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Italy’s incredible unbeaten streak FINALLY ends as Ferran Torres sees Luis Enrique’s impressive young Spanish side reach the Nations League final after Leonardo Bonucci’s expulsion
- Spain beat Italy 2-1 to advance to the Nations League final where they will face France or Belgium on Sunday
- Ferran Torres scored a brace in the first half with the two goals on either side of Leonardo Bonucci’s two bookings
- Lorenzo Pellegrini set up a tense end of the game for Luis Enrique’s side by winning a consolation for Italy at 10
- Roberto Mancini’s Azzurri lost for the first time in 37 appearances – their first loss under their current boss
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He knew it would end someday, but Roberto Mancini couldn’t expect Italy’s invincibility to end in such an unruly manner, with Leonardo Bonucci losing his temper and Gianluigi Donnarumma booed by his own. fans.
It was a hectic game which went on at a breathtaking pace and Spain were impressive, reaching the UEFA Nations League final thanks to two first-half goals from Manchester City’s Ferran Torres.
Italy’s sublime streak of results, unbeaten in 37 games dating back over three years and culminating at Wembley when they crushed England’s dreams of winning the Euro 2020 title, is over.
Ferran Torres (left) scored two goals as Spain reached the Nations League final by beating Roberto Mancini’s Italy 2-1 in Milan
Result means Mancini’s Italy lost for the first time in 37 matches, a record in international matches
“We knew that sooner or later we would lose,” Mancini said. “Better tonight than in the Euro or World Cup final, but we will come out stronger despite the loss and we really understand that we are a top team.
“The red card had a big impact on the game. It’s difficult to play against Spain 11-11 because of the way they keep the ball. It’s even harder 10 against 11. ‘
Bonucci, captain as Giorgio Chiellini started off the bench, was sent off in the 41st minute when Italy were down 1-0. He had already received a yellow card for dissent when he poked an elbow down Sergio Busquets’ throat as they challenged in the air and was shown another, then a red one.
“He was wrong,” said Mancini. “The kind of mistake you can’t afford to make in facilities like this. “
No sooner had Bonucci disappeared from the scene when Torres darted again for his second, a header on a cross from Mikel Oyarzabal, who also created the first, converted from a difficult volley made to look easy.
City are in desperate need of a goalscorer, apparently, but Torres has scored seven goals in 11 games this season for club and country.
Getting home was tough for Euro 2020 player of the tournament Donnarumma on a summer where he also left AC Milan for Paris Saint-Germain with a free transfer.
He returned to town on the eve of that match to be greeted by a huge banner hanging from a bridge in front of the team’s hotel. “Donnarumma in Milan, you will never be welcome again”, he said, then “Man of Sh **”, signed by the club’s ultras Curva Sud.
His every move drew screams and whistles from the steep stands inside the San Siro and he shook his nerves. He felt for crosses and a shot from Marcos Alonso slipped through his hands and hit a post.
“He wouldn’t have liked it like we didn’t like him,” Mancini said. “It was disappointing when he played for Italy. But we’re big boys and he played well in the second half.
Torres punched in Mikel Oyarzabal’s cross from the left in the 17th minute to give Luis Enrique’s La Roja the lead at the San Siro.
Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma looks disheartened after being booed by Milan fans on his return to San Siro
Lorenzo Insigne (left) missed a golden opportunity in the first half to equalize Italy – before things got worse for the Azzurri
Leonardo Bonucci (right) got two quick yellow cards – the second for a nudge over Spain captain Sergio Busquets
Luis Enrique selected Gavi who, just seven games into his senior Barcelona career and, at 17 years and 62 days, became the youngest Spain international in history.
He broke a 1936 record set by Angel Zubieta and looked perfectly at ease as his team dominated possession. Spain could have ended the game in the second half when Oyarzabal missed a header when he should have scored and Donnarumma made a nice save to thwart Alonso.
Italy also wasted in front of goal. Unai Simon pushed a shot from Federico Bernadeschi against a post and Lorenzo Insigne missed a great chance in the first half.
Federico Chiesa rocked a post from a tight angle after the break before
Torres scored a second goal for Spain on the stroke of half-time to make things even more difficult for Italy in Milan
Lorenzo Pellegrini (right) pulled one out for Italy with seven minutes left to prepare for a grandstand finish, but no equalizer came
Lorenzo Pellegrini cut the lead on the break in the 83rd minute.
No international team goes undefeated for so long without serious fighting skills and belatedly Italy called a fight, but it was not enough.
Spain will return to San Siro for the Nations League final on Sunday, against France or Belgium.
“It’s a very nice victory,” said Enrique. “The defeat was supposed to happen for Italy, all series come to an end. The world record is incredible and we have been true to who we are as a team. ‘
SAM BLITZ of Sportsmail was on the blog live for coverage of the Nations League semi-final of Italy vs Spain
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