Euro 2020: Heartbreak for Belgium as invincible Italy ebook semi-final date with Spain

Italy continued their invincible run as they established themselves as agency favourites to win Euro 2020 by knocking World No. 1 Belgium within the quarter-final in Munich on Friday. Goals from Lorenzo Insigne and Nicolo Barella gave Italy 2-0 lead whereas Romelu Lukaku’s aim from the game was not sufficient as Italy beat Roberto Mancini’s facet in a fiercely-ontested match.

It was heartbreak for Belgium’s golden technology as they failed within the knockout phases of a serious event as soon as once more. The high quality of this Roberto Mancini’s facet isn’t in query however their incapacity to go previous the ultimate hurdles as soon as once more brings up the dreaded ‘C’ tag. After going out within the Euro 2016 quarter-finals, Belgium had been ousted within the semi-final on the FIFA World Cup in 2018.Despite not having captain Eden Hazard, Belgium got here up with a valiant combat with the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Jeremy Doku and Romelu Lukaku threatening to bother Italy however the Giorgio Chiellini-led Italian defence was up to speed on the large night time.Euro 2020: Full CoverageCut to 2021, Belgium had established themselves as one of many threatening forces and rose their manner as much as FIFA No. 1 spot. However, all of it got here to nothing because the Red Devils bottled it up on the large stage.Italy prolonged their unbeaten run towards Belgium to five matches in main competitions as Roberto Mancini’s facet proved their all-round class on the pitch. With Chiellini returning to mix with Banucci within the central defence, Italy had been robust to interrupt down within the 2nd half the place they defended their 2-1 lead.The frenetic final 5 minutes of first halfItaly opened the scoring within the thirty first minute when Barella picked up the ball, compelled his well beyond defenders within the space and fired residence. Insigne doubled the lead within the forty fourth minute after accumulating the ball on the left and skipping past a defender earlier than unleashing a long-range shot that flew previous Thibaut Courtois.Romelu Lukaku clawed a aim again for Belgium from the penalty spot simply earlier than the break after Giovanni Di Lorenzo put an arm on Jeremy Doku and pushed him to the bottom.SCORERSRonaldo: 5Schick: 4Benzema: 4Forsberg: 4Lukaku: 4#EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/G4sWpjY6wr— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) July 2, 2021
Romelu Lukaku’s misses harm BelgiumOn one other day, Romelu Lukaku would have had a hat-trick. The Inter Milan ahead, who rued not being labelled as one of many modern-day greats, didn’t be medical within the attacking third in open play as he missed two clear-cut probabilities within the second half.While Gianluigi Donnarumma was on high of his kind on the Italian aim, Lukaku might have overwhelmed the in-form goalkeeper no less than twice. Kevin de Bruyne, who returned to the facet after passing a late health take a look at, offered an excellent cross to Lukaku within the second half solely to see the ahead fluff it.He additionally missed a great header on the far nook after a high quality ball in from substitute Dries Mertens within the seventieth minute.How a lot are Italy going to overlook Spinazzola?Has there been a greater left-back than Leonardo Spinazzola at Euro 2020. Spinazzola as soon as once more made these gorgeous run forwards and threatened the Belgium defence. He hurried again at any time when there was hazard on the again and he performed an important function in warding off a second aim from Lukaku.However, in the direction of the top of the match, Spinazzola went down on the pitch, holding his hamstring. He was in tears after realising the damage could possibly be the top of his event.