Italy beat Spain 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 attract a powerful Euro 2020 semi-final at Wembley on Tuesday, as Jorginho converted the decisive kick to require the Azzurri through to the ultimate where they’re going to face either England or Denmark.
Italy wasn’t always on top though, with Spain the higher side for long spells of an epic contest before Federico Chiesa, the Juventus forward, gave Italy the lead with a wonderful finish an hour into a match watched by a crowd of just about 58,000.
The much-maligned Alvaro Morata, who was dropped from the starting line-up, came off the bench to equalize with 10 minutes of normal time left.
No further scoring in overtime meant penalties again for Spain, who had beaten Switzerland during a shoot-out within the quarter-finals.
They had also beaten Italy on penalties at Euro 2008, but this point misses from Dani Olmo then Morata saw Spain hand over the advantage that they had been handed when Manuel Locatelli failed with the primary kick within the shoot-out.
The Italians celebrated at the top with an outsized contingent of their UK-based supporters, and a team that has been rejuvenated under Roberto Mancini continues to dream of winning a primary European Championship since 1968.
Now unbeaten in 33 games, they are going through to Sunday´s final to face either England or Denmark, who meet in Wednesday´s second last-four tie.
“I need to thank the players because they believed right from day one that we could do something incredible,” said Mancini.
“We haven´t yet done everything we’d like to though, there’s still one step to travel .”
It is nine years since Spain mauled Italy 4-0 within the Euro 2012 final in Kyiv to win a 3rd consecutive major tournament, and this was the fourth successive Euro during which these powerhouses had met.
Spain won the primary two of these meetings, but the last two have now gone to Italy.
“It isn’t a tragic night on behalf of me by any means,” said Spain coach Luis Enrique.
“We can head home knowing we competed and were among the simplest teams.”
– Wembley involves life –
This meeting happened within the chill of a humid July evening in London, but the atmosphere at Wembley was no damp squib.
There were no traveling supporters, given the obligatory quarantine for all visitors to the UK.
However, the massive Spanish and Italian communities already in Britain meant a combined 20,000 fans of the 2 teams were within the 57,811-crowd allowed inside Wembley.
They added noise and color so sadly lacking at major sporting events since the pandemic began, which provided the right stage.
The football itself was absorbing and of the very best quality, particularly in midfield where Italy´s outstanding trio of Jorginho, Marco Verratti, and Nicolo Barella met their match in Spain´s Sergio Busquets, Koke and therefore the brilliant Pedri, a daunting talent at just 18.
But it had been Italy who reached their 10th major tournament final and ended Spain´s hopes of a record fourth European crown.
– Southgate´s England ´breaking barriers´ –
Standing within the Azzurri´s way will either be England, who haven’t reached a Euro final, or Denmark, playing in their first major semi-final since surprisingly winning the competition in 1992.
Yet to concede a goal within their five unbeaten matches in the tournament, England underlined their potential with a 2-0 last-16 win against old rivals Germany.
In the quarter-finals, a 4-0 rout of Ukraine in Rome fuelled dreams of Euro glory and ensured Gareth Southgate´s men would be heading back to Wembley.
“We don´t have as an honest a football history as we wish to believe sometimes,” said England manager Southgate.
“These players are making massive strides and breaking barriers all the time, we’ve broken barriers during this tournament, and that we have another opportunity to try to do that tomorrow.”
Rocked by the asystole suffered by their star midfielder Christian Eriksen during their first match against Finland, Denmark went into their last group game to some extent.
But, with Eriksen on the mend after the shocking incident, Kasper Hjulmand´s team has begun a three-match winning run which has taken them to a primary semi-final in 29 years.
“We still play for and with him. There´s little question that. That´s the sole thing I can say about Christian,” said Danish coach Hjulmand.
