Italian press revels in Balotelli brilliance

Italy's press on Friday celebrated the national side's 2-1 semi-final win delivered thanks to the double by "stratospheric" striker Mario Balotelli.

"A strong Italy and a stratospheric Balotelli sunk Germany and took Italy to seventh heaven," the Corrierre dello sport said.

Gazzetta.it, in particular, hailed a masterful performance from midfield playmaker and official man of the match Andrea Pirlo, saying that he "directed operations and was, as usual, the lynchpin of the side".

La Repubblica called the match "a masterpiece", particularly in the "perfect" first-half "which showed everyone who thought that Balotelli couldn't play at centre-forward or that (coach Cesare) Prandelli had problems that they were wrong".