Italy vs england euro 2012 game stats

Back came England, and Glen Johnson ought to have broken the deadlock when James Milner's deflected cross perfectly intersected his run. The ball got caught under his feet, though, and his weak shot was in the end comfortably clawed away by Buffon. The pace was not about to relent just yet, either.

Italy's forward forays were studied, full of elegance and elan as Antonio Cassano and Pirlo picked at England's defensive line, looking for a chink in the armour.

Roy Hodgson's men embraced a more direct approach, with Johnson their battering ram down the right. The manoeuvre was no less effective — Leonardo Bonucci, starting in place of the injured Giorgio Chiellini, and the excellent Ignazio Abate both made key interventions. Gradually Johnson was put back in his place, at right-back, as the Azzurri found their rhythm.

They also discovered a new attacking ploy: rather than try to blast a hole through England's defensive wall, they sought to scale it. It so nearly brought rich reward. The tactical master Pirlo was the brains behind it, releasing Mario Balotelli with a fine lifted ball and it took a brilliant block from the vigilant John Terry to keep it Cassano almost released his strike partner in similar style before he and Pirlo combined to fashion the chance of the half as the interval approached.

Pirlo's raking cross to the far post found Cassano, whose header back into the box landed perfectly for Balotelli — only for Manchester City FC club-mate Joleon Lescott to get there first, superbly spearing the ball over the bar.

The Italy assault resumed after the restart, however. De Rossi lashed wastefully wide, Hart denied Balotelli and Montolivo fired over with the goal at his mercy. The majestic Pirlo was at the heart of Italy's ascendancy, beating even substitute Andy Carroll in aerial duels and simply unstoppable with the ball at his sage feet.

The breakthrough seemed only a matter of time — it never came, more heroic defending from Johnson denying Antonio Nocerino at the death to force extra time. I think we've performed to a better level than at previous tournaments. England take the lead after half an hour through a Joleon Lescott header from a Steven Gerrard free-kick, but are pegged back nine minutes later by a strike from the edge of the area from Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri.

What was said: "I don't know if you can win tournaments playing like that, but it's a good foundation for us. England take the lead again but suffer a scare as an Olof Mellberg brace put the Swedes in the ascendancy. Three Lions winger Theo Walcott is introduced and turns the tie, scoring the equaliser and creating the winner for his country. What was said: "It's always nice to come off the bench and show what you can do. I've been disappointed that I haven't played.

The returning Wayne Rooney nods England into the last eight of Euro , but a scrappy game and a Ukraine 'goal' that is not given mar the result. But Roy Hodgson's side top the group after France lose to Sweden, meaning they avoid current European champions Spain in the quarter-finals.

What was said: "It's my job to provide the assists. We've got terrific frontmen. If they get the service, then they will knock it in.