Spain’s Joselu pounced with two mins residue to grasp a 2-1 win over Italy on Thursday and arrange a International locations League ultimate collision towards Croatia. Luis de los angeles Fuente’s facet shaded a good fight in Enschede to move to Sunday’s ultimate, the place Zlatko Dalic’s outfit are mendacity in wait then beating hosts the Netherlands on Wednesday. Yeremy Pino despatched L. a. Roja forward then 3 mins however Ciro Immobile netted from the penalty spot to stage and the sport gave the impression destined for extra-time sooner than Joselu prodded house from point-blank field to win it.
The victory eases force on De los angeles Fuente, who have been closely criticised then March’s loss to Scotland, in what was once simplest his 2nd sport in rate.
Joselu, who has 3 objectives in 3 video games below the fresh teacher, who passed him his debut, controlled to stick onside and convert then Rodri Hernandez’s struggle was once deflected into his trail.
The poacher, 33, was once relegated with Espanyol this season however netted 16 instances in L. a. Liga.
“I am very happy for everyone, the group and the coach deserve it,” Jesus Navas, who changed into Spain’s oldest ever participant at 37, advised Spanish broadcaster TVE.
“We played with great intensity, we’re delighted and we can be very proud of getting ourselves into the final.
“It’s a good looking and hard-fought triumph, that is the way in which we need to move to reach good fortune.”
De la Fuente handed new “signing” Robin Le Normand his debut alongside another French-born centre-back, Aymeric Laporte, at De Grolsch Veste.
The Manchester City defender and his team-mate Rodri were playing after tasting Champions League success last Saturday, with the latter scoring the winning goal against Inter Milan in the final.
Mancini lined up with three at the back, giving veteran centre-back Leonardo Bonucci a start despite his patchy season with Juventus.
Italy immediately paid the price, with captain Bonucci robbed on the edge of his own box under pressure from Gavi and Yeremy Pino, with the latter driving into the box and firing past Gianluigi Donnarumma.
However the Azzurri quickly pulled themselves level, when Le Normand handled Nicolo Zaniolo’s effort.
Striker Ciro Immobile dispatched the penalty, back with the side for the first time since their catastrophic World Cup play-off defeat by North Macedonia in March 2022.
Sassuolo midfielder David Frattesi ran onto Jorginho‘s chip and slotted Italy’s 2nd date Unai Simon, selected in objective over Kepa Arrizabalaga, but it was ruled out for offside.
Alvaro Morata forced Donnarumma into a solid save down to his right as Spain played on the counter-attack, willing to go long to find the Atletico Madrid striker in an end-to-end affair, the 40th “Mediterranean derby”.
Spain thrashed Italy 4-0 in the Euro 2012 final and won in the 2021 Nations League semi-finals, while Italy won Euro 2020 after beating Spain on penalties in the semis.
– Spain improve –
Mancini sent on Inter Milan duo Federico Dimarco and Matteo Darmian at half-time, withdrawing Bonucci after his early mishap.
Spain emerged the steadier and Morata might have sent La Roja ahead again but fired fractionally wide on the turn just a few yards out after Donnarumma denied Mikel Merino.
Rodri almost followed up his Istanbul heroics with another strike, zipping an acrobatic effort narrowly over.
Italy hit back, with Simon pulling off a superb save to deny Fratessi from close range.
The final half hour slowed to a snail’s pace, with the long season taking its toll on weary legs.
De la Fuente turned to Ansu Fati and Joselu for a boost in attack, while Mancini brought on Juve forward Federico Chiesa.
In the end it was Joselu who made the difference, one of the players De la Fuente can claim as his own, the goal offering a double boost to the coach as it helped Spain through to the final in Rotterdam.
“Spain deserved the win even though they scored overdue on,” said Mancini.
“Taking part in a reasonably other method than ordinary tactically has more than likely value us finally.”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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