This is only the beginning: Prandelli
WARSAW: Most expected Italy to lose in the face of a flying German side but Cesare Prandelli’s side ripped up the form book and their Euro 2012 dream is only just beginning, according to their coach.
“When you dream, you always dream big. This is the beginning of the dream,” Prandelli told a news conference after an impressive 2-1 victory over Germany in their semifinal to set up a showpiece showdown with Spain on Sunday.
The margin of victory flattered a German side who scored with a stoppage-time penalty, and Italy could have buried their opponents in the second half but for a hatful of missed chances.
For Prandelli, however, the victory was in no way comfortable, the 54-year-old hugely grateful that Germany never found their game to prolong the match.
“Had they drawn level I think we would have lost 5-2 in extra time because we were knackered,” Prandelli said matter-of-factly.
The reason they were so tired is they had given their all to swarm around a German side who had won every competitive game they had played since the last World Cup.
Italy also broke upfield at will in the second half.
“We’ve always tried to play football from the outset of the tournament, that’s our strength. I think we showed that this evening,” the coach added.
“We tried to knock the ball round the midfield. I always wanted to propose this style.”
“I’m very proud of these young players. I don’t want it to be about me. Germany are young and very good but we have a lot of ideas. I think we prepared very well for this game.” – Reuters WARSAW: Germany’s once-feared mental strength let them down in their 2-1 Euro 2012 semifinal defeat against Italy, with coach Joachim Loew and players blaming moments of carelesness and a negative track record against the Azzurri.
Mario Balotelli struck twice to sink the threetime European champions, who have never beaten their European rivals in any eight of their tournament meetings.
“The Italy hurdle proved to high for us today,” said 34-year-old forward Miroslav Klose. “Maybe in the back of the head we were thinking that we have never beaten them in a tournament. It will take some time to digest this defeat.”
“It is always the same thing against Italy,” German football association president Wolfgang Niersbach said. “At the moment it is a feeling of despair.”
Loew said lapses in concentration proved to be their undoing.
“Twice we were careless and twice we paid the price. After that it was difficult to turn the match against a very good team,” a visibly shocked Loew told reporters.
“We conceded the first goal after a cross that should never have happened and we lost our concentration. After that we let in another from a long ball where we should have closed the spaces better.”
“The air is very thin in the semi-finals and moments of carelessness can decide a game at this level and this is what happened to us.” – Reuters