Spain ended European champions Italy’s world yarn 37-match unbeaten bustle as Ferran Torres scored twice in a 2-1 utilize at the San Siro stadium in an intelligent Countries League semi-closing on Wednesday (October 6). Italy, trailing by two needs at the spoil, needed to play the total second half of with 10 males after captain Leonardo Bonucci modified into once sent off but showed accurate decision as they sought to live far flung from their first loss since a September, 2018 defeat by Portugal.
“This what matches are like, infrequently sure episodes can impact them,” Italy coach Roberto Mancini acknowledged. “Right here’s a disappointment. We must absorb stayed with 11 males, we made a mistake that you’d’t carry out at this level,” he added.
Spain will face the winners of Thursday’s semi-closing between France and Belgium in Sunday’s decider. Torres do Spain ahead within the 17th minute, steering a left-cruise inappropriate from Mikel Oyarzabal past Italy keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma into the far corner.
Donnarumma, booed by AC Milan fans angered at his most recent transfer from the club to Paris St Germain, close to talented Spain a second when he fumbled a harmless Marcos Alonso effort against the put up but Bonucci scrambled the ball definite. Any lingering questions about the significance of the match had been blown away by the blistering starting up and it modified into once by no draw one-method traffic, as Italy started to open up the Spanish defence.
Federico Bernardeschi went conclude to an equaliser with a low force from the say which Spain keeper Unai Simon pushed against the put up and Lorenzo Insigne missed a huge probability, firing wide when in space making ready to the field.
Will there be a closer aim than this sensational Spain effort at the finals? [?]#UNLBestGoal | @GazpromFootball pic.twitter.com/q5JlKtxwBh
— UEFA Countries League (@EURO2024) October 6, 2021
The Azzurri, who beat Spain on penalties within the Euro 2020 semi-closing in July, went a man down within the 42nd minute when Bonucci modified into once sent off for a second yellow card after elbowing Sergio Busquets.
Torres sent Luis Enrique’s facet in with a two-aim lead at the spoil when he modified into once left unmarked to head in one other gorgeous inappropriate from Oyarzabal. Italy induced Giorgio Chiellini at the spoil, the broken-down defender and leader having been a shock omission, and no matter Spain fiddling with accurate recede, the Azzurri stayed within the sport.
Spain had given a debut to Barcelona’s 17 year-weak midfielder Gavi, who grew to turn out to be their youngest ever participant after dazzling three starts for his club – but there modified into once no hint of his inexperience in a assured and silent performance.
Enrico Chiesa modified into once the offer of Italy’s brightest moments and he hit the put up from a stunning perspective within the 61st minute. Oyarzabal headed wide after shapely work from one other teenager, winger Yeremi Pino, and Marcos Alonso must absorb sealed the utilize within the 78th minute but his low shot modified into once properly saved by Donnarumma.
Italy ensured a traumatic stop to a top quality match once they pulled a aim abet seven minutes from the tip, as Chiesa took perfect thing about hesitant Spanish defending, broke from the midway line and slipped the ball to replace Lorenzo Pellegrini to convert.
But Italy’s bustle modified into once over and with it ended the dream of a Countries League title on home soil to apply their Euro triumph. For Spain though, the revenge for the Wembley loss modified into once sweet.
“We knew it modified into once a particular recreation, we went out within the semi-finals of the Euros and what better solution to beat them at home in other semi-finals,” Torres acknowledged.
(with Reuters inputs)
