The teams are on the pitch and ready to go in the second semifinal at Euro 2012. Both Germany and Itally are hoping they have a "Super Mario," as tournament goal-scoring leader Mario Gomez looks to help lead Germany into the tournament final against Spain on Sunday, avenging Germany's loss to Italy in the semifinal of the 2006 World Cup. The Azzurri, meanwhile, are looking for big things from Mario Balotelli, who fired no fewer than 11 fruitless shots on Sunday during the 120 scoreless minutes that preceded Italy's penalty-kick victory. The Manchester City star will need his best on Thursday if he hopes to help Italy overcome a German side ranked third in the world in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola rankings.
Sports World Report will be following all the action live from National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland (Click here to go to ESPN. ), so keep checking back and refreshing your browser for live updates on the match, and leave your comments on the match below.
1' - Action is underway at National Stadium. Gianluigi Buffon in goal for Italy, Manuel Neuer for the Germans. Miroslav Klose not in the starting team for Germany, interestingly.
2' - Toni Kroos looked to set up Gomez, but sends it too high and too far, resulting in a goal kick for Italy.
4' - Near miss for Balotelli, as Neuer swoops in to pick up the pass before Mario can get to it.
5' - First corner of the match nearly yields the first goal, as Buffon was out of position on Mats Hummels' shot, but Pirlo was there to clear it off the line.
8' - Germany looking very much the stronger side early, not much in the way of possession in the opening minutes.
9' - Italy gets their first real crack at it in Germany's end, but neither Pirlo nor Balotelli can get much of anything going.
12' - Buffon bailed out again, as a Boateng cross is nearly parried right to an oncoming Khedira, but Italy survives.
13' - SAVE by Buffon on a tricky shot from Kroos. Buffon not sharp so far, except when he most needed to be.
17' - Good strong SAVE by Neuer on Italy's first shot of the day, a Riccardo Montolivo try that headed for the low left corner of the net.
19' - Another SAVE for Neuer, this time denying Cassano as he shot for the lower right corner.
20' - GOAL ITALY! Mario Balotelli with a textbook header on a Cassano cross, catches Neuer going the other way. Germany 0-1 Italy.
24' - Germany trailing for the first time in Euro 2012 - including qualifying - but not showing much in the way of concern. Very calm on the ball, solid chance for Gomez on a header, but not struck right, and it falls harmlessly off to the left.
26' - Boateng cross is a bit too fast for Gomez to handle and out again. One gets the sense that Germany will have its chances, but they'll beed to finish.
27' - SAVE for Buffon on Mesut Ozil. Not quite enough zip on his shot off the setup from Gomez.
29' - Germany starting to buzz more, just missed setting up Gomez with a great chance. It's a game of whether Italy can hold on, and it's probably a bit early for that.
30' - Shot wide by Germany.
34' - Best cross of the day from Boateng, but Italy's Federico Balzaretti able to keep it away from Podolski.
35' - Great defending by Badstuber to break up an Italy chance in the nick of time.
35' - Big SAVE for Buffon on a brillaint shot by Khedira.
36' - GOAL, ITALY! Balotelli again leaving no doubt as to who the real "Super Mario" is. Splits the defenders to catch up to a great setup, then roofs it past a helpless Neuer. Germany 0-2 Italy.
38' - Balotelli got himself a yellow card for whipping off his shirt in celebration. After his performance in the first half, he can be forgiven.
39' - Podolski lets a chance get away, can't settle down the pass.
41' - Another miscue for Germany, and that air of superiority they carried in the earlygoing is gone. It's one thing to be down when you look like the stronger side. Now, Germany not looking like the stronger side at all.
43' - Cassano down on the pitch out of leaping to avoid a challenge. No foul to speak of, as it was a good tackle, but not something you want to see nonetheless.
45' - Buffon leaps out to grab a cross and break up a Germany chance. It's amazing how much less Germany looks after a very strong start.
45 + 1' - Into one minute stoppage time, and a corner for Germany headed out by Italy for a throw-in.
HALFTIME, GERMANY 0-2 ITALY. Masterful performance from Balotelli in the first half. Italy continuing its dominance against Germany in international competition at a moment when it's not truly expected.
46' - Back underway in Warsaw, where Miroslav Klose has replaced Mario Gomez. Germany needs to tighten up quickly and cut into this lead.
48' - SAVE by Buffon on Marco Reus, another halftime sub. Not a lot on the shot, but Buffon needed to be in position, and he was.
49' - Good chance for Phillip Lahm, but he shot too high. Germany looking more like the team that was dominant early in this one.
51' - Balotelli almost had a great chance at his third, but the setup was just a bit too far ahead of him and Neuer was able to get to it first.
53' - Germany playing with better energy than in the latter stages of the first half, but still not quite sharp enough. Too many miscues at the moment to make a strong bid at cutting into Italy's lead.
54' - Klose loses his footing in the penalty area. Germany is strong enough to get chances, but too sloppy to turn them into quality shots more often than not.
57' - Corner to Germany, headed away by Italy, Germany keeps the ball and looks to set up again
58' - Cassano done for the day, as Alessandro Diamanti comes in for Italy.
60' - Balotelli sniffing for the hat trick, but his curling shot curls wide of the goal.
61' - Yellow card for Leonardo Bonucci after a poor challenge on Kroos. Free kick to Germany.
62' - GREAT SAVE for Buffon. Reus had a great shot, but Buffon was right where he needed to be to preserve his clean sheet.
64' - Riccardo Montolivo done for the day. Thiago Motta comes in to stabilize the midfield and help protect the lead.
65' - Italy getting a hair more possession, but Germany is still dictating the pace. No rewards on the scoreboard, though.
56' - Marchisio just missed to the right for Italy, a rare chance for the Azzurri in the second half.
69' - Balotelli down on the pitch and receiving medial attention, and he'll hobble off under his own power in favor of Antonio Di Natale. Bad news: no hat trick for Balotelli. Good news: No chance for a second yellow card that would keep him out of the final.
71' - Boateng out now in favor of Thomas Muller. Germany making changes for the final push. Needs to be all about offense for the Germans now.
73' - Not a strong moment for Neuer, as he nearly turns it over outside the penalty area. He can't really be blamed on either goal, but not having a good day.
75' - Marchisio nearly made it 3-0, but sent his shot inches wide of the goal.
77' - Corner to Germany, but Hummels' header is far too high.
79' - Another burst of offense from Italy, but Neuer is able to fight it off and send it back the other way for Germany.
80' - Kroos had to rush a shot for the Germans at the edge of the penalty area and sent it high.
82' - Di Natale all alone with the keeper Neuer on a long run, but sends it just wide to the right. Germany not looking strong at all in these late minutes.
84' - Yellow card for Daniele de Rossi.
85' - Germany looked a bit more dangerous off their last corner, but Italy survives again.
86' - Balzaretti saves the day again.
88' - ESPN cameras find a fan dressed as the OTHER "Super Mario," as in the Nintendo plumber. At the end of the day, Germany hasn't posed much more threat than a Koopa Troopa.
89' - Thiago Motta gets a yellow card, but it matters less and less with each passing second.
90' - Hummels painfully close, but Bonucci gets in the way and allows Buffon to make the save.
90 + 1' - Four minutes added, but little indication that it will matter.
90 + 2' - PENALTY SHOT AWARDED to Germany as Balzaretti's arm touches the ball in the penalty area.
90 + 2' - GOAL, GERMANY! Ozil calmly puts away the penalty with his left foot, just past the outstretched arms of Buffon. First goal on Italy in more than 300 minutes. Germany 1-2 Italy.
93' - Neuer in Italy's half of the field is playing desperately to keep Germany's offensive chances alive.
FULL TIME, GERMANY 1-2 ITALY. Italy gets a rematch with Spain from their 1-1 draw in the group stage, and Germany goes home disappointed. Not what one might have expected, but it will be Italy and Spain in the finals in Kyiv!
