Italy, who beat Spain in the Euro 2020 semi-finals, had to play over half the match with one man fewer after Leonardo Bonucci was sent off in the 42nd minute for picking up a second yellow card for elbowing Sergio Busquets.
Spain’s Ferran Torres celebrates after scoring against Italy during the UEFA Nations League semi-final, in Milan on Wednesday. Pic/AP, PTI
Ferran Torres put Spain into the Nations League final on Wednesday with a brace in a 2-1 win that ended Italy’s world record unbeaten run at 37 matches in front of their own fans.
Torres struck twice in the first half to make sure that Luis Enrique’s Spain won the Final Four clash at the San Siro in Milan, where they will face either France or Belgium in Sunday’s final. Lorenzo Pellegrini pulled a goal back with seven minutes left but the European champions failed to complete what would have been a memorable comeback after a spirited second-half performance with 10 men.
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Italy, who beat Spain in the Euro 2020 semi-finals, had to play over half the match with one man fewer after Leonardo Bonucci was sent off in the 42nd minute for picking up a second yellow card for elbowing Sergio Busquets.
“The first half could have easily finished 1-1. It’s a shame because we would have stayed with 11 men were it not for an error which you can’t commit at this level,” Italy coach Roberto Mancini told RAI.
The match was played in a strange atmosphere as AC Milan fans in the stadium harangued Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma throughout his return to the San Siro following his move to PSG.
Donnarumma left Milan as a free agent in the summer and his departure left a bad taste in the mouth of supporters who loudly booed and whistled his every touch of the ball.
“It upset us, because it was Italy playing, it wasn’t a club match. They could have put it to one side for one match,” Mancini told reporters later. “Italy is Italy and I think it should come above everything else.”
37
Record number of matches Italy were unbeaten in
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