ANDREA PIRLO HELD his nerve to pull off an audacious chip down the middle past Joe Hart and tip last night’s quarter-final penalty shootout in Italy’s favour.

The 33-year-old was deemed surplus to requirements at AC Milan last season and offloaded on a free transfer to Juventus. 12 months on, having played a pivotal role in the Old Lady’s Serie A title triumph, Pirlo gave another masterclass in the art of midfield play against England in Kiev.

It is not the first time he has tried the type of spot-kick made famous by Czechoslovakia hero Antonin Panenka, who clinched the 1976 European championship with his match-winning peno against the Germany in Belgrade.

In 2003, he beat his Italian team-mate Gianluigi Buffon with one in the Super Coppa Italia, but didn’t get the better of Barcelona back-up keeper Jose Pinto when he tried the same trick seven years later.

Below, we’ve picked out some of the best down the years.

Antonin Panenka – Czechoslovakia v Germany, Euro final 1976

YouTube credit: markjantjuh

Djalminha – Real Madrid v Deportivo La Coruna, La Liga

YouTube credit: diegotucan

Franceso Totti – Italy v Netherlands, Euro 2000

YouTube credit: VDOSPAMBOLEROS

Thierry Henry – Arsenal v Leeds, Premier League 2004

YouTube credit: UnknownGenius01

Helder Postiga – Portugal v England, Euro 2004

YouTube credit: VDOSPAMBOLEROS

Sebastien Abreu – Uruguay v Ghana, World Cup 2010

YouTube credit: NickCh9595

Robin van Persie – Wolves v Arsenal, Premier League 2012

YouTube credit: b69ker1

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