( CNN ) -- Mario Balotelli 's first-half double saw Italy through to the final of Euro 2012 as they stunned Germany in Warsaw . Germany were hot favorites going into this semifinal but Balotelli struck twice before halftime and Germany were unable to claw their way back . Mesut Ozil pulled a goal back from the penalty spot in injury time , but Italy deservedly held on to set up a final against Spain on Sunday . The win continues Italy 's remarkable record in major tournaments against Germany , who have failed to beat the Italians in eight attempts . This emerging young German side were tipped by many to go all the way at this tournament , but their burgeoning progress was checked by a clinical Italy team . Germany started the match as expected and the Italians were lucky to survive a couple of early wobbles by their goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon . The Italy captain was caught in no-man 's land early on , allowing Mats Hummels to poke goalwards only to see Andrea Pirlo scramble the ball off the line . Minutes later , Buffon pushed out a Jerome Boateng cross and was relieved to see the loose ball bounce off his own defender , Andrea Barzagli , and behind for a corner . But midway through the first half it was Italy who made the breakthrough with a quite brilliantly worked goal . Germany stood off Pirlo , allowing the Italy playmaker to sweep a pass out to Giorgio Chiellini who fed Antonio Cassano . Cassano superbly spun away from two defenders and swept in an inviting cross that allowed Balotelli to drift away from Bastuber and head home from close range . Sixteen minutes later , the Italians remarkably doubled their lead with a sweeping counterattack following a Germany corner . Italy left two strikers forward and the tactic paid off as Riccardo Montolivo swept a long ball over the head of Philipp Lahm , allowing Balotelli to chest the ball down and run clear before smashing an unstoppable shot beyond a stunned Manuel Neuer . The first-half double saw the young Manchester City striker double his international goal tally -- having scored just once coming in to Euro 2012 Balotelli is now the tournament 's joint leading goalscorer on three . Germany needed a response in the second half and they got it in effort , but not in goals . A smart one-two on the edge of the area between Lahm and Toni Kroos ended with Lahm sidefooting over when he should have hit the target . A goal then would have ensured a fascinating second half , but Italy looked just as likely to score again as Germany increasingly gambled at the back . Balotelli curled a shot across the face of goal before limping off with cramp and Claudio Marchisio twice drilled wide from inviting positions as Italy failed to kill off the German threat . Substitute Antonio Di Natale wasted another golden chance eight minutes from time when he ran clear but fired into the side netting , but at the other end Italy 's defending was outstanding . That resilience was emphatically underlined by Federico Balzaretti 's goalsaving tackle to keep out substitute Marco Reus late on , although Balzaretti 's handball in stoppage time did give Ozil the chance to score from the spot . That came too late to save Germany though and Italy now face a Spain side who they held 1-1 in the group stages earlier in this tournament .
Mario Balotelli scores both goals as Italy beat Germany 2-1 . Balotelli scores twice in first-half to set-up Sunday final with Spain . Manchester City striker now joint leading goalscorer at Euro 2012 . Mesut Ozil scores late penalty for Germany .