Is It Coming To Rome?
-Syed Suboor Abbas
Italy vs Spain lived up to the pre-match billing as the Azzurri defeated La Roja 4–2 on penalties, following a pulsating 1–1 draw in the first semi-final to become the first finalists of Euro 2020. However, Roberto Mancini’s men were second favorites for majority of the game. The Spanish side’s superiority in midfield helped them establish their dominance over the game, and many will argue that the better team lost.
In an end-to-end first half, Luis Enrique’s team pretty much ran the show and had plenty of opportunities to go ahead in the game, with their best chance falling to Dani Olmo whose low, drilling shot from ten yards out was incredibly saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma. Despite not having enough possession, the Italians kept hitting back on counter-attacks and one such opportunity saw them almost take the lead against the run of play when Emerson Palmieri just clipped the crossbar after being brilliantly picked out on the overlap by Lorenzo Insigne.
The two teams came flying out of the blocks in the second half, with Sergio Busquets grazing the top of the bar from the edge of the box early on. However, just on the hour’s mark, it was Mancini’s Italy who took the lead. A deadly transition of play saw Ciro Immobile tee up Federico Chiesa who cut inside and dropped his shoulder before curling home a sensational strike into the top corner. Wild celebrations erupted in Wembley as the Azzurri went 1–0 ahead, but the party was almost cut short when Mikel Oyarzabal was presented with a tremendous opportunity to head home from six yards out, only for him to fail to make a connection with the ball.
Lucho played his ace when he sent on Alvaro Morata. The Juventus (on loan from Atletico Madrid) forward played a wonderful one-two with Olmo inside the box before side-footing in his third goal of the tournament, which also saw him becoming the top Spanish goalscorer at Euro finals with six. The goal drew the game level on 1–1 with ten minutes to go.
The two nations couldn’t be separated after the ninety minutes and the game went into extra time, but another riveting thirty minutes weren’t enough to decide the match, and the first team to go to Euro 2020 final was set to be decided via a penalty shootout.
After scoring two each and missing one, both teams were level on penalties when up stepped, Morata. The Spanish hero on the night, however, was denied by Donnarumma. It was Jorginho for Italy, who scored the winning penalty and sent the Azzurri through to the final, at Wembley. The celebrations may go into the night, but the Italians must be eager to find out who will they face for the ultimate glory as they await the winner of England vs Denmark.
Who do you think will join Italy in the Euro 2020 final? Let us know in the comments and do share your feedback.
