Thanks to a goal at the very end of the match, Spain overcame Italy and qualified for their second consecutive Nations League final (2-1). La Roja will face Croatia to clinch the title.
23:15 – Joselu brings light to Spain, match recap
It took almost nothing for the evening to switch to an indecisive and nervous extension, but like the day before, the last moments reversed the course of the match. If Lang had allowed the Netherlands to grant themselves a reprieve and still believe in their chances (in vain), Joselu came to cut off the Italian wings and free Spain. We were playing the 88th minute when, on the left, Alba tumbled once again. His center was pushed back into the axis where Rodri presented himself. Like last Saturday, in the Champions League final, the Spanish midfielder saw himself as a hero with a decisive recovery but his shot from the right ricocheted off Cristane and Acerbi. The ball came level with Joselu who shrewdly deflected into the empty net, watched by a disillusioned Donnarumma and on the ground after following the shot from the Manchester City midfielder. Entering four minutes earlier, the Espanyol Barcelona striker capsized the Spanish colony that came to the Netherlands.
A second chapter in the beautiful story of this 33-year-old player, who had his first selection last March, signing a decisive double against Norway. The happy ending to an evening of which La Roja almost lost the thread, hypnotized by this ball which she swung from one player to another like the pendulum of a metronome.
Everything had however started ideally for the players of Luis De la Fuente. After only three minutes, Gavi came to the pressing on Bonucci at the entrance to the surface. The Italian captain narrowly escaped him but pushed his ball too much to avoid having it stolen by Yeremy Pino, who came in second blade. The sanction fell immediately, the Villarreal striker deceiving a Donnarumma, very alone, from inside the right. Italy had just been picked cold but was quick to react in a tonic start to the match. On a ball stung by Jorginho, often right in his orientations all evening, Zaniolo tried a volley from the left. His attempt was off target but hit Le Normand’s right arm in its path. For his first selection, the naturalized defender conceded a penalty, symbol of a match where he was going to multiply errors and approximations, fortunately without consequence in the end.
Immobile took care of the sentence and a cross shot from the right took Unai Simon on the wrong foot to put the two teams equal. This goal gave ideas to the Squadra Azzurra and their direct game. From the halfway line, Jorginho saw the rift between Laporte and Jordi Alba. Accurate, the Arsenal midfielder put the ball in the interval for Frattesi who took advantage of the poor intervention of the Spanish side to go to goal and deceive the Spanish goalkeeper with a shot between the legs. A short-lived joy, the video assistance correcting the opinion of the field and indicating a very limited offside of the transalpine environment.
What followed was much less exciting with a Spain which put its foot on the ball and struggled to find solutions without really proposing any, and an Italy which was content to run and close the spaces as best as possible while waiting for an isolated action. It almost came but Frattesi, again him, saw his strike push back by a reflex on his line of Unai Simon. A little later, it was Alba who took a goal ball away from Di Lorenzo after a well-worked cross from Dimarco. At the same time, Donnarumma had worked miracles too, coming out at point-blank range a recovery from Merino, very to his advantage in a role of remote organizer, then against Morata. It was before giving in on a three-cushion billiard shot which Joselu was able to take advantage of.
Two years later, Spain has therefore repeated the blow to Italy and will have the honor of playing in the final of the League of Nations. Hoping for her, that her 30-year-old striker still uses his magic to bend a destiny that strives to smile on her this season.
11:00 p.m. – Le Marchand: “We deserve victory”
“With the victory, it’s a rather satisfying match. The feelings are rather good and there is this situation (hand on an Italian strike which leads to the penalty, editor’s note). These are things that happen. It’s up to us to do in so that it happens as little as possible, especially with the VAR. The most important thing was to keep a cool head. There was still a lot of time and the team went through. I think we deserved the victory.”said Robin Le Marchand, who had a difficult evening on a personal level for his first selection with Spain.
22:55 – The beautiful story of Joselu
Entering the game in the 84th minute, Joselu is the hero of the evening for Spain. He only needed four minutes to prove decisive by signing his third goal in… three selections. The beautiful story therefore continues for the Espanyol Barcelona striker. At 33, he had discovered the international level last March, signing a double for his first match with La Roja against Norway. So here he is the providential man to send his country to the final of the League of Nations.
22:45 – A second in a row
As in 2021, Spain beat Italy 2-1 to reach the Nations League final. Two years ago, the Iberians failed in their quest for the title, beaten by France of Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappé (1-2). On Sunday, the 2010 world champions will face Croatia.
22:38 – Spain qualify for the final (2-1)
As in 2021, Spain defeats Italy and validates its ticket for the final of the League of Nations (2-1). At Twente Stadion, the Spaniards largely dominated their opponents but had to wait until the last minutes to get out of it. Coming off the bench, Joselu was able to be opportunistic to extend into the goal a double-blocked strike from Rodri. In the first half, Yeremy Pino opened the scoring very early but Immobile managed to equalize from the penalty spot. Too limited technically and lacking in intensity, the Italians were unable to upset a Roja who however purred for a long time.
22:35 – Zaniolo takes a yellow
On a long ball from Donnarumma, Zaniolo jumps over Le Normand but lets his elbow drag. He is logically aware.
22:35 – Additional time: 4 minutes
There will be at least four minutes of added time in this Nations League semi-final between Spain and Italy.
22:32 – Joselu delivers Spain (2-1)
A few moments from the end of regulation time, Joselu appears in the area and comes to deceive Donnarumma. The Espanyol Barcelona striker took advantage of a shot blocked by Rodri to find himself alone at 6 meters and deflected in front of the Italian goalkeeper and restore the advantage to his team.
22:30 – Joselu does not pass
Spain plays with more verticality. Fabian Ruiz gives for Canales whose back deflection for Joselu does not take advantage. Indeed, Toloi intervenes in front of the Spanish striker.
22:27 – Morata leaves the pitch
Just warned, Morata is called back to the bench by his coach. The latter replaced his center forward with Joselu 7 minutes from the end of regulation time.
22:26 – Morata takes a yellow
Tempers flare as Toloi holds Asensio by the arm to prevent him from going towards the goal. The referee says nothing and Morata complains about it. The attacker takes a warning for protest.
22:24 – Donnarumma deflects for a corner
After a good exchange with Fabian Ruiz, Alba sends a low cross that Morata cuts off at the near post. Donnarumma covers and puts a right hand for a corner.
22:23 – Bad transmission
Fabian Ruiz recovers on the left in the hallway. He gives Canales who wants to serve back Ansu Fati but puts the ball behind his back.
22:22 – A shot blocked
Back to goal, Ansu Fati shrewdly delivered for Fabian Ruiz. At the entrance to the surface, the Parisian resumes in a half-volley but sees his attempt countered by a defender.
22:21 – A confiscated ball
Spain have completely taken control of the pace of the semi-final since the start of the second half and have nearly 61% possession. This is not enough to make a difference for the moment.
22:20 – Verratti enters the game
Announced as a starter before the match, Marco Verratti will only play the last quarter of an hour of this Nations League semi-final. He enters in place of Frattesi who, grimacing, had asked his bench for a change.
22:18 – Spanish double change
Just over a quarter of an hour from the end of regulation time, De la Fuente made two new changes. Post for post, he replaced Merino with Fabian Ruiz, while Yeremy Pino left the pitch in favor of Ansu Fati.
22:16 – Alba with the toe
Big situation again for Italy. On the left, Dimarco rolls up a cross from the left which passes in front of Unai Simon’s goal. Di Lorenzo rushes on it but he sees Alba throw himself and take the opportunity away from him. The following corner gave nothing.
22:12 – Gavi exits
Just over 20 minutes from the end of the match, Gavi gave way to the experienced Sergio Canales.
22:11 – Morata does not pass
Merino gives the ball to Morata in the area, on the right. The Spanish striker cuts his race and when restarting to surprise Acerbi, he pushes his ball too far which ends up out of goal.
22:08 – Unai Simon responds to Donnarumma
A few minutes after Donnarumma’s feat, it was Unai Simon’s turn to shine. On a cross from the left, Jordi Alba slips and leaves the field open to Frattesi whose volley shot from the left without control forces the Spanish goalkeeper to make a save on his line.
22:05 – Di Lorenzo cuts well
Merino sets the pace in the Spanish midfield and knows how to make himself available. He brings the ball up, gives Alba on the left who passes to Yeremy Pino. The Spanish striker relies on his teammate but on the dna slay surface, he sees Di Lorenzo ahead of him before committing the fault, carried away by his momentum.
22:03 – New double change for Italy
On the hour mark, Roberto Mancini made two new changes. He recalls Immobile and Jorginho to the bench to throw Chiesa and Cristante into the field.