Italy continued their invincible run and established themselves as firm favorites to win Euro 2020 by beating world number 1 Belgium in the quarter-finals in Munich on Friday. Goals from Lorenzo Insigne and Nicolo Barella put Italy 2-0 ahead, while Romelu Lukaku’s goal from the sport was not enough as Italy beat Roberto Mancini’s side in a highly competitive match.
It was Heartbreak for Belgium’s golden generation because they failed again in the knockout phase of a major tournament. The quality of Roberto Mancini’s squad is beyond question, but their inability to overcome the final hurdles spawns the dreaded “C” tag again. After elimination in the quarter-finals of the Euro 2016, Belgium was ousted in the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Although there was no captain Eden Hazard, Belgium fought a valiant battle with players like Kevin de Bruyne, Jeremy Doku and Romelu Lukaku threatening to get Italy into trouble, but the Italian defense led by Giorgio Chiellini was up on the big night up to date.
By 2021, Belgium had established itself as one of the threatening forces and worked its way up to FIFA 1 place. However, it all went to waste when the Red Devils bottled it on the big stage.
Italy extended their unbeaten streak against Belgium to 5 games in major competitions as Roberto Mancini’s team demonstrated their all-round class on the pitch. After Chiellini returned to work with Banucci in central defense, Italy were tough to break in the second half, where they kept their 2-1 lead.
The frenetic last 5 minutes of the first half
Italy scored in the 31st minute when Barella picked up the ball, pushed past the defenders in the penalty area and shot into goal. Insigne doubled their lead in the 44th minute after collecting the ball on the left and skipping a defender before firing a long-range shot that flew past Thibaut Courtois.
Romelu Lukaku scored a goal for Belgium from the penalty spot just before half-time after Giovanni Di Lorenzo put an arm on Jeremy Doku and knocked him to the ground.
Scorer
Ronaldo: 5
Schick: 4
Benzema: 4
Forsberg: 4
Lukaku: 4# EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/G4sWpjY6wr– UEFA EURO 2020 (@ EURO2020) July 2, 2021
Romelu Lukaku’s misses damage Belgium
Another day Romelu Lukaku would have had a hat trick. The Inter Milan striker, who regretted not being called one of the greats of the modern age, failed to show himself properly in the attacking third of the open game as he missed two clear chances in the second half.
While Gianluigi Donnarumma was at his best at the Italian goal, Lukaku could have beaten the formidable goalkeeper at least twice. Kevin de Bruyne, who returned to the team after a late fitness test, delivered a great cross to Lukaku in the second half just to see the striker.
After a fine throw-in by substitute Dries Mertens in the 70th minute, he also missed a good header at the far corner.
How much will Italy miss Spinazzola?
Was there a better left-back than Leonardo Spinazzola at Euro 2020? Spinazzola made that breathtaking run forward again and threatened the Belgian defense. He hurried back when there was danger from behind and played a crucial role in fending off a second Lukaku goal.
Towards the end of the game, however, Spinazzola went down on the pitch and grabbed his hamstring. He burst into tears when he realized the injury could mean the end of his tournament.
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