That is what Italy’s Andrea Pirlo did in his side’s 4-2 penalty shoot-out win against England in the Euro 2012 quarter-final on Sunday when he dinked the ball slowly straight into the middle of the net as Joe Hart dived to his right in vain.
For that and more, Italy coach Cesare Prandelli had words of praise for his midfield maestro, who bossed the proceedings throughout the match.
“Pirlo was very calm indeed,” said Prandelli. “He’s an absolute star player who knows exactly what to do, and he did so.”
Prandelli also praised Mario Balotelli’s work rate and character who was criticised for missing a host of opportunities in the match.
“Mario came and said he wanted to take the first penalty. It means he has a lot of character. I think he was excellent throughout the match.”
‘Cheeky penalty created pressure’
Pirlo, who is in the running to be the player-of-the-tournament after scoring or setting up all of Italy’s goals in Ukraine and Poland, said that his dink created pressure on England’s penalty takers.
“I saw that the goal-keeper was really hyped and I thought I’d do it like that, it was easier to take it like that,” said Pirlo after Hart had bounced up and down on the line and made funny faces. “It created a bit of pressure on the keeper.”
Even England manager Roy Hodgson was left to admire Pirlo’s gem.“The cool, calculated way Pirlo chipped it, that is something you have naturally in yourself,” said Hodgson.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2012.
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