Italy meet Spain in the opening semi-final of Euro 2020 at Wembley Stadiums as both teams look to secure their spot in the Grand Final.
Roberto Mancini’s Italians stunned Belgium in the Quarter-Finals to set up this clash against Spain, after Luis Enrique’s Spaniards needed penalties to defeat Switzerland.
Team News
Leonardo Spinazzola is ruled out for Italy after rupturing his Achilles in Friday’s Quarter-Final win over Belgium in Munich.
Roberto Mancini however has no other injury concerns to report as Alessandro Florenzi looks to return after missing the Quarter-Final with a knock.
Spain could be without Pablo Sarabia after the striker was substituted with a muscle strain at half-time in Friday’s eventual penalty shootout victory over Switzerland, having been held to a 1-1 draw after extra-time.
Stat Attack
- Italy are unbeaten in four of six previous meetings against Spain at the Euros (W2, D2, L2).
- Spain have won just one of four previous Euro matches against Italy when playing as the away team (W1, D1, L2), with their sole ‘away’ win only coming 4-2 on penalties after a goalless Quarter-Final draw in June 2008 in Vienna, Austria.
- Just four of Spain’s last starting eleven in a 3-0 World Cup qualifier win over Italy in September 2017 feature in the current squad – David De Gea, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Koke.
- No Italian player has won more tackles at Euro 2020 than Marco Verratti, who has won five of his 15 tackles in three appearances.
- Pablo Sarabia is the only Spanish player to have scored each of his two goals on his left foot alone.
- Italy have won all three previous semi-finals which they featured in this century (World Cup – 2006, Euro – 2000 & 2012).
- Spain have won all four of their semi-final appearances at Euro tournaments (1964, 1984, 2008 & 2012), going on to become champions on three occasions (1964, 2008 & 2012).
Prediction
Having started the tournament looking like outsiders, Italy now come into this game as favourites with a fantastic high pressing game and a dangerous attack ready to relentlessly pressurize Spain.
There will however be two concerns for Mancini because Spinazzola will be a huge loss on the left flank with his pace and influence. which will be a real issue in terms of creativity moving forward especially after they struggled on their Last 16 trip to London against Austria.
Spain meanwhile delivered another toothless display in their win over Switzerland which marked a backward step towards their opening two matches against Sweden and Poland, which must be of serious worry for Enrique because they cannot afford another sloppy effort at this stage.
We must also note that Spain have needed extra time in both knockout games too which will have a knock-on effect physically on top of inconsistent performances, so I can see just one result coming unless Spain can get stuck in defensively and force extra time or penalties.
Prediction: Italy 2-0 Spain
Result: Italy 1-1 Spain (Italy win 4-2 on penalties!!)