Underrated Azzurri: Three under-the-radar Italians to keep an eye on
Following their mammoth success at Wembley a fortnight ago, the new-look Italian national team have had their gems gain mass attention across the footballing…
Nicolo Barella and Lorenzo Insigne have scored a goal each to give Italy a 2-1 win over Belgium and a spot in the European Championship semi-finals.
Romelu Lukaku pulled one back from the penalty spot right before halftime but the Belgians missed further chances to equalise in the second half.
Barella put Italy in the lead in the 31st minute after eluding two Belgium defenders and sending the ball in off the far post.
Insigne got the second in the 44th when he put a curling shot inside the far top corner.
Italy will next play Spain in the semi-finals on Tuesday at Wembley Stadium in London.
The Spanish defeated Switzerland on penalties in St Petersburg earlier on Friday.
Belgium got the penalty when Giovanni Di Lorenzo pushed Jeremy Doku shortly before halftime.
Lukaku then made it 2-1 by sending his shot down the middle. It was only the second goal Italy has conceded at the tournament.
Kevin De Bruyne started the match for Belgium after recovering from a left ankle injury, but Eden Hazard remained out with his leg injury.
Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made two good saves to deny De Bruyne and Lukaku early in the match.
© AAP
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Following their mammoth success at Wembley a fortnight ago, the new-look Italian national team have had their gems gain mass attention across the footballing…
So England have lost another penalty shootout. Gareth Southgate and his coaching group either didn’t do their homework or, if they did, they left…
Football can be a cruel game. In front of a packed Wembley full of hope and optimism, England lost to Italy 2-3 on penalties…
After 120 grinding minutes the deciding penalty was unfortunately burdened upon young 19-year-old Bukayo Saka, who had his shot saved by player of the…
Twenty-five years after his missed penalty cost England a place in the 1996 Euros final, England manager Gareth Southgate was crushed again as the…
Euro 2020 has not disappointed. From the moment the Italians opened the tournament in style, through the tragedy that struck the Danes with the…