Video Penalti Alessandro Diamanti vs England EURO 2012

England’s goalkeeper Joe Hart dives the wrong way for Italy’s Alessandro Diamanti (not pictured) to score the winning penalty in a penalty shoot-out during their Euro 2012 quarter-final soccer match at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev, June 24, 2012.

With decisive penalty, Diamanti shows his worth

Alessandro Diamanti is a relative newcomer to Italy’s national team. It didn’t take long for him to show his worth, though.

Making just his third appearance with the Azzurri, Diamanti converted the decisive penalty kick when Italy beat England in a shootout Sunday to reach the European Championship semifinals.

Diamanti — whose name translates as ‘diamonds’ — didn’t waste any time before his shot, either, stepping right up to drill the ball past goalkeeper Joe Hart with the authority and coolness of an experienced veteran.

After his shot landed in the back of the net, Diamanti ran over and jumped into the arms of goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who had just smothered Ashley Cole’s spot kick to set up the winning strike.