Italy beat Belgium 2-1 with to goals from Nicola Barella and Lorenzo Insigne, advancing them to the semifinals of the European Championship.
Before halftime, Romelu Lukaku scored a penalty to pull Belgium within one, but they wasted several opportunities after the break to tie the game.
In the 31st minute, Barella beat two players from Belgium and scored off the far post. The second goal was scored by Insigne in the 44th minute, when his curling shot snuck inside the uppermost corner.
A penalty was given after Giovanni Di Lorenzo was penalised for pushing Jeremy Doku. Lukaku put the ball right in the heart of the goal for an easy score.
Italy’s second goal against in this competition. On Tuesday at Wembley Stadium in London, Italy will take on Spain in the other semifinal match.
Italy Defeated Spain
Spain was the better team for extended stretches of this great clash, but an hour into the game.
Italy took the lead thanks to a stunning finish from Juventus striker Federico Chiesa, who was watched by around 58,000 fans.
With 10 minutes left in regulation time, the much-maligned Alvaro Morata, who was pulled from the starting line-up here, came off the bench to equalise.
If there was still no winner after 120 minutes, Spain would have to face Switzerland once more in a penalty shootout, a format they had already successfully navigated to advance to the semi-finals.
The Spanish had previously defeated Italy in a penalty shootout in Euro 2008, but they blew a 1-0 lead after Manuel Locatelli missed the first penalty and then again when Dani Olmo and Morata both missed their attempts.
A Dash of Italian Panache Completed a 4-2 Penalty-Shootout
With a touch of flair, Italy defeated Spain 4-2 in a penalty shootout on Tuesday at Wembley Stadium, setting up a championship game against either England or Denmark on Sunday at the same venue.
Italy’s hardest test of the tournament ended in a 1-1 draw after extra time, as Spain had long stretches of possession.
With a curling shot in the 60th minute, Italy’s Federico Chiesa put his team ahead, but Spain’s substitute Alvaro Morata tied the game with a goal of his own in the 80th.
Federico Chiesa put Italy on the board in the 60th minute with a looping goal, but Spain’s replacement Alvaro Morata scored in the 80th to force overtime.
Conclusion
The teams that will compete in the semi-finals of UEFA Euro 2020 have been determined. Semifinals will see Italy, Spain, England, and Denmark going head-to-head for a spot in the tournament final.
In the first semi-final matchup at Wembley, Italy and Spain have taken the field. With their quarterfinal victory over Belgium, Italy improved to 32-0 in their tournament career.
The match ended 1-1, and the game went to a penalty shootout, where Spain ultimately prevailed 3-1 over Switzerland.
