Spain cheers / Image: APA / AFP / POOL / MARCO BERTORELLO
Spain has finished Italy's world record series and advanced to the Nations League final. The European champions had to admit defeat to the Iberians 1: 2 (0: 2) in Milan on Wednesday and went off the field as a loser after 37 games without a defeat. Ferran Torres (17th, 45th + 2) scored both goals for the Spaniards, Lorenzo Pellegrini (83rd) could only shorten. Italy acted after yellow-red for Leonardo Bonucci (42nd) more than a half of ten.
Team boss Luis Enrique's “Roja” will face the winner from Belgium against world champion France in the final on Sunday (8.45pm) in Milan. The second semi-final will take place on Thursday (8.45 p.m. / live ORF 1) in Turin. Third place is also played out. The winner inherits Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. had prevailed in the first edition of the Nations League 2019 in the final against the Netherlands.
“Football is just like that. Sometimes small details can make the difference. The first half could easily have ended 1-1,” said Italy's head coach Roberto Mancini. “We're disappointed. We should have played with eleven, made a mistake that you can't afford at this level,” said the 56-year-old. Spain midfielder Koke said: “This is a historic evening. To win against Italy here at San Siro after the record run they had … It remains an unforgettable win.”
Record and mistake
Mancini's eleven were deservedly disenchanted by Spain in the new edition of the EM semifinals. The guests played their ball possession game as usual, but also vigorously sought the end. Gavi was part of the Iberian passport machinery. At 17 years and 62 days, the FC Barcelona midfielder became the youngest player to ever wear the Spanish team jersey.
The evening turned out to be far less pleasant for Gianluigi Donnarumma. Italy's goalkeeper was mercilessly whistled at every action by the crowd, who still resent his free transfer from Milan to Paris Saint-Germain. Captain Giorgio Chiellini only sat on the bench with the home side, Italy started with a swing: The formidable Federico Chiesa forced Unai Simon into the Spanish goal in the 5th minute to make a first save.
There were no real goalscorers on either side. In the absence of Ciro Immobile or Alvaro Morata, neither squad had a player who had scored more than ten team goals. Spain's top scorer, however, knew how to please: Ferran Torres single-handedly gave his team a two-goal lead. The 21-year-old attacker from Manchester City initially used a perfect cross from Mikel Oyarzabal volley, and when he headed 2-0 in stoppage time in the first half, the strike partner was again the preparer.
There were already ten of them in Italy. Bonucci saw yellow-red after catching Sergio Busquets with his elbow in an air duel. Juventus defense routinier was warned by the Russian referee Sergej Karasew before because of criticism. The exclusion also slowed the efforts of the Italians, who had previously just missed the compensation. Simon blocked a shot from Federico Bernardeschi on the bar (34.), Lorenzo Insigne shot past the housing from an excellent position a minute later.
Mancini brought Chiellini after the break to stabilize the defense. Torres left the field shortly afterwards, with Yeremi Pino (18) from Villarreal, another young star came. The Spaniards, who are extremely ball-safe as usual, were not really in danger. Chiesa hit the outside pole after an hour, but was offside during his action. On the other hand, Oyarzabal headed (63rd) and Marcos Alonso (78th) missed good opportunities to make it 3-0.
It was thanks to a Spanish faux pas that it got exciting again. After an Iberian corner kick, Chiesa benefited from a poor return of the ball and put the substitute Pellegrini down. But nothing more was possible for Italy.
