Spain let Italy through to Euro final

Spain let Italy through to Euro final

The Italy national team defeated Spain in a penalty shootout series 1:1 (4:2) of the first semi-final match of the European Championship 2020.

Pre-match layouts spoke of a slight advantage for Italy. Roberto Mancini's team has not lost 32 games in a row and looked cool throughout the group stage and the playoffs. They even marched through the unyielding Belgium with their golden line-up. Therefore, the leadership in bookmaker odds 2.43 versus 3.31 is not surprising. In addition, Spain unpleasantly surprised with its soporific control of the ball during the tournament. Their average in this component was 67%.

But the opening minutes showed that things would be a little different. Both teams came out to play 4-3-3 mirroring each other and it seemed that the advantage would be with the team that is individually stronger in one-on-one battles. The three of the center of the field Barella, Verratti, Jorginho looked no weaker than Pedri, Busquets and Koke. Italy went forward with high pressing, but Spain quickly stopped Mancini's efforts by moving winger Dani Olmo into the midfield line. The Leipzig player constantly opened up for passes and Squadra Azzurra were constantly outnumbered in midfield.

So the Spaniards took the ball for themselves and continued to attack almost until the end of the first half. Separately, we would like to note the terrible play of both goalkeepers. Donnarumma and Simon did not help their teams when leaving the defense, and sometimes even failed. the Spanish goalkeeper attempt to intercept, when Immobile could hit on an empty goal is worth mentioning. Donnarumma just took it anywhere and the Italians lost the ball.

If at the end of the first half Italy tried to fight for dominance in the match, because during the whole Euro they swore that they would play the first number, then in the second half everything changed. Mancini acknowledged Furia Roja's toughness and got his team's only forward, Immobile, to play Busquets in order to prevent attacks through the center. Also, the manager from the Apennines relied on counterattacks. It bore fruit when Chiesa took advantage of the dreadful combination of ex-Manchester City reservists Garcia and Laporte. Federico sent the ball under the far post with a beautiful dribbling shot and took the team ahead.

It is worth paying tribute to Luis Enrique, who did not hesitate and made a knight's move. Instead of saturating the attack, he replaced Torres with Morata, then Oyarzabal with Moreno, which refreshed the edge and released Rodri instead of Koke. Yes, now Furia Roja had two defensive midfielders. But why? It's simple.

Thus, he pulled one player out of the pressing from the center line of Italy and freed up space at the penalty area. Mancini tried to react by releasing a fresh Pessina to work on Rodri, but there was no numerical advantage. He also replaced Emerson, who, although he did not give as much volume on the wing as injured Spinazzola, did a couple of good raids.

And Enrique's plan worked perfectly. In one of the attacks, Morata dropped a little lower (as it turned out, he knows how to take the ball not in offside) and, being in free space, received a pass. Wall with Olmo and the score is already equal. Special thanks to the Spaniard should be said to partners in Juventus Bonucci and Chiellini. The old men gave him space and time to enter the penalty area.

After that, it became clear to me that Italy would close as much as possible. Mancini replaced Insigne, who worked on Busquets for the last 25 minutes and let out a more bulky Bellotti, and also strengthened the midfield thanks to Locatelli. In extra-time, Furia Roja tried to push with the wings, since Squadra Azzurra narrowed to impossible and had a couple of chances due to fires in Donnarumma's penalty area.

But this did not give any result. Felix Brych gave the final whistle, which became honey to the ears of all players and fans of the Italian national team. Olmo responded to the unscored first penalty from Locatelli with his shot up high. The guy plowed the whole match, constantly dropped between the lines and accelerated the attacks of his team. Therefore, it is not surprising that he was hitting a penalty kick on cotton feet. On the other hand, why was he called up? Then the shots were accurate, until Morata's approach. Poor Alvaro, after an unsuccessful season and the Euro, shot weakly and not quite into the corner, which was an easy catch for Milan goalkeeper Donnarumma.

If he and his family were threatened by fans during the group stage, it is difficult to imagine what the guy will have to go through after this miss. Jorginho scored his shot and brought Italy to the Euro final nine years later. And it would seem that the result is natural, given the Italians' unbeaten run. But Spain in this particular match were more interesting. Enrique beat Mancini tactically, and the players gave their best, although they looked weaker in the prematch. But football is unpredictable and one moment can decide everything. If Koke had been more agile and quicker in Chiesa's goal, if Garcia had advanced to the Juventus winger, we would have said something completely different. But it happened as it happened. Italy is in the final, and it doesn't matter which way. Revenge for the Euro 2012 final was a success.