GAURAV BHATTARAI
KATHMANDU: As Italy made 2-1 victory against Germany at the second Euro 2012 semi-final in Warsaw on Friday Nepali time (00:30), Italy will be facing defending champions Spain in Kiev, Ukraine on Sunday in the final.

Striker Mario Balotelli scored two for Italy to seal Italy's victory: a header and a thumping shot.

With three goals in the championship, Balotelli's level is being compared with four other players scoring lead in the tournament .

Germany's Ozil hit one goal against Italy on penalty during the injury time following a handball by Federico Balzaretti in the 92nd minute, which actually is deemed as a consolation score for Germans.

German's wait for a major title still subsists however .

Balotelli headed in on 20 minutes after he received a cross from Antonio Cassano.

Then on 36 minutes, Balotelli struck the second goal against Germany.

Balotell removed his shirt as an endeavor to please the audience, which endowed on the 21-year-old Manchester City striker a yellow card. Balotelli made way for Antonio Di Natale on 70 minutes.

Germany missed a couple of golden chances during the first half , but the Italians soon squeezed them.

Now, Germany and Portugal will compete for third place.

According to BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty in Warsaw," Peter Schmeichel gives Italy's Andrea Pirlo man of the match award and calls his performance 'a piece of art'."

"I'll say only that when one talks about Italy everyone needs to be very careful," said Italy's coach Cesare Prandelli to Reuters.

"We have played an extraordinary game. We have given an example of how to show grace and an attachment to the shirt."

On Balotelli's performance, Prandelli said, "He's brilliant, but this was a team effort. We played a fantastic game against a really good side."

"We did those things that put the opponents in difficulty. The career of Mario Balotelli has only just begun."

But for Germany coach Joachim Loew, it was different. He expressed his disappointment to Reuters as :

"We had two goals against us in the first half and it was difficult. The team showed a lot of heart after that. We had our chances in the second half, if we had got the goal sooner it would have been a different match."

"It's very difficult against a team like Italy to fall behind 2-0. They defend with everything they have."