Published on : 06/07/2021 – 18:00Modified : 07/07/2021 – 00:09
Italy won Tuesday against Spain at Wembley in the semi-finals of Euro-2021. The two teams had to wait for the penalty shootout to decide between themselves (1-1 ap, 4-2 tab).
At the end of the night, Italy became the first selection qualified for the final of Euro-2021. In Wembley stadium, Spain, dominating but sterile, pushed her into extra time (1-1 after) and then to the penalty shoot-out but Roberto Mancini’s men finally won (4-2 tab) .
Spain dominates, Italy scores
Between these two playful teams and striving to have control of the ball to dominate their opponent, it was obvious that the battle for possession would be one of the keys to the match. And, in this little game, the “Tiki Taka” is more effective than the “Tikitalia” at the start of the match. Spain take control of the game as Verratti and his teammates seem perpetually behind in pressing.
Having the ball does not mean to be dangerous. If Spain displayed 65% possession of the ball at the break, clear chances were rare. Donnarumma misses a raise with his left foot and the ball comes back quickly. Olmo, initially countered, sends a heavy strike but the Italian goalkeeper pushes back (25th). A few moments later, he tries a shot that flies (33rd).
Italy, cornered, is all the same dangerous. Emerson escapes to the left. Unai Simon completely misses his exit and the side lets Immobile slip, who plays back to goal towards Barella. Busquets intervenes in extremis (23rd).
Just before half-time, Bonucci delivers a cross towards Insigne who controls and shifts Emerson to his left. The side strikes powerfully in an impossible angle and finds the transverse (45th).
After the locker room, the game gets carried away. Oyarzabal is served on the right. He transplanted in the axis then serves in withdrawal Busquets whose recovery fails over the Italian goal (52nd). Italy responded with a counterattack that ended on Chiesa. The Juventus Turin winger strikes a low right foot. Simon lies on his right and firmly blocks this cross shot (53rd).
The encounter unlocks with a lightning counterattack. Donnarumma blocks a cross from Alba and quickly raises towards Verratti who plays towards Immobile. It is intercepted but Chiesa inherits the ball, enters the box and rolls a strike that ends in the small Spanish net (60th, 1-0).
Morata gives hope
If Spain tries to get back into the game by storming the Italian cage, it is the Nazionale who fails to score the second goal. Against a new counter, Chiesa finds Berardi on the right who tries his luck with his bad foot, the right. Simon closes the door (68th).
While Spain seemed close to sinking, Morata relaunched his own. He relies on Dani Olmo to enter the area and easily concludes (79th, 1-1). A goal that takes the two teams straight into overtime.
The first half of the latter is completely to the advantage of the Spaniards. Olmo viciously hits a free kick that Donnarumma struggles to repel. Morata resumes but Chiellini releases. The ball ricocheted off a Spaniard and finished its race in six meters for Italy (98th). Moments later, the Italian goalkeeper misses his exit on a cross from Moreno but Llorente does not benefit (102nd).
The second, however, sees the Italians take control of the game after a meeting around Roberto Mancini. Berardi is particularly moving: after perforating the defense, he sees his shot blocked by the defense (107th) then he scores a goal signaled offside (108th).
However, it is the penalty shoot-out that separates the two teams. A game where Italy is the strongest when Morata misses his penalty.
“It’s not over,” however tempered Italian coach Roberto Mancini after the meeting. “We had a good game, (but) not quite as usual … We knew we would suffer in such a game. (The Spaniards) put us in difficulty. They are masters in the mastery balloon “.
Italy will face the final, still at Wembley, on Sunday against the winner of the second semi-final between England and Denmark on Wednesday. Invincible for 33 matches, she will inevitably be a favorite.
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