Spain beat Italy 1-2 away, in an entertaining match at the San Siro in Milan. Thus, Spain reached the Nations League final, while at the same time ensuring they ended Italy’s world-record 37-game unbeaten run. We saw, in captain Giorgio Chiellini’s absence, in related UEFA Nations League football news, Italy’s first defeat in 37 games.
Spain gained some retribution for their Euro 2020 semi-final penalty shootout loss to eventual champions Italy at Wembley. Albeit, Spain’s semi-final revenge came in UEFA’s secondary tournament, in Nations League.
UEFA Nations League Football News – Italy’s First Defeat in 37 Games
Ferran Torres from Manchester City scored two goals from two Mikel Oyarzabal crosses at San Siro in Milan. Torres thus took Luis Enrique’s side to the final against either Belgium or France on Sunday.
Captain Leonardo Bonucci had to quit the pitch due to two bookings, the second for an elbow on Sergio Busquets. But by the time he left, Italy was already second best because they were 1-0 down.
They appeared doomed until Lorenzo Insigne’s late strike, which came after a fantastic Federico Chiesa counter-attack. However, they couldn’t find an undeserved equalizer.
Gavi, a 17-year-old Barcelona midfielder, made his international debut for Spain, making him the youngest player in the country’s history.
He thus started for Spain just less than six weeks after making his club debut. And he seemed at ease on the big stage.
Although the Nations League is a relatively young tournament, it was contested with talent and intensity.
In terms of skill and quality, it equaled any World Cup or European Championship match. This was especially true for this semi-final when both teams had 11 players.
It’s also the first time Italy have lost a competitive match they played in their own country since 1999.
Italy – Spain 1 – 2
Goals: 0 – 1 Torres 17, 0 – 2 Torres 45+2, 1 – 2 Pellegrini 83
Bookings: Locatelli; Azpilicueta, Sarabia, Pino, Oyarzabal
Sent off: BonucciItaly: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Bastoni, Emerson; Barella, Jorginho, Verratti; Chiesa, Bernardeschi, Insigne
Substitutions: Chiellini, Kean, Locatelli, Pellegrini, Calabria
Spain: Unai Simon; Azpilicueta, Laporte, Pau Torres, Marcos Alonso; Koke, Busquets, Gavi; Ferran Torres, Sarabia, Oyarzabal
Substitutions: Pino, Merino, Gil, Sergi Roberto
