Italy 1-1 Spain (pens: 4-2): Azzurri hold nerve to reach EURO final
Tuesday, July 6, 2021
Article summary
Italy are through to the final after a shoot-out success against Spain at Wembley.
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Italy will play in Sunday's UEFA EURO 2020 final after seeing a lead wiped out but then defeating Spain on penalties at Wembley.
They had led through Federico Chiesa on the hour but substitute Álvaro Morata forced extra time. It went to a shoot-out and after Morata himself was denied, Jorginho rolled in the clincher for Roberto Mancini's team.
Goals
60' Chiesa (Italy)
80' Morata (Spain)
Match in brief
Italy started brightly but Spain began to take control in midfield. The first clear chance came on 25 minutes when Dani Olmo, spearheading the Spain attack after being picked ahead of Morata, pounced on a loose ball but was denied by Gianluigi Donnarumma. Later in the first half Italy threatened down the left, Emerson clipping the woodwork with a shot across goal.
The opening period had only simmered but the second half boiled over with chances, Ciro Immobile and Sergio Busquets going close before Chiesa forced a save from Unai Simón. On the hour mark, that man Chiesa broke the deadlock, picking up a loose ball on the edge of the box, cutting inside and curling a shot inside the far post.
Spain responded well, Mikel Oyarzabal and Olmo looking menacing. At the other end, Chiesa showed his pace to set up substitute Domenico Berardi, blocked by Unai Simón. Berardi, again, nearly doubled the advantage with ten minutes left but once more could not beat the Spain keeper; La Roja went straight up the other end and Morata, brought on after the Italy goal, levelled following a smart passing exchange with Olmo.
In extra time, Italy somehow survived a succession of shots in which both Olmo and Morata had efforts repelled, and shortly afterwards Marcos Llorente was similarly frustrated by Leonardo Bonucci. But it went to penalties, Unai Simón saving the first kick from Manuel Locatelli and Olmo then missing. Spain's fourth attempt from Morata was stopped by Donnarumma and Jorginho coolly slotted in the winner.
Star of the Match: Federico Chiesa (Italy)
"He scored the goal and was difficult to stop for Spain at times during the game."
Aitor Karanka, UEFA Technical Observer
Check out every Heineken Star of the Match at UEFA EURO 2020.
Paolo Menicucci, Italy reporter
On a night which proved more difficult that many expected, Italy still managed to reach the final at the expense of a brilliant Spanish side who just failed to make the most of the several chances they created. After failing to even qualify for the FIFA World Cup in 2018, the Azzurri have made giant steps in returning to the European football elite. Great job, coach Mancini!
Graham Hunter, Spain reporter
If you really must go out of a tournament then let it be without shame, without regrets and having left everything out on the hallowed turf. Honestly I think this applies to most of Spain's valiant but unsuccessful semi-final performance. Brave and daring from the outset, dominating possession for the first half until things tilted Italy's way, Spain have been trying for this type of performance since their opener against Sweden.
Some of the same players who sat, defeated, on Wembley's beautiful playing surface will, in time, understand that they advanced their reputation, advanced their learning and gave us fabulous entertainment in the meantime. Just stop missing gilt-edged chances, chaps. Gracias, Luis Enrique. Hasta la próxima, España.
Reaction
Roberto Mancini, Italy coach: "We are pleased to have given joy like this to the Italian people. We knew it would be very hard, Spain caused us plenty of trouble. We tried to score when we had the chances but we had a hard time because we didn't have much of the ball. We wanted the final even if not many people believed us before the tournament. I congratulate Spain, they are a great team and penalties are a lottery. There are some games when you have to struggle but we deserved to be here. We knew it was going to be tough, it wasn't easy and Spain surprised us at the beginning by deciding to play without a striker. This squad, however, is amazing. Everyone wants to win, but this group of players wanted to do something special and they just did that."
Luis Enrique, Spain coach: "I think we deserved an 'excellent' if I wanted to give my players marks. I think they've been marvellous. I can't criticise them, I have to praise them. It's time for them to rest now. Morata had an adductor problem but still wanted to take the penalty and that says so much for his personality. He's been gigantic for us in this tournament. In professional sport we all have to learn how to win and how to take defeat. That's why I want to congratulate Italy. We're going back to Spain safe in the knowledge that we were clearly among the best teams at this tournament."
Gianluigi Donnarumma, Italy goalkeeper: "I was calm before the penalties because I knew I could help the team. I'd like to thank everyone, as now we are only one step away from realising our dream. Spain are very strong, but this Italy side has a lot of courage, we never give up."
Federico Chiesa, Italy goalscorer: "I cannot describe my emotions in words. You know, it was a tough match. Spain were great tonight, but now we are in the final and we're coming back here on 11 July and we'll see. We'll see."
Sergio Busquets, Spain midfielder: "Everyone made Italy big favourites but we demonstrated that we were superior to them. We played with a lot of young footballers and this whole experience will have served to give them a lot of confidence. This team will be back. We imposed the things we wanted to here, owning the ball, winning it back as quickly as possible. In general across this match I think we were the dominant side. But football's like this, and all we can do is congratulate Italy."
Key stats
- Italy are into their fourth EURO final, behind only Germany on six.
- Both teams were in a record sixth EURO shoot-out; it was Italy's third such success and Spain's second reverse.
- Like England and France at EURO '96, Spain won a quarter-final shoot-out only to lose in similar fashion in the semis (and, like England, at Wembley).
- Italy's record run of EURO wins (including qualifying, not including penalty shoot-outs) ends at 15, as does their overall victorious streak of 13 wins. However, their team-record unbeaten streak goes on to 33.
- Italy are the second side after France in 2000 to have five different players score two or more goals at a single EURO (Chiesa, Matteo Pessina, Lorenzo Insigne, Immobile and Locatelli).
- Spain suffered their first defeat in six major tournament semi-finals.
- Bonucci equalled Gianluca Buffon's record of 17 EURO finals appearances for Italy.
- Jordi Alba equalled Spain's record of 16 EURO finals appearances, already held by Cesc Fàbregas and Andrés Iniesta.
- Morata scored his sixth EURO finals goal, moving one ahead of Spain's previous record-holder, Fernando Torres.
- Morata is the first Spain player to score three goals at two separate EURO final tournaments.
- Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini are into their second EURO final after 2012.
- These teams will meet again in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals at Milan's San Siro on 8 October.
Line-ups
Italy: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Chiellini, Emerson (Tolói 74); Barella (Locatelli 85), Jorginho, Verratti (Pessina 74); Chiesa (Bernardeschi 107), Immobile (Berardi 61), Insigne (Belotti 85)
Spain: Unai Simón; Azpilicueta (Llorente 85), Eric García (Pau Torres 109), Laporte, Jordi Alba; Koke (Rodri 70), Sergio Busquets (Thiago 106), Pedri; Oyarzabal (Moreno 70), Olmo, Ferran Torres (Morata 62)