Spain has ended Italy’s 37-game unbeaten run as the La Roja the Euro 2020 winners in a thrilling semi-final of the Nations League at San Siro. The win also served as revenge for the Spaniards for the Euro 2020 semi-final defeat at the hands of the Italians.
Manchester City’s Ferran Torres netted twice for Spain in Milan from two Mikel Oyarzabal crosses to send Luis Enrique’s side to Sunday’s final against either Belgium or France.
Italy received a heavy blow earlier in the match when they conceded their first goal and the captain Leonardo Bonucci was sent off for two yellows, the second for an elbow on Sergio Busquets.
They looked dead and buried throughout the game until Lorenzo Pellegrini’s late goal after a wonderful Federico Chiesa run on a counter-attack but could not find an unmerited equalizer.
Spain handed 17-year-old Barcelona midfielder Gavi a start, making him the youngest international in their history – less than six weeks after his club debut – and he looked at home on this stage.
The Nations League may be a fairly new tournament – and derided by some – but when both sides had 11 men this was played with the talent and intensity of any World Cup or European Championship encounter.
The match also marks Italy’s first competitive game failure in their homeland since 1999.
Torres importance
Torres has turned into one of Spain’s phenomenal stars in the past year or so as today’s double made it his 11th international goal since 1 September 2020, a milestone none has achieved.
He has become clinical and effective as six of his last seven shots on target for Spain ended up in a goal. The Spaniard only had two shots in his last game against Italy.
The Spanish hero was replaced early in the second half by teenage debutant Yeremi Pino, presumably with a knock.
But the game had winded up by that time, especially with Italy down to 10 men. Roberto Mancini brought on veteran defender Giorgio Chiellini for attacker Federico Bernardeschi at half-time as the hosts looked for some damage limitation.
They only had one shot in the second half – when Chiesa ran from his own half after Spain committed men forward and unselfishly squared for substitute Pellegrini.
In a post-match interview, Italy’s boss Roberto Mancini said, ”Italy were playing and it was not a club match.”
He added, “They could have put this situation aside for one night and whistle when it comes to a PSG-Milan game. Italy is Italy, and comes above everything else.”
Italy will face the losers of Thursday’s semi-final between Belgium and France at Juventus’ stadium in Sunday’s play-off for third place in the same venue.
