Italy are in the UEFA EURO 2020 semi-final against Spain after beating Belgium 2-1 with goals from Nicolò Barella and Lorenzo Insigne.
2020 European Championship
1-2
Match Report
Roberto Mancini's Azzurri showed so many strengths on the night. The first half showed how frightening they can be in possession, and relentless they are in their press, rewarded with goals from Nicolo Barella and Lorenzo Insigne.
Despite Belgium pulling one back through Romelu Lukaku before the break, Italy's old guard at the back of Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci rolled back the years to put in a performance for the ages.
The tempo was set from the off, with each side looking to go at the other's throats. It was Belgium who went first, with Romelu Lukaku having to be closed down by Gianluigi Donnarumma, but Italy had their early chances too.
Mancini's Azzurri thought they had put themselves ahead after just over 10 minutes. An Insigne freekick was eventually turned in by Bonucci - but after touches from Chiellini and Giovanni Di Lorenzo first - and the eventual goalscorer was offside as the ball came off the Napoli full-back.
Donnarumma had to be at his very best to deny a powerful Kevin De Bruyne strike, and Italy found themselves ahead not too long after.
Belgium were only able to half-clear from their area and the ball fell to the feet of Barella, then allowing the Inter midfielder to force his way behind the Red Devils' backline before driving a shot across Thibaut Courtois and into the far corner.
Federico Chiesa continued to threaten but was unable to find a way past the Real Madrid goalkeeper, but Lorenzo Insigne soon found the Azzurri's second.
Carrying the ball forward and in from the left, Insigne produced a moment of magic that Napoli and Serie A fans have grown used to seeing. Arriving at the edge of the box, the diminutive Neapolitan dispatched a perfect curled effort that whipped its way around Courtois and into the back of his net.
Belgium were presented with a lifeline though through a lapse in concentration from Di Lorenzo. Jeremy Doku got the better of him and, as he approached the byline, was pushed to ground. Lukaku stepped up and, as he had in the Milan derby during the season, converted past Donnarumma.
A quieter second half
The second half was considerably quieter, much to Italy's delight. Chiesa, Ciro Immobile and Spinazzola all had chances or half-chances, but Mancini's side offered less in possession than they had until half time.
Lukaku came within inches as his close-range effort was turned behind by Spinazzola's backside, and Doku continued to threaten any time he found himself on the ball.
Despite late pressure from the No.1 ranked team in the world, Italy were able to hold on to book their place in the semi-finals.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
1' Donnarumma makes decent save
4' Lukaku's shot over the bar
12' OFFSIDE! Bonucci’s goal disallowed
19' Yellow Card! Verratti booked
20' Yellow Card! Tielemans booked
22' CHANCE! De Bruyne's shot stopped by Donnarumma
26' CLOSE! Lukaku's shot stopped by Donnarumma again
27' Insigne's long shot over the bar
30' GOAL! Belgium 0-1 Italy (Barella)
40' CHANCE! Chiesa's shot inches wide
43' GOAL! Belgium 0-2 Italy (Insigne)
45' Penalty Goal! Belgium 1-2 Italy (Lukaku)
47' Chiesa's shot wide out
61' CLOSE! Spinazzola makes timely block
66' CHANCE! Spinazzola's shot wide out
69' Insigne's shot stopped
77' Injured Spinazzola replaced
83' CHANCE! Doku's shot over the bar
Line-ups
Belgium XI: Vermaelen, Vertonghen, Witsel, Alderweireld, Courtois, De Bruyne, Lukaku, Meunier, T Hazard, Tielemans, J. Doku
Subs: Chadli, Mertens, Benteke, T. Kaminski, Sels, Boyata, Praet, Trossard, Carrasco, Batshuayi, Dendoncker, Denayer
Italy XI: Bonucci, Chiellini, Immobile, Verratti, Insigne, Jorginho, Spinazzola, Di Lorenzo, Barella, Donnarumma, Chiesa
Subs: Sirigu, Toloi, Acerbi, Emerson, Cristante, Belotti, Berardi, Bernardeschi, Pessina, Meret, Locatelli, Bastoni