Twitter reacts as Italy reach the final

Mario Balotelli struck twice in the first half to inspire Italy to a 2-1 victory over Germany and book their place in the Euro 2012 final against defending champions Spain in Kiev on Sunday.



Manchester City striker and Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo were the standout performers as Cesare Prandelli’s side caused a shock in the second semi-final, and the 21-year-old’s exploits received plenty of praise from his colleagues on Twitter.



Here are some of our favourite Tweets, in chronological order.



1min: Former Coventry City striker Darren Huckerby ‏(@hucks6dh6) is hoping for a better semi-final than the goalless draw on Wednesday: “Please let this game be better than yesterday match. #DullAsDishWater #Euro12”



1min: Queens Park Rangers captain Joey Barton ‏(@Joey7Barton) is backing Joachim Low’s side: “Got to fancy the German machine tonight. I can’t see beyond them. They will man mark Andrea Pirlo mark my words, he will be shackled. If you stop Pirlo then you as good as stop Italy.”



1min: England batsman Kevin Pietersen ‏(@kevinpp24) is also a member of the Pirlo fan club: “Come on #Pirlo ! He’s my new favourite footballer. Sink the Germans big man!”



1min: Newcastle United defender Danny Simpson ‏(@dannysimpson) gives his prediction: “Germany 1-0 and Mario Gomez to score! What do you think?”



20mins: Fabrice Muamba (‏@fmuamba) sees it as a challenge for the fancied German side: “Wow. This is big question for Germany to see how they can handle being a goal down.”



20mins: Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel (‏@kschmeichel1) heaps praise on Antonio Cassano for the cross which resulted in Balotelli’s first goal: “What a ball in for Ballotelli! This makes it very interesting. #ItaliansCanDefend”



20mins: West Brom Albion midfielder Steven Reid (‏@stevenreid12) agrees: “Some ball from Cassano that… Finish! #balotelli”



20mins: Netherlands legend Ruud Gullit ‏(@GullitR) is delighted by the Manchester City striker’s goal: “Yeeeeeeeeees Balotelli. Come on Italy!”



30mins: Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jermaine Jenas (‏@jjenas8) disagrees with some of the refereeing decisions: “Seriously another referee that needs his whistle taking off him!!!”



35mins: Birmingham City goalkeeper Ben Foster ‏(@BenFoster) is stunned by Balotelli’s second goal: “Don’t care if you like #Balotelli or not but wow!”



35mins: Bolton midfielder Stuart Holden ‏(@stuholden) is similarly speechless: “What a blast, wow ! Take a bow Ballotelli!”



Half-time: Italy striker Giuseppe Rossi (@GiuseppeRossi22) is delighted for his team-mate: “Supermariooooooo two!!!!!!!”



Half-time: Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand ‏(@rioferdy5) believes Italy could have beaten England by more if they had been clinical: “Germany 0-2 Italy…totally surprised me….saying that if Italy had converted their chances against us it would have been much the same!”



Half-time: TV presenter Eamonn Holmes ‏(@EamonnHolmes) doesn’t want England supporters to start getting smug: “How many people are rethinking the England performance now ? Maybe not as bad as it seemed on the night …..nah – it was still pants!”



60mins: Kasper Schmeichel ‏(@kschmeichel1) praises Buffon for a great save from a dangerous Germany free-kick: “Great save Buffon and very important!!! #class”



70mins: Former Newcastle United defender Warren Barton ‏(@warrenbarton2) is impressed by the Azzurri: “Italy are playing great – good passing, movement and looking to get forward!!!”



74mins: Fulham defender John Arne Riise ‏(@RealJohnARiise3) reckons his former Roma team-mate and City rival are playing brilliantly: “Grande Balotelli.. Grande De Rossi!”



80mins: United midfielder Tom Cleverley ‏(@tomclevz23) picks his man of the match: “Pirlo been class again!”



82mins: Former Tottenham midfielder Rohan Ricketts ‏(@RohanRicketts) is mesmerised: “Pirlo is a class act. His decision making on when you play one touch or take more is spot on. Weight of pass is also spot on. #EUR02012”



88mins: England legend Gary Lineker ‏(@GaryLineker) is trying to pick up some German: “Just asked @J_Klinsmann if they have a word in German for bogey team. He said they don’t. I think they need to find one!”



Full-time: AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng ‏(@KPBofficial) is impressed by Balotelli: “Italiaaaaaaaa!!! Balotelli showed the world what a player he can be!!”



Full-time: Newcastle’s Peter Lovenkrands ‏(@lovenkrands11) is backing Spain in the final: “Well done to Italy they played really well! Spain vs Italy is going to be a good one, think Spain will win!”