The Azzuri defeated the Red Fury 4-2 on penalties in the Euro Semi Finals at Wembley Stadium. They have a made a redemptive run back since Italy missed out on World Cup 2018. It was a classic European Semi Final between the 2 historic nations. In the end, there would be no repeat of Spain’s 2008 Euro quarter-final penalty triumph over the Azzurri, sending Spain home empty-handed.
Italy and Spain Line Ups
Italy
Starting XI: Bonucci, Chiellini, Immobile, Verratti, Insigne, Jorginho, Emerson, Di Lorenzo, Barella, Donnarumma, Chiesa
Substitutes: Sirigu, Toloi, Acerbi, Florenzi, Cristante, Belotti, Berardi, Bernardeschi, Pessina, Meret, Locatelli, Bastoni
Spain
Starting XI: Azpilicueta, Alba, Busquets, Koke, Laporte, Unai Simón, Oyarzabal, Olmo, Ferran Torres, Eric Garcia, Pedri
Substitutes: De Gea, Thiago, Morata, G. Moreno, Gaya, Traore, D.Llorente, Llorente, Fabian Ruiz, Rodri, P. Torres, Robert Sanchez
Match Review
Spain asserted themselves in the first half, controlling 65 percent of the possession and outshooting Italy 5-1. The Spaniards knocked the ball around with ease with Barcelona phenomenon, Pedri pulling the strings. Occasionally unlocking the Italy defence through smooth passing patterns. Pedri’s incisive through ball freed Oyarzabal in the box, but his first touch evaded him. On Spain’s best chance of the half, Donarumma got down quickly to deny Olmo from 11 yards.
Italy repeatedly threatened to expose Spain’s high defensive line despite the lack of possession. Emerson beat Simón to a long ball down the flank on one golden opportunity, but Spain’s back line scrambled to keep Italy from launching a shot at the empty net. Neither team was overly impressive in the early stages of the match. Though Spain saw more of the ball and created the best chances. Spain were controlling the tempo, but also leaving themselves vulnerable to the counter and Italy made them pay on the hour mark when Chiesa pounced on an initial clearance and curled in a right-footed shot into net for a 1-0 Azzurri lead.
Late Equaliser
There was more urgency to their play, naturally. Morata was brought in the 62nd minute. He did not disappoint. He brought things level at 1-1 with 10 minutes to go. That goal made him Spain’s all-time top scorer in Euro history. After dropping deep to start the attack, Morata raced toward goal and combined on a brilliant give-and-go with Olmo before slotting home easily into the left side of the goal, forcing extra time. The goal gave Spain a charge of energy and Marcos Llorente was brought on to spell Cesar Azpilicueta, as the teams headed to extra time. Spain looked the more likely to score and a couple pinballs deep in the Italy area gave hope
The final changes from Luis Enrique saw Thiago replace Busquets and then Pau Torres for Eric Garcia, but fatigue took hold and penalties had to resolve matters.
Italy were superior from the spot. Olmo missed over the crossbar, while Morata’s attempt was saved by Donnarumma. Jorginho clinched things with a well-taken penalty to beat Unai Simon and send Spain home.
