Stand: 02.07.2021
Italy towers over strong Belgians – the football spectacle here in the video
Italy are in the European Championship semi-finals after a high-class match against Belgium. After a two-goal lead, a controversial penalty kick brought the Belgians back into play, but the “Squadra Azzurra” successfully defended themselves. The highlights in the video.
Italy and Belgium offer the best game of the European Championship so far. Compared to the lame round of 16 of the Germans, it sometimes seems like a different sport. After the intoxicating victory, Italy is a deserved winner and top favorite for the title.
Lorenzo Insigne put the ball in front of him again and lifted his head after it was pulled in from the left. The Italian aimed at the far corner and flicked the ball exactly where he wanted it – into the Belgian goal. It was just one of the many highlights of the best game so far in the European Championship, at the end of which Italy won 2-1 and made it to the semi-finals.
“We deserved to win. The boys were exceptional. We were really good and could have scored a few more goals, ”said Italy coach Roberto Mancini.
Italy put in an impressive performance against Belgium in a game worthy of a final. Mancini’s team went extremely fast for 90 minutes. In contrast to the German round of 16 against England, the teams hardly stayed in midfield. Cross passes, which slow down the game and were seen in rows at the German 0-2, were frowned upon. A team won’t win a game with a ball attachment.
Lorenzo Insigne shot Italy down the road to victory
Quelle: Getty Images/Matthias Hangst
Italy almost always chose the direct pass forward. Three, four contacts – there was nothing more in midfield for the Italians before they passed the ball into the top. Since the Belgians, number one in the world rankings, went at a similar pace and pursued a similar game philosophy, there were almost no breaks in the game.
Hab finals against Spain
After the sovereign preliminary round with three wins and the somewhat tortured round of 16 against Austria (3-1 after extra time), Italy, which has now been undefeated in 32 games, delivered a real maturity test against Belgium, which makes it the top favorite. In the semi-finals on Tuesday (9 p.m.), Spain will be waiting, having prevailed against Switzerland in the quarter-finals on penalties.
Italiens Trainer Roberto Mancini
Source: Pool via REUTERS
In all likelihood, Leonardo Spinazzola will be absent there, who injured himself in the second half in a sprint without the opponent’s influence. The offensive left-back was one of the best Italians at the European Championship up until then.
After the substitution, the Italians focused on what they have always been famous for: defending. If they kept giving chances to the technically strong Belgians, they closed behind in the final stages. The experienced central defender duo Giorgo Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci cleared everything away.
“A defeat against a good team that hasn’t lost in ages. It’s really disappointing, but the good opponents deserve to advance, ”said Belgian goalkeeper Thibault Courtois.
.
