In their supreme tiki-taka grandeur, Spain cleared Italy to the side 4-0 in the last of UEFA EURO 2012, however, the overall influence has moved a little since. Italy disposed of La Roja with a 2-0 success in the 2016 round of 16 and come to Wembley having won every one of their last 13 worldwide matches, while likewise being unbeaten in 32 (W27 D5). Their confounding speed and executioner completing demonstrated a lot for a gifted Belgium group last break.
Luis Enrique’s Spain has been confounding, most definitely; after bunch stage draws against Sweden and Poland, they beat Slovakia 5-0 to arrive at the last 16, where they scored five once more, however it set aside additional effort to polish off Croatia. A line of botched opportunities then, at that point permitted ten-man Switzerland to take them to punishments in the quarter-finals, however top-class adversaries like Italy may yet draw out the best in them.
PREDICTED LINE-UPS
Italy: Donnarumma; Florenzi, Bonucci, Chiellini, Emerson; Barella, Jorginho, Verratti; Chiesa, Immobile, Insigne
Out: Spinazzola (achilles)
Spain: Unai Simón; Azpilicueta, García, Laporte, Alba; Koke, Busquets, Pedri; Moreno, Morata, Olmo
Doubtful: Sarabia (muscular)
VIEW FROM THE CAMPS
ROBERTO MANCINI, ITALY COACH:
“WE SCORED TWO [AGAINST BELGIUM] AND WE COULD HAVE SCORED MORE. I THINK THE VICTORY WAS FULLY DESERVED. SPAIN ARE NEXT, BUT THE MORE YOU PROGRESS, THE MORE DIFFICULT IT BECOMES.”
LUIS ENRIQUE, SPAIN COACH:
“WE ARE SO PROUD. IT’D BE RIDICULOUS TO THINK THAT WE, OR ANY OF THE SEMI-FINALISTS, WOULD SIGN FOR JUST GETTING THIS FAR NOW – ALL OF US WANT TO GET TO THE FINAL AND WIN.”
UNAI SIMÓN, SPAIN GOALKEEPER:
“WE HAVE TO GO INTO THE SEMI-FINAL FRESH, CONFIDENT, AND WITH OUR HEADS HIGH. WE HAVE TO WIN THE EURO NOW.”
Comments are closed.