The UEFA Nations League is a biennial international football competition organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). This tournament includes all 55 UEFAmember associations and is played in a league format that spans over the course of two years. The competition is divided into four leagues based on the UEFA national team coefficients.
The semi-finals of the 2020-21 UEFA Nations League were played betweenmember associations and aims to replace friendly matches with more competitive fixtures. The latest edition of this tournament saw Spain and Italy battle it out in the semi-finals for a place in the final.
Spain, one of the most successful international teams in the world, faced a resurgent Italy team that had failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Spain had performed well in the group stages, finishing first in Group A4 ahead of Germany, Switzerland, and Ukraine. Meanwhile, Italy also won their group, beating out the Netherlands, Poland, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The semi-final between Spain and Italy was played on October 6, 2021, at the San Siro stadium in Milan. The two sides had met 36 times previously, with Italy winning 11 games, Spain winning 15, and 10 matches ending in a draw.
The game was an intense and closely contested affair, with both teams playing at a high level. Italy took the lead in the 40th minute when Federico Chiesa scored a stunning goal from outside of the box. Spain responded quickly, however, and equalized just 13 minutes later when Alvaro Morata finished off a well-worked team move.
The game remained level for the rest of the 90 minutes, and extra time was needed to separate the two sides. It was Spain who struck first in the additional 30 minutes, with Morata again on the scoresheet to give his team the lead. Italy fought back, however, and were awarded a penalty in the dying minutes of the game, which was converted by Leonardo Bonucci to send the match to a penalty shootout.
In the shootout, it was Italy who ultimately prevailed, winning 4-2 to advance to the final where they would face England.
The game between Spain and Italy was a thrilling showcase of international football at its best. Both teams played with passion, skill, and determination, and the match was a fitting representation of what the UEFA Nations League aims to achieve, providing competitive fixtures for international teams. While Spain was ultimately knocked out of the tournament, they can hold their heads high knowing that they gave their all in a hard-fought battle against one of the best teams in Europe.
