Varsovia, Polonia — Italia estropeó los pronósticos e hizo valer la historia al vencer el jueves 2-1 a Alemania para avanzar a la final de la Eurocopa.

Mario Balotelli marcó dos veces en el primer tiempo por la Azzurra, que enfrentará por el título a España el domingo en Kiev. Mesut Oezil descontó de penal en los tiempos de reposición.

Alemania llegó a las semifinales como favorito tras ganar cómodamente todos sus partidos en la Euro, pero nuevamente cayó ante un oponente al que jamás ha vencido en un torneo importante.

Balotelli, criticado en los primeros partidos de la fase de grupos por fallar ocasiones claras de gol, fue implacable frente a los germanos.

El ariete del Manchester City abrió la cuenta a los 20 minutos en una gran jugada de equipo: Andrea Pirlo mandó un pase desde media cancha a Giorgio Chiellini, que cedió la pelota a Antonio Cassano por la banda izquierda. El delantero del Milan gambeteó a dos defensores y tiró un centro al corazón del área, donde Balotelli cabeceó con potencia al fondo de las redes.

El segundo fue una genialidad de Balotelli. Con una defensa desubicada, "Súper Mario" le ganó las espaldas al capitán germano Philipp Lahm, recibió un largo pase de Riccardo Montolivo y fusiló al portero Manuel Neuer con un bombazo desde el borde del área.

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  • Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, left, fails to stop a header by Italy's Mario Balotelli as he scores the opening goal during the Euro 2012 soccer championship semifinal match between Germany and Italy in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, June 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

  • Italy's Mario Balotelli celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Euro 2012 soccer championship semifinal match between Germany and Italy in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, June 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

  • Italy's Mario Balotelli, second left, scores during the Euro 2012 soccer championship semifinal match between Germany and Italy in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, June 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

  • Italy's Mario Balotelli scores by Germany's Holger Badstuber during the Euro 2012 soccer championship semifinal match between Germany and Italy in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, June 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

  • Germany's Sami Khedira, left, and Italy's Daniele De Rossi vie for the ball during the Euro 2012 soccer championship semifinal match between Germany and Italy in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, June 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

  • Italy's Mario Balotelli falls in front of Germany's Mats Hummels during the Euro 2012 soccer championship semifinal match between Germany and Italy in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, June 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

  • Germany's Mesut Oezil faces Italy's Federico Balzaretti during the Euro 2012 soccer championship semifinal match between Germany and Italy in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, June 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

  • Germany's Mesut Oezil gets the ball past Italy's Daniele De Rossi during the Euro 2012 soccer championship semifinal match between Germany and Italy in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, June 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

  • Italy's Leonardo Bonucci, back, and Germany's Mario Gomez go for a header during the Euro 2012 soccer championship semifinal match between Germany and Italy in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, June 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

  • Italy's Mario Balotelli, left, reacts as Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer makes a save during the Euro 2012 soccer championship semifinal match between Germany and Italy in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, June 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

  • Italy's Andrea Pirlo stops a shot by Germany's Mats Hummels, left, during the Euro 2012 soccer championship semifinal match between Germany and Italy in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, June 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

  • Germany's Mats Hummels shoots through the legs of Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon during the Euro 2012 soccer championship semifinal match between Germany and Italy in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, June 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

  • Italy's Andrea Pirlo controls the ball in front of Germany's Holger Badstuber during the Euro 2012 soccer championship semifinal match between Germany and Italy in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, June 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

  • Italian forward Mario Balotelli (C) is c

    Italian forward Mario Balotelli (C) is congratulated by teammates during the Euro 2012 football championships semi-final match Germany vs Italy on June 28, 2012 at the National Stadium in Warsaw. AFP PHOTO/ PATRIK STOLLARZ (Photo credit should read PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon gest

    Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon gestures during the Euro 2012 football championships semi-final match Germany vs Italy on June 28, 2012 at the National Stadium in Warsaw. AFP PHOTO/ FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Germany v Italy - UEFA EURO 2012 Semi Final

    WARSAW, POLAND - JUNE 28: Holger Badstuber of Germany appears dejected during the UEFA EURO 2012 semi final match between Germany and Italy at National Stadium on June 28, 2012 in Warsaw, Poland. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

  • Germany v Italy - UEFA EURO 2012 Semi Final

    WARSAW, POLAND - JUNE 28: Mario Balotelli of Italy removes his shirt as he celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA EURO 2012 semi final match between Germany and Italy at the National Stadium on June 28, 2012 in Warsaw, Poland. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

  • Germany v Italy - UEFA EURO 2012 Semi Final

    WARSAW, POLAND - JUNE 28: Mario Balotelli of Italy celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA EURO 2012 semi final match between Germany and Italy at the National Stadium on June 28, 2012 in Warsaw, Poland. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

  • Italian forward Mario Balotelli (L) cele

    Italian forward Mario Balotelli (L) celebrates with Italian forward Antonio Cassano and Italian midfielder Daniele De Rossi (R) after scoring the second goal during the Euro 2012 football championships semi-final match Germany vs Italy on June 28, 2012 at the National Stadium in Warsaw. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/GettyImages)