Substitute Joselu scored a lucky winner three minutes from the tip as Spain booked their place in a second successive Nations League closing with a deserved 2-1 victory over Italy.
Coach Luis de la Fuente’s facet will meet Croatia in Sunday’s decider in Rotterdam having misplaced to France within the closing two years in the past. Italy tackle hosts Netherlands for the bronze medal.
Spain capitalised on a defensive lapse to take the lead inside three minutes as Yeremy Pino produced a cool end, however when debutant Robin Le Normand dealt with the ball within the field, Italy’s Ciro Motionless scored his first worldwide purpose in two years from the penalty spot.
Additional-time appeared inevitable as each groups ran out of concepts looking for a winner, and maybe fittingly it got here in weird circumstances when Rodri’s fierce shot bounced off two defenders and fell kindly for Joselu to poke dwelling from 4 yards.
The end result was a repeat of their 2021 semi-final and have become a battle between Spain’s possession recreation and Italy’s potential to hit them on the counter-attack with swift breaks.
Spain loved 61 per cent of the ball, however as has been the case for them in current instances struggled to utilize it.
They had been gifted the opener when Leonardo Bonucci was caught in possession by Pino, and the Spaniard slid the ball into the far nook.
However Italy struck again immediately with success of their very own. They had been awarded a transparent penalty when debutant centre again Le Normand dealt with the ball within the field and Motionless despatched Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon the improper approach from the spot.
Italy thought they’d hit the entrance when Jorginho’s wonderful go put Davide Frattesi by on purpose, however his calm end was in useless as he was dominated offside by inches.
Spain had been a whisker away from regaining the lead however Mikel Merino’s shot was brilliantly saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma and Alvaro Morata put the free ball inches huge of the publish.
On the different finish, Simon made a powerful cease to disclaim Davide Frattesi from a swift Italian break.
The sport fell right into a lull within the closing 20 minutes earlier than Joselu, who had solely been on the pitch for 3 minutes, was in the fitting place on the proper time to information Spain into one other closing.
“Spain deserved it, even when they solely discovered the purpose proper close to the tip. We arrange barely otherwise, however we could not do a lot within the second half,” Italy coach Roberto Mancini advised RAI.
