Munich dressed up for the most anticipated crossroads of the quarter-finals where two of the great teams in the group stage faced each other for a ticket in the semi-finals and a ticket to England for the closing of the European Championship to be played at Wembley. In this case, Belgium and Italy lived up to an event of that magnitude and gave away a match. On the azzurri side, he arrives with a great unbeaten of Luli Mancini and 12 consecutive matches without knowing another result but the victory. The Red Devils earned the right to this match after charging the last champion and with several consecrated figures that put it at the top of the table of candidates after the departure of France.
Nicolo Barella made it 1-0 in Munich. Photo: Reuters
With these conditions the Allianz Arena witnessed a match that began with two great interventions by Gigi Donarumma to prevent the fall of his goal and a goal annulled to Bonucci for clear offside. However, Italy was going to break the zero again and this time it was all lawful with a great shot from Nicoló Barella.A the 31 minutes of play, the southern European were in advantage and at 43 they were going to find the key to the goal again. Lorenzo Insigne started a great counter from the left to the centre and arriving in the area he chose courtois’ farthest angle to make it 2-0 at the close of the first stage.
Belgium, one of the big candidates for the title, falls again. Photo: Reuters
However, the initial 45 minutes were going to have one more gift. In stoppage time, Di Lorenzo and Doku entered the area and Slovenia’s Slavko Vinčić saw a dubious penalty that var ratified and from the 12 steps Romelu Lukaku appeared to set up the discount and route the possible comeback. In the second stage, Belgium showed their teeth and went for everything, but against suffered some offensives of their rival, who could not generate danger on the goal of the Goalkeeper of Real Madrid. On the other hand, on the side of Donarumma, the goalkeeper began to become a figure and also with the fortune of his side avoided a new fall.
Italy returns to a European Championship semi-final after having achieved it in 2012, where it was runner-up. Photo: Reuters
With no time for more, Italy returns to the semi-finals where they will face Spain, with whom they have faced each other in the last three editions. In 2008 (out on penalties in the quarterfinals) and 2012 (0-4 in the final), but in the last record of 2016 he got his revenge in the quarterfinals, with a 2-0 win. Now, everything is back on the line at Wembley and nothing more than a pass to the final.
