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Italy will take on Spain in the first semi-final of UEFA Euro 2020 on Tuesday. After producing a remarkable display against Belgium, Roberto Mancini's men will start as the favourites against Luis Enrique's free-scoring Spain.
Spain were helped by Denis Zakaria's own goal and three penalty misses by Switzerland in the quarter-final shootout as La Roja edged through 3-1 on penalties after the teams were locked at a goal apiece after 120 minutes.
Both Italy and Spain are brimming with talent, so this match should make for an interesting watch.
Spain have the best attacking stats in the competition, with 12 goals, while Italy are not too far behind, having scored 11. The Azzurri have been more solid than Spain defensively, did not concede a goal in the group stage, and have let in only two all tournament.
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The two teams met in the last three editions of the Euros, with Spain edging out Italy in the Euro 2008 quarter-final shootout and beating the Azzuri 4-0 in the 2012 final. Italy beat Spain 2-0 in the Round of 16 at Euro 2016, though.
The outcome of this game will most likely be determined by player matchups rather than individual brilliance. On that note, let's take a look at five key player battles that could be key in the outcome of the match:
#5 Emerson Palmieri (Italy) vs Ferran Torres (Spain)
Spain have been heavily reliant on their front three at Euro 2020. One of the players who could have an impact against Italy is Manchester City winger Ferran Torres.
He plays on the right flank for La Furia Roja, and his involvement is likely to be even more important in the game, as Italy's Leonardo Spinazzola, one of the best players at Euro 2020, has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury.
Spinazzola will likely be replaced by Emerson, who has made just two appearances in this competition. Torres, meanwhile, has scored two goals and also has an assist to his name at Euro 2020.
Torres' pace and skill could come in handy against Emerson, who is yet to be tested at the tournament.
#4 Lorenzo Insigne (Italy) vs Cesar Azpilicueta (Spain)
If Spain have the upper hand on the left flank with Ferran Torres, Italy will also be fancying their chances on that flank in the attacking third, thanks to Lorenzo Insigne.
The Napoli forward has been in great form at Euro 2020. He has found the back of the net twice this tournament, including a wonderful strike against Belgium to give Italy a decisive lead. He has also averaged 2.8 key passes a game in the competition.
However, Insigne will be up against Spain's veteran defender Cesar Azpilicueta, who has played as a centre-back for Chelsea but has reverted to his original right-back position for his national side.
The Chelsea man has scored a goal in three appearances for the 2012 champions at Euro 2020 and is the most experienced defender in Spain line-up. His experience of playing as a centre-half could come in handy against Insigne, who has quick feet and skills.
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#3 Marco Verratti (Italy) vs Pedri (Spain)
Both Italy and Spain have great strength in the middle of the park. A healthy mix of experience and youth has ensured that the gameplay for both teams at Euro 2020 has been seamless.
Italy missed Marco Verratti in their tournament opener, but the PSG man has been a pivotal force for the Azzurri in midfield. His vision and passing prowess have helped him rack up two assists to his name already.
Verratti also draws a lot of fouls from opponents, especially in the attacking third. As has been seen in the competition thus far, set-pieces could make a difference in the outcome of this game as well.
To counter Verratti, Spain have Pedri in their ranks, a player who has been a revelation at the competition. His unfortunate own goal aside, the 18-year-old has been a consistent performer for Luis Enrique at Euro 2020.
The Barcelona midfielder has covered more ground (61.5 km) than anyone else at Euro 2020. It is this tenacity that could be key against Italy in the semi-final, where fatigue could be a factor for both teams.
#2 Leonardo Bonucci (Italy) vs Alvaro Morata (Spain)
Spain and Italy have both been unbeaten so far in Euro 2020. But unfortunately, one of them will exit the tournament on Tuesday.
One of the main reasons for Italy's rock-solid defence, which has shipped in just two goals, has been the presence of Juventus defender Leonardo Bonnuci in all five games so far. He has been tremendous at the heart of Italy's defence, alongside veteran Giorgio Chiellini.
While the two have put in great tackles and maintained Italy's solidarity at the back, they will be up against the top-scoring team of Euro 2020 on Tuesday. Alvaro Morata is the usual suspect when it comes to players who could be on the scoresheet in this semi-final clash.
Morata has been at the receiving end of some harsh treatment by Spain fans but has scored two crucial goals for his team at Euro 2020. He has also averaged three shots on goal per game and is a player Italy will need to keep their eye on.
#1 Jorginho (Italy) vs Sergio Busquets (Spain)
The best matchup when Italy and Spain clash on Tuesday will likely be the one between the two teams' midfield maestros, Jorginho and Sergio Busquets. The two central midfielders have been the heartbeats of their respective teams, so their performance in the semi-final could decide the outcome of the game.
Jorginho has been brilliant with his ball distribution and has also helped in breaking opposition plays, making 2.6 interceptions a game. With a pass accuracy of 94%, he controls the midfield for Italy.
Busquets, meanwhile, is a calming presence at the centre of the pitch for Spain. It is no wonder why Spain dropped points in the opening two games of the competition, as Busquets was absent.
He has rolled back the years with sublime performances against Slovakia, and his vertical passes have helped create a lot of chances for Spain.
Usually, the forwards hold the key to success in crucial knockout games. But the tactical awareness and ball-playing skills of the two seasoned midfielders should make for a pretty interesting watch.
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