Perhaps the Italian fans were the only ones wishing not to resort to extra time during their team's 2-1 victory over Belgium in an exciting match in the quarter-finals of the European Football Championship (Euro 2020) on Friday.
Perhaps Spain's victory over Croatia, and Switzerland over France, on penalties in the final price tag, was more exciting, but the confrontation between Italy and Belgium in Munich was perfect from all sides.
The match looked like a fight between two great boxers, as Italy and Belgium presented all their speed, vitality, individual skill and tactics.
Donnarumma shines by blocking 🧤 shotgun 🔥 from De Bruyne 👨 # Euro 2020 # Belgium_Italy pic.twitter.com/OpPlx6rks8
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) July 2, 2021
Former Germany top scorer Jürgen Klinsmann praised Italy's impressive performance, which forced the Belgian team to defend, despite its habit of attacking its opponents.
🇮🇹 The smoothest drag back from Jorginho to take Thorgan Hazard out of the game 🔥🔥🔥#EUROSOTD |
@HisenseSports |
#EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/ACvCNadMvR
— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) July 2, 2021
Speaking to the BBC, the former player - who led Germany to the 1990 World Cup and European Championship titles - said: "What (Italy) did on the offensive side was amazing, the organization I played and the passes. For a minute and a half, I passed. Italy played the ball 25 to 30 times, and Belgium surrendered and went back to the defense.”
"It was an amazing match," said former England striker Alan Shearer. "Italy withstood all of Belgium's attempts in the last quarter of an hour. It was amazing."
amazing performance
The Italian national team gained its reputation as the king of defensive plans, and also produced an impressive performance in attack, paving the way for a highly anticipated and exciting match against Spain in the semi-finals at Wembley Stadium next Tuesday.
Italy continued to shine under Roberto Mancini, a former striker who instilled his philosophy into a team bent on attacking their opponents no matter who they are.
Belgium was in trouble because of the pressure of Italy, which led 2-0 with goals by Nicolo Barilla and Lorenzi Insigne, before Romelu Lukaku reduced the difference with a penalty kick at the end of the first half.
Bellissimo 🥰
Insigne curls the ball beyond Courtois 🎯
Goal of the Round contender?@GazpromFootball |
#EUROGOTR |
#EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/fVrkbD58z8
— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) July 2, 2021
Instead of resorting to defense, as previous generations did, Mancini's team continued its quest to score the third goal to settle the match.
Italy's defense, led by Giorgio Chiellini, 36, and Leonardo Bonucci, 34, stopped Lukaku, "Belgium's top scorer through the ages," and the defense duo showed the strength and vitality of the youngsters.
Italy stalwarts 💙#EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/mAW1LtxYeA
— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) July 2, 2021
With Lukaku missing a dangerous opportunity to equalize from close range, 19-year-old Jeremy Duques shone in leading Belgium with his speed and skill.
Leonardo Spinazzola 🧱 protects Donnarumma's goal from a confirmed goal with Lukaku's feet # Euro 2020 # Belgium_Italy pic.twitter.com/0ZEWO8Dldy
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) July 2, 2021
The young player upset Italy's defense from the left side, won a penalty, and almost equalized in the second half after a great run into the field, but his shot just crossed the bar.
After maintaining its perfect record in the tournament, Italy enters the Spain match as it seeks to reach the final for the second time in 3 editions of the tournament after losing 4-0 to Spain in the 2012 final.
Italy scored 11 goals in the current tournament, a record in the European Championship, and its participation in major tournaments is only surpassed by its 12 goals on its way to the 2006 World Cup title.
It seems that it has everything to grab the title this time.
Spinazzola's serious injury
On the other hand, Leonardo Spinazzola's serious injury cast a shadow over Italy's semi-final celebrations, as the left-back went out on a medical stretcher in the second half and is expected to end his career in the tournament.
Italian media said that the Roma defender, who played a key role in reaching the semi-finals for his country, may have ruptured his Achilles tendon, which means he will be absent for months.
"He doesn't deserve it, he was one of the best players in the tournament, and he will be even if he doesn't play for the rest. We are very sad about what happened as the injury looks serious," Italy coach Roberto Mancini told a news conference.
Spinazzola, 28, was crying as he came out of the stadium on a stretcher, and Emerson Palmieri participated in his place, and he will be a candidate to participate against Spain.
Italy's Lorenzo Insigne said the players were saddened by the injury of their colleague.
He added, "It is a great loss, we will try to fight our way to the end for him, because until today he was an important and influential player."
🇮🇹 TEAM 👊
Will @azzurri go all the way?#EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/U31kYbyTnp
— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) July 2, 2021
Mancini praised his team after another amazing performance, and said, "I don't think we suffered much at any point in the game. In order to beat a team like Belgium, everyone has to perform well and that's exactly what happened."
"We scored two goals and could have scored more, I think the victory was deserved. We will face Spain and the more we go forward, the more difficult it becomes. Tonight we just want to think about our performance and our victory."