( CNN ) -- Italy beat England 4-2 in a penalty shootout to reach the semifinals of Euro 2012 after their match in Kiev Sunday ended goalless following extra time . Alessandro Diamanti converted the deciding penalty to give Italy a deserved victory after they had dominated for prolonged periods . They will play Germany for a place in the final in Warsaw Thursday . Portugal play defending champions Spain in the first semifinal in Donetsk Wednesday . The Italians were first to miss in the shootout when Riccardo Montolivo shot wide , but England 's delight was short-lived when Ashley Young 's well-struck spot-kick rattled the crossbar . Man of the match Andrea Pirlo then pulled Italy level at 2-2 with an impudent chip over Joe Hart , before Ashley Cole saw his effort saved by Gianluigi Buffon . Soccer Live : CNN 's live blog of England vs Italy . Diamanti supplied the winning touch , prompting his teammates to charge forward in celebration as England were once again left to rue their failure to win a penalty shootout at a major competition . `` We 've gone out without being beaten with our heads held high and making the country proud , '' a defiant England manager Roy Hodgson told reporters after their defeat . Cesare Prandelli 's Italy had the better of the opening exchanges in regulation time , with Daniele de Rossi almost giving the Azzurri the lead after two minutes when his swerving volley hit the woodwork . England also went close when Buffon was forced to claw away a Glen Johnson effort . Manchester City 's mercurial talent Mario Balotelli was a constant threat to England and saw a close range effort blocked by Hart , before Wayne Rooney set up his Manchester United teammate Danny Welbeck , only to see him to fire over from a good position . Italy ended the half the stronger team -- Antonio Cassano had a snap shot parried by Hart , while Balotelli ballooned over from close range . The pattern continued after the break with de Rossi guilty of a bad miss after Hart could only push out a Cassano corner . Balotelli , who might by that point have scored a hat-trick , was again frustrated with a volleyed effort , which Hart saved with his legs -- Montolivo then shot over the bar from the rebound . There was further frustration in the closing moments when Pirlo found space in the England box , but his goal-bound volley was blocked by Johnson . And into injury time , substitute Andy Carroll headed back for Rooney to scissor kick over in a rare England attack . In extra time , Diamanti saw his intended cross deceive Hart and hit the outside of the post , as the Italians continued to dominate possession . Italy thought they had won it in the dying minutes of the second period when Antonio Nocerino headed in Diamanti 's dangerous cross , but he was ruled to be offside .
Italy beat England in a penalty shootout to reach Euro 2012 semifinals . Match ended 0-0 after regulation and extra time . TL;DR The Italian soccer team has won the European Championship for the first time, beating England 2-1 on Sunday at Wembley Stadium in London. Italy to play Germany in Warsaw on Thursday in last four .