Italy have beaten Uruguay 3-2 on penalties to earn third place in the Confederations Cup.
The two sides could not be separated in 120 minutes of football and it was the Italians who held their nerve in the penalty shoot-out.
After 25 minutes played in, Salvador Alessandro’s free-kick came back off the post but Davide Astori was the first to react to the rebound to put his side ahead.
Uruguay’s Edinson Cavani levelled proceedings 20 minutes into the second period when he slotted home coolly after a through ball from Walter Gargano.
Diamanti then scored for the Italians, this time sending his free-kick past Fernando Muslera in the Uruguayan goal before Cavani smashed in dead-ball strike of his own to send the tie into extra-time.
Neither side could find a way through in the additional 30 minutes and penalties were needed to determine a winner.
Diego Forlan, who missed his penalty against Brazil in the semi-final, stepped up to take the first kick but saw the same result when Gianluigi Buffon dived to his right to save the forward’s spot-kick.
Italy’s Alberto Aquilani and Stephan El Shaarawy both scored as did Cavani and Luis Suarez for Uruguay.
Mattia De Sciglio then failed to convert for the Italians to make the score 2-2 after three penalties each.
Martin Caceres missed the next spot-kick for Uruguay before Emanuele Giaccherin netted to give the Italians the lead. Walter Gargano had to score to keep Uruguay in the game but Buffon saved to give his side the victory.
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