Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Result: Italy 1-1 Spain (4-2 pens): Azzurri to face England or Denmark in final

sportsmole.co.uk, 6 July 2021, 22:15
Gianluigi Donnarumma and Jorginho were the heroes as Italy booked their place in the final of Euro 2020 with a 4-2 penalty shoot-out win over Spain at Wembley.

The Azzurri have been among the front-runners since they opened the tournament on June 11 and they will be there when it finishes against either England or Denmark on Sunday, hoping to win a second European Championship and first since 1968.

They faced their toughest test yet against Spain, who were the better side, but when it ended 1-1 after 120 pulsating minutes, Donnarumma saved Alvaro Morata's penalty before Chelsea midfielder Jorginho sent Italy through to another final.

Morata went from hero to villain as he had earlier climbed off the bench to equalise for Luis Enrique's side with 10 minutes of normal time remaining - becoming his country's all-time leading goalscorer at the Euros with six - after Federico Chiesa had put Italy in front against the run of the play.

Spain deserved to win over the course the 120 minutes, but poor finishing cost them and they were unable to replicate their penalty shoot-out victory against Switzerland in the last 16.

Roberto Mancini's men were hanging on in extra-time and looked to have run out of steam, but they will now enjoy an extra day's recovery and return to Wembley hoping to cap an impressive tournament where they have found different ways to win.

These two heavyweights meeting at the knock-out stages of the European Championship is a familiar sight, with this clash following previous battles in 2008, 2012 and 2016.

Their journeys to the last four had gone down differing paths, with Italy turning heads with five wins from five while Spain got this far by winning just once in 90 minutes.

Yet, Spain know their way around the back end of this competition and turned up at Wembley looking the real deal.

They hurried Italy in possession in the way no other team had managed and it reaped rewards as chances came their way, only for their finishing to let them down.

Mikel Oyarzabal had an early sight of goal but could not control the ball after being played in by Pedri, who looked every inch like the next Spanish superstar midfielder he has been billed as.

With the 18-year-old making them tick, Enrique's side were in control, but their maverick goalkeeper Unai Simon almost gave Italy a leg-up when he came charging out for a long ball and got nowhere near it. However, Nicolo Barella did not get his shot away in time and Spain survived.

Thankfully, Pedri was much more composed and another precise pass saw Dani Olmo presented with the best chance of the first half.

The RB Leipzig striker got a second bite of the cherry after an initial shot was blocked but with time and space he put his shot too close to Donnarumma, who made a comfortable save.

More Spanish harassing created two more opportunities, but the finishing was wasteful on both occasions as Olmo could not find the target at the far post and then Oyarzabal also blazed over after a quick counter-attack.

Italy's attack had been free-flowing throughout the tournament but their best moment came in first-half stoppage time when Chelsea defender Emerson advanced into the box and struck a fierce shot from a narrow angle, which glanced the crossbar.

Chances continued to come and go for Spain in the second half as Sergio Busquets curled inches over following an explosive break by Oyarzabal, while Donnarumma showed safe handling to keep out the Real Sociedad forward's effort from distance.

Given their struggle to make their domination count, perhaps it was inevitable that they fell behind on the hour as they were hit by a lightning quick counter-attack.

Donnarumma collected a cross and 12 seconds later the ball was in the back of the net.

Aymeric Laporte did well to cut out Lorenzo Insigne's incisive pass but the ball fell to Chiesa, who curled into the bottom corner from the edge of the area with deadly precision.

Spain continued to carve out the chances and they wasted two more glaring ones shortly after going behind.

Oyarzabal somehow completely missed his connection on a free header just six yards out and Olmo fizzed wide from the edge of the box.

Eventually they got their reward as Morata showed some composure in front of goal 10 minutes from time.

The former Chelsea man played a slick one-two with Olmo that split the Italian defence and coolly slotted past Donnarumma.

Spain sensed blood and Morata was the spearhead as they were pushing for a winner in normal time, but could not find a way through.

Extra time offered nothing in the way of chances that normal time had done, so it had to be decided by penalties, just as the quarter-final tie between these two teams in 2008 did.

Spain won on that occasion, but after Manuel Locatelli and Olmo each missed their country's first spot-kick, Donnarumma kept out Morata's low effort and then Jorgino did the rest.

Top News

17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa have reportedly identified a player who they view as a potential replacement for Jhon Duran. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are reportedly risking the possibility of not being able to sell Armando Broja during the summer transfer window. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Hungary head coach Marco Rossi is still sweating over a pair of fitness doubts ahead of Wednesday's Euro 2024 Group A clash with Germany in Stuttgart. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Capable of sealing qualification for the Euro 2024 knockout stages with a game to spare, hosts Germany square off with Hungary in Wednesday's Group A battle at the MHPArena in Stuttgart. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk FC Cincinnati play host to Philadelphia Union on Wednesday evening looking for the win that would see them at least keep pace with Eastern Conference leaders Inter Miami. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal may reportedly be presented with an opportunity to sign a player who endured a calamitous spell at Liverpool during the summer transfer window. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Looking to extend their winning run to three matches, an in-form Charlotte FC will welcome strugglers Orlando City to the Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday night for a MLS clash of massive importance. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich are reportedly not inclined to meet Chelsea's financial demands for one of their defenders. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England manager Gareth Southgate has given an update on Kieran Tripper's fitness after Sunday's Euro 2024 fixture against Serbia. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The transfer window is open! Clubs around the UK and Europe are getting business done as they look to give themselves the best possible chance at success in the new season. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Romania vs. Ukraine (Monday, 2.00pm) With the waiting finally over, Group E rivals Romania and Ukraine will kick off their Euro 2024 campaigns on Monday afternoon in Munich. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The feature matchup on Wednesday in Major League Soccer will see the Supporters' Shield leaders, Inter Miami, face the reigning MLS Cup champions, the Columbus Crew, at Chase Stadium. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has revealed the club spoke to Thomas Tuchel about the manager's position. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England midfielder Jude Bellingham eclipsed Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael Owen in Sunday's 1-0 victory over Serbia at Euro 2024. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England midfielder Jude Bellingham eclipsed Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael Owen in Sunday's 1-0 victory over Serbia at Euro 2024. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly been named as the Premier League club that had a bid rejected for Lille defender Leny Yoro. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Jude Bellingham and Marc Guehi were the standout players for England, as the Three Lions opened their Euro 2024 campaign with a 1-0 success over Serbia on Sunday night. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England made the perfect start to their Euro 2024 campaign on Sunday evening, recording a 1-0 victory over Serbia courtesy of a first-half header from Jude Bellingham. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham scored the only goal of the match as England recorded a 1-0 victory over Serbia in their opening fixture of Euro 2024 on Sunday night. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are reportedly prepared to offer two players in a bid to sign Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea defender Levi Colwill is reportedly prepared to consider a potential move to Bayern Munich. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are reportedly prepared to offer Pep Guardiola a pay rise to extend his contract beyond the end of next season. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Denmark began their Euro 2024 campaign with a frustrating result as Erik Janza netted a 77th-minute equaliser to rescue a point for Slovenia in Stuttgart. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Belgium will be heading into Monday's Euro 2024 fixture against Slovakia having put together a 17-match streak. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Cristiano Ronaldo has said that the current Portugal "generation" deserve to win a European Championship. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Raphael Varane and Casemiro were allegedly two Manchester United players to question the approach of head coach Erik ten Hag over the last two seasons at Old Trafford. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho is reportedly interested in a reunion with Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Valencia have allegedly launched a £25m offer for Mason Greenwood, with the Manchester United forward keen to make a permanent move to Spain during this summer's transfer window. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Jack Grealish is reportedly open to discussing a move away from Manchester City during this summer's transfer window after struggling for form during the 2023-24 campaign. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly set to loan one of their teenage starlets out to Belgium for the 2024-25 season.