Italy is in the semi-finals after their best game in the European Championship
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.
In a fast-paced quarter-final, Italy and Belgium don’t give each other an inch. Both teams go at an insane pace over 90 minutes. Seldom have the Italians so impressed the experts with their style of play.
Dhe Squadra Azzurra made it into the European Championship semi-finals against Spain in the style of a champion. In the five-star quarter-final against Belgium for Kevin De Bruyne, who recovered in time, the Italians won convincingly 2: 1 (2: 1) on Friday evening in Munich after the great tremor in the second round. After hits from Nicolò Barella (31st minute) and Lorenzo Insigne (44th), the Red Devils struck back with a penalty kick in front of 12,984 spectators by storm giant Romelu Lukaku (45th + 2). But the clever Italians let their Tifosi celebrate the next football festival in Monaco di Baviera late at night with the 32nd game without defeat.
On Tuesday there will be an explosive test of strength in London between two great football powers who have also faced each other at the last three European championships. The Belgian guard, praised as the Golden Generation, who had to put up with the failure of Real Madrid star Eden Hazard due to a muscle injury, will not be able to adorn themselves with a title at this European Championship.
Five days after the Belgians 1-0 victory in the round of 16 against the dethroned defending champions Portugal, Kevin De Bruyne was back in the starting line-up, but was only able to put the hoped-for stamp on the game at times. The Manchester City star suffered an ankle injury in the game. In Italy, which had defeated Austria 2-1 after extra time at the start of the knockout games, captain Giorgio Chiellini returned after recovering from a muscle injury.
Players kneel against racism, perimeter advertising in rainbow colors
Before the lively start in the home stadium of FC Bayern Munich, the players of both teams set an example against racism by kneeling down. In addition, the perimeter advertising of some sponsors was again highlighted with rainbow colors.
Belgium started with more attack than Italy. Again and again, the men around De Bruyne were looking for their star attacker Lukaku. The Tifosi celebrated their first goal after a free kick and a goal from Leonardo Bonucci. The joy, however, lasted only for a short time, because the defender was offside when the hit, which is why the hit was not recognized after the intervention of the video referee.
The world number one Belgium was not slowed down by this. De Bruyne in particular was bursting with enthusiasm. A shot in the 17th minute was followed by another shot in the 22nd minute, which Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma defused, as did Lukaku’s ball shortly afterwards.
Italy inspires with offensive football
Like the Belgians, the Italians also played forward, but more patiently. In an urge phase in the middle of the first half, the Azzurri rewarded themselves with the lead. Nicolo Barella punished Jan Vertonghen 1-0 for losing the ball in the 31st minute by beating three opponents and giving Thibaut Courtois no chance with a powerful shot. For the Belgians, this had a temporary impact. In the midst of the collective daze, Lorenzo Isigne (44th) stormed from the left towards the penalty area and slipped the ball into the goal to make it 2-0.
But then Belgium reacted strongly. Jéremy Doku, at the age of 19 years and 36 days, the youngest starting line-up of the Red Devils in a knockout game at European Championships or World Cups, dashed into the Italian penalty area as quickly as possible and was fouled. Lukaku (45th + 2) confidently converted the due penalty. It was the striker’s fourth goal in the tournament.
After the restart, the Red Devils struggled to equalize, but found no means against the good staggering of the defensive and the early disruption of the game structure by the Italians. When, after a fine combination via Doku and De Bruyne, the ball came to Lukaku and pulled, defender Leonardo Spinazzola (61) saved the lead for Roberto Mancini’s team and was celebrated by his teammates. Later, the 28-year-old had to get out injured. Nevertheless, the Italians were still defensively safe and never gave up their advantage.
Italy coach Roberto Mancini: “We deserved to win. The boys were extraordinary. “
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