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Italy booked their place in the UEFA Euro 2020 final in dramatic fashion after a 4-2 win on penalties decided their semi-final tie against Spain on Tuesday evening.
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Contrary to general opinion before the game, it was Spain that began the game on the front foot. Luis Enrique’s men had the better chances in the first half while successfully keeping their more fancied opponents at bay.
And so it was against the run of play that Italy took the lead in the 60th minute as Federico Chiesa put the finishing touches on an incisive counter-attack. However, Spain did not let their heads drop and regained parity in the 80th minute. Alvaro Morata came off the bench and coolly slotted home a well-worked equalizer.
Although both sides looked dangerous in attack, neither goalkeeper was unduly tested as the game went into extra time. However, both sides seemed to prioritize not conceding over scoring as an uneventful 30 minutes fizzled out and gave way to a penalty shootout.
Stepping up to put his side back on level terms with four penalties taken by both sides, Morata’s evening then took a turn for the worse. His crucial miss left the door open for Jorginho to send Italy through with a nerveless spot-kick that sent Italian players, staff, and fans alike into raptures.
The Italians now await the winners of the second semi-final between England and Denmark, which is set to take place on Wednesday evening ahead of the final showdown on Sunday.
On that note, here are the hits and flops from an eventful semi-final tie.
#1 Hit: Dani Olmo
Some might question the logic behind Luis Enrique’s decision to drop Morata in favor of a player with quite a different playing style in Olmo. But the RB Leipzig attacker repaid his coach’s faith in him by leading the Spanish attack extremely well.
Playing from a deeper position than what Morata usually occupies, Olmo succeeded in escaping the attentions of Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci. As a result, he was able to spend more time on the ball, drive at the Italian goal instead of jostling with the veteran Italian defenders, and bring his fellow attackers into the game more effectively.
Morata’s introduction in the second half saw Olmo switch over to the left flank, from where he was equally effective. In fact, it was Olmo that played Morata in for the equalizer after a deft one-two with the Juventus striker, capping off a stellar display with a well-deserved assist.
A poorly-taken penalty in the shootout was the only blot in his otherwise spotless copybook as the pressure of the occasion seemed to get to him.
#2 Flop: Ciro Immobile
Despite being a prolific goalscorer in domestic football, Ciro Immobile hasn’t quite been able to replicate his club form in the international arena. The Lazio man started the Euros with two goals in the first two games but has seen his scoring output dry up since then, even as the Italians continue to sweep all before them in the tournament.
Leading the line for the Azzuri yet again in this game, Immobile was virtually anonymous in the first half as the Spanish defenders man-marked him quite effectively. And when his side did win the ball back, his hold-up play left much to be desired as Italy struggled to get a foothold in the game.
While his pace did help open up the Spanish defense in the build-up to Italy’s opener, Immobile’s struggles at the helm of the attack were soon recognized by Roberto Mancini, who brought him off immediately after the goal went in, with half an hour yet to play.
#3 Hit: Emerson
Replacing one of the players of the tournament thus far in Leonardo Spinazzola, Emerson had big boots to fill at left-back. To his credit, he acquitted himself superbly against a Spain side that dominated possession.
While the Chelsea man went about his defensive duties without much fuss, it was in attack that he really stood out. Emerson was arguably Italy’s most potent attacking threat during his time on the pitch, making several probing runs down the left flank. In fact, it was he who came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half, hitting the woodwork from a narrow angle after getting in behind the Spanish defense yet again.
Emerson was replaced with 15 minutes left to play as Mancini looked to freshen up his defense and batten down the hatches to protect the lead. But Emerson did more than enough to win his manager’s trust for future matches.
#4 Flop: Unai Simon
From making a high profile error leading to an own goal to starring in a penalty shootout win, Unai Simon has experienced both highs and lows in his first major tournament with the Spanish national side.
His inexperience at the biggest stage was quite evident in this game as he caused his side a series of nervy moments with his uncertain positioning. Despite Spain retaining the majority of the possession, there were more than a few occasions when Simon rushed out to intercept an Italian pass. It was only to either fail to reach the ball and leave the net unguarded or shank a clearance and invite more pressure on his goal.
Simon’s indecision was less evident in the second half but never vanished completely. The Athletic Bilbao man continued to look extremely nervous with the ball at his feet and would be glad not to have been tested more often during the game.
#5 Hit: Federico Chiesa
Having played his way into the starting lineup with a series of impressive displays on the right flank, Chiesa had the proverbial game of two halves. After being rather ineffective in the first half and receiving public admonishment from Mancini, he played like a man transformed after the restart.
With fatigue starting to play a part and gaps starting to emerge, Chiesa’s pace and positioning saw him take up the right position at the right time. He latched on to a loose ball in the Spanish penalty area and fire his side into the lead with a well-taken finish.
The Juventus man showed outstanding energy levels even as the game wore on, spurring his side onward with his direct running. He was one of Italy’s most promising attacking outlets before earning a well-deserved rest in extra time.
