Tuesday, July 6th, 2021
Update
Morata – Spain’s joys and sorrows
Italy moves into the European Championship finals after a penalty crime thriller
In the fight for the final, they don’t give each other anything: the 2006 and 2010 world champions, Italy and Spain. The first semi-final of this European football championship will only be decided in the penalty shoot-out. And then the Spaniard, of all people, who made the extension possible, misses.
The indomitable Italy overthrew the next giant in one magical night and dreams of a final triumph. The four-time world champion stopped the Spanish passing machine in the 4-2 penalty shootout at Wembley with fiery passion and luck at the right time. The Squadra Azzurra can celebrate their second European Championship title after 1968 on Sunday: The final hurdle for the Italians, who are now unbeaten in 33 games in a row, is England or Denmark in the same place.
“It was a very tough game, Spain played great,” said coach Roberto Mancini. His team was physically at the end: “We knew that we had to suffer. Now we have to regain our strength quickly.” For game number 34 in the incredible series.
“We played against a powerful opponent. We suffered, but we brought it home. We always believed in ourselves and didn’t let ourselves be cornered,” commented victory shooter Jorginho, who has already won the Champions League with Chelsea -Finals won. Federico Chiesa, who had put Azzurri in the lead in the 60th minute, was similarly euphoric: “I can’t describe my feelings in words. Now we’re in the final and we’re really happy. We’re over the moon.”
Italy delivered a great fight to the technically superior but too inconsistent opponent in the first semifinals. The defense only held out with difficulty in front of 58,000 spectators – Jorginho then sent the entire country into ecstasy in roulette from the point. Dani Olmo and Alvaro Morata had missed for Spain. Morata, of all people, who only saved his Spaniards in the 80th minute in extra time.
The duel between two active and attacking possession teams kept what it had promised. “We want the ball, we need it!” Luis Enrique had said imploringly. He got it, but his players simply didn’t carry it into the goal for a long time. “We would have liked to have made it to the final and actually played a good game. We are proud of what we did. It was a good experience for such a young team,” commented Sergio Busquets.
Donnarumma asked several times
Italy: Donnarumma – Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Chiellini, Emerson, from 74. Toloi – Barella, from 85. Locatelli, Jorginho, Verratti, from 74. Pessina – Chiesa, from 107. Bernardeschi, Immobile, from 61. Berardi, Insigne, from 85 Belotti. – Coach: Mancini
Spain: Simon – Azpilicueta, from 85. Llorente, Garcia, from 109. Pau Torres, Laporte, Alba – Koke, from 70. Rodri, Busquets, from 106. Thiago, Pedri – Ferran Torres, from 62. Morata, Oyarzabal, from 70. Gerard Moreno, Olmo. – Trainer: Enrique
Referee: Felix Brych (Munich)
Gates: 1: 0 Chiesa (60th), 1: 1 Morata (80th)
Penalties shoot: Simon (Spain) saves penalty from Locatelli, Olmo (Spain) shoots over the goal, 1: 0 Belotti, 1: 1 Gerard, 2: 1 Bonucci, 2: 2 Thiago, 3: 2 Bernardeschi, Donnarumma (Italy) saves a penalty Morata, 4-2 Jorginho
Spain coach surprised by taking Morata out of the starting line-up for the first time when the hapless Mikel Oyarzabal stormed. Mancini, on the other hand, replaced left-back Leonardo Spinazzola, who had torn his Achilles tendon in the quarter-finals against Belgium (2-1), with Emerson. He hit the crossbar just before the break (45th).
The native Brazilian from Chelsea was also the one who initiated the first big chance: Nicolo Barella, who failed on the post, was offside when he passed through the ball. Spain stretched their white pass net across the pitch, passed the ball – Italy stormed straight forward after winning the ball, fanatically driven by the majority of the spectators.
However, Spain did not play the paralyzing Tiki-Taka of yore, but quickly looked for the moment for the brilliant pass to the top. Oyarzabal failed to take the ball with him in the perfect center forward position (13th), otherwise he would have been alone in front of goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The Spaniards pressed in a game at a high technical level and forced Italian bad passes in the first line of defense through Koke, the agile Pedri or Sergio Busquets. Donnarumma had to iron out his own weakness against Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig) (25th).
First post, later lath
Relief of the Azzurri was therefore less common, but remained extremely dangerous: When Unai Simon ran out of his goal over-motivated, however, no one was found for the conclusion (20th), and Lorenzo Insigne ran out with the ball (34th). Emerson hit the crossbar.
For the first time Italy had real problems in the tournament, with the extremely experienced central defense Giorgio Chiellini / Leonardo Bonucci doing hard work. Even after the break: Olmo, Busquets, Koke brought the Azzurri into dire straits within minutes. Chiesa forced Simon to parry on the other side (53rd). Seven minutes later, the Juventus striker flicked the ball from the left into the far corner.
Spain’s “Furia Roja” reacted angrily. Enrique threw Morata into play for Ferran Torres, later also Gerard Moreno and Rodrigo. Oyarzabal missed a perfect chip flank by a hair’s breadth from Kokes (65th) – actually a safe goal. Italy saw themselves pushed into their own penalty area, where the “old men” threw themselves into every shot. Olmo also felt this (67th).
The Italians were looking for stability, Spain desperately the way over the opposing goal line. Opportunities abounded, but the highly talented team only played one attack against the now very low opponents. The extension was characterized by waiting.
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