation with a sometimes unjustified reputation for dull play.

By Mark Meadows

(Reuters) – The doom-mongers said Italy’s Euro 2012 quarter-final with England had 0-0 and penalties written all over it and although that is what transpired, the Azzurri deservedly progressed after looking fresher and more inventive.

England defended manfully – as they almost always do – but it is not enough in an international tournament and when Alessandro Diamanti’s winning spot kick hit the back of the net on Sunday, purists Europe-wide heaved a sigh of relief.

June 24 (Reuters) – The doom-mongers said Italy’s Euro 2012
quarter-final with England had 0-0 and penalties written all
over it and although that is what transpired, the Azzurri
deservedly progressed after looking fresher and more inventive.

England defended manfully – as they almost always do – but
it is not enough in an international tournament and when
Alessandro Diamanti’s winning spot kick hit the back of the net
on Sunday, purists Europe-wide heaved a sigh of relief.

KRAKOW, Poland (Reuters) – Italy and England, who meet in the Euro 2012 quarter-finals on Sunday, have dreadful records in penalty shootouts with the Azzurri’s 2006 World Cup final triumph a rare bright spot in an otherwise sorry tale of woe.

The chances that the game in Kiev goes the distance appear quite high with players and pundits all saying the two defensively-minded sides are evenly matched. The average bookmaker odds on the first 0-0 of the tournament are just 11-2.

KRAKOW, Poland, June 23 (Reuters) – Italy and England, who
meet in the Euro 2012 quarter-finals on Sunday, have dreadful
records in penalty shootouts with the Azzurri’s 2006 World Cup
final triumph a rare bright spot in an otherwise sorry tale of
woe.

The chances that the game in Kiev goes the distance appear
quite high with players and pundits all saying the two
defensively-minded sides are evenly matched. The average
bookmaker odds on the first 0-0 of the tournament are just 11-2.

KRAKOW, Poland (Reuters) – Mention penalties to Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon or an Englishman and the eyebrows rise, a deep breath is taken and the gulp is almost audible. They do not like them and never will.

Buffon, who like England has a patchy record in shootouts despite Italy winning the 2006 World Cup on penalties, does not want Sunday’s Euro 2012 quarter-final against England to reach the almost masochistic conclusion where one kick decides all.

KRAKOW, Poland, June 22 (Reuters) – Mention penalties to
Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon or an Englishman and the
eyebrows rise, a deep breath is taken and the gulp is almost
audible. They do not like them and never will.

Buffon, who like England has a patchy record in shootouts
despite Italy winning the 2006 World Cup on penalties, does not
want Sunday’s Euro 2012 quarter-final against England to reach
the almost masochistic conclusion where one kick decides all.

KRAKOW, Poland (Reuters) – Ask fans to name a really great Italian defender and they are likely to think of Franco Baresi or Fabio Cannavaro, grand masters who made the art of central defense look a breeze.

Top fullbacks have come and gone too like Giacinto Facchetti, Beppe Bergomi and Paolo Maldini before he switched to the centre, but of late Italy have struggled on their flanks and dangerous England await in Sunday’s Euro 2012 quarter-final.

KRAKOW, Poland, June 21 (Reuters) – Ask fans to name a
really great Italian defender and they are likely to think of
Franco Baresi or Fabio Cannavaro, grand masters who made the art
of central defence look a breeze.

Top fullbacks have come and gone too like Giacinto
Facchetti, Beppe Bergomi and Paolo Maldini before he switched to
the centre, but of late Italy have struggled on their flanks and
dangerous England await in Sunday’s Euro 2012 quarter-final.

KRAKOW, Poland (Reuters) – Daniele De Rossi is arguably Italy’s most English-style player, relying on power rather than finesse, but the midfielder acknowledges he has not yet “exploded” ahead of Sunday’s Euro 2012 quarter-final against England.

Sometimes described as the Steven Gerrard of Serie A, the AS Roma player started the first two games at Euro 2012 in the unusual position of central defence before returning to midfield in the 2-0 win over Ireland which sealed second spot in Group C.