Italy’s record series is over, Mancini: Once it had to come, this match will make us stronger! – Športky.sk

MILAN – Italian footballers will not become the winners of the 2nd year of the League of Nations at home. The reigning European champion on Wednesday in the opening semifinal of the final tournament in Milan was prepared by a 1: 2 rival from Spain. Ferran Torres scored it with two goals in the first half, and the Spaniards ended the record line of 37 matches without a loss with the “azure”. At home in a competitive match, it is even the first loss since September 1999, when the Danes won 3: 2 on Italian soil.

“La Furia Roja” will also play for a trophy on Sunday in San Sire against the winner of Thursday’s Turin duel between Belgium and France (Turin, 20.45), with the home team remaining in third place. From the 42nd minute, the Italians finished without the excluded key tracker Leonard Bonucci, who fouled the elbow of his fellow captain Sergio Busquets and had to leave the field after the second yellow card. The Spaniards scored a goal in the locker room, in the second half they had even more chances for the third goal, but they did not change them. The coach of Roberto Mancini tried to break through in the middle repeatedly, but couldn’t get past the visitors’ defenders.

“Losing and ending the record series must have come once. And let it be now than in the World Cup or EURO finals. This match will make us stronger despite the loss. It will help us realize that we have a really great choice.” the agency quoted AP Mancini as saying in the post-match evaluation: “The first half could easily have ended 1: 1. The Spaniards played very technically and we had to be more careful not to get the second goal. We needed fresh legs, so I sent some fresh players to the field in the second half, which helped us. “

“We lost after a long time, after breaking the world record of 37 matches without losing. It must have come once, it’s a pity that right now. The Spaniards deserve recognition. Even though 11 to 11 games were played, they made it difficult for us. The exclusion was hard for us. We should have avoided scoring the second goal just before the break. ” Reviewed for the UEFA website by the home striker Federico Chiesa. The match on San Sire was watched directly by 37,000 spectators, who, however, behaved ugly towards the home goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumm. He just transferred from AC Milan to Paris St. Germain, which his fans still hadn’t forgiven, so his every touch with the ball was accompanied by a loud whistle. “It made us quite angry. Playing for Italy is not playing for a club. They shouldn’t have done it. Italy is Italy and that should be above all else.” Mancini said.

UEFA were forced to a substitution as 49 minutes into the game, after a rush down the left, but his closing shot hit the post. However, he should not miss Sunday’s final. “We’ve been playing good football for a long time. We’re a young team and this victory is the next step. The victory in Italy over Italy is big. Now we can start thinking about the finals,” said the Manchester City striker. The Spaniards paid the opponent a loss in the eleventh shot in the semifinals of the summer EURO 2020. At the age of 17 and 60 days, midfielder Gavi from FC Barcelona became the youngest debutant in the history of the Spanish national team. He started in the basic line-up and broke the 85-year record of Angel Zubieta Redonda, who in 1936 for the first time in the preparatory match against the Czechoslovak team wore the most valuable jersey at the age of 17 years and 284 days.

The winners, especially in the first half, played well, coach Luis Enrique of course did not hide his joy: “The match developed in a wonderful way for us. It was a duel between two rivals who didn’t do anything and showed the highest quality. My team looked dangerous, we pushed the opponent. I’m happy how it turned out. We defended very well by being the opponent high they attacked, played boldly and showed a great attitude. But the victory should not be overestimated, it was only one match for us, no historical triumph. “

• The author: © List
• Source: TASR