Yet the most notable thing about Di Natale's recent accomplishments may be how little publicity they've attracted.
But Antonio Di Natale's free-kick levelled matters 11 minutes later and neither side could find a second.
Antonio di Natale scored twice and Luis Muriel was also on target as Udinese eased to victory.
But the biggest factor behind Di Natale's surge is a switch of positions that transformed a workaday winger into Italy's most clinical striker.
Di Natale missed Italy's two best chances early in the second half, while Motta pulled his hamstring within six minutes of coming on.
Monday's 2-0 win at Sampdoria lifted the team into the top half of the table, with captain Antonio Di Natale among the scorers.
Pirlo advanced and slipped past the attentions of Busquets to play a lovely ball in for Di Natale to run onto and score.
Still, there are those who say Di Natale still has time to work his way back into the national team even at his advanced age.
In Saturday's other game, top scorer Antonio Di Natale returned from suspension to inspire Udinese to a 2-0 win at home to struggling Livorno.
While Serie A strikers such as Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovich and Napoli's Edinson Cavani are admired throughout Europe, Di Natale is elatively unknown outside of Italy.
You can buy everything from amber to reindeer skins at the Christmas market (Mercato di natale) in the Piazza Santa Croce from the beginning of December.
Spanish captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas saved penalties by Daniele de Rossi and Antonio Di Natale to leave Cesc Fabregas to beat Gianluigi Buffon with the deciding kick.
Listed at 5-feet-7 and 154 pounds, Di Natale was long considered too small short and slight to play a central attacking role and was usually deployed on the wing.
Udinese stayed fifth with a 2-1 win over Atalanta as Antonio Di Natale scored both goals to take his total this season to 22, keeping the striker second behind Cavani.
Substitute Antonio Di Natale wasted another golden chance eight minutes from time when he ran clear but fired into the side netting, but at the other end Italy's defending was outstanding.
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Despite being one of the few Italian players to emerge with any credit from a dismal 2010 World Cup, Di Natale hasn't featured for the national team under new coach Cesare Prandelli.
The most remarkable thing about Di Natale's run isn't his extraordinary strike rate, his other-wordly composure in front of goal, or even the fact that he's found success at one of Italy's less fashionable clubs.
But when Italy striker Fabio Quagliarella left Udinese to join Juventus on the eve of the 2009-10 season, former head coach Pasquale Marino opted to field Di Natale, then 31 years old, as a center-forward.
Facing a two-goal deficit, Italy gambled on a more offensive approach after halftime, throwing on Antonio Di Natale, who had scored in the first meeting between the teams three weeks earlier, and later Thiago Motta.
Scotland were fortunate not to concede a second goal when Di Natale was incorrectly flagged for offside while turning the ball home after goalkeeper Craig Gordon had done superbly to block a powerful drive from Ambrosini.
Three Scotland players were drawn towards the throw-in taker and Antonio Di Natale had plenty of time to gather in the box and drive it low to the front post, where Toni finished from five yards.
Italy ended the first half in the ascendency but Lippi - knowing a win was of paramount importance - was still proactive at the break, bringing on Antonio di Natale and Mauro Camoranesi for Alberto Gilardino and Simone Pepe.
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