Tonight, Tuesday, all eyes are on Wembley Stadium in London for the highly anticipated semi-final matchup between Italy and Spain in the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship.
**Match Timing and Broadcasting Channels**
The match will take place at Wembley Stadium in England at 10 PM tonight, and it will be broadcasted on beIN Sports Max 1 and 2, with commentary from Khalil Al-Baloushi.
**Italy and Spain's Journey**
Italy topped Group A of the UEFA Euro 2020 with a perfect score, defeating Turkey 3-0, Switzerland 3-0, and Wales 1-0. The Azzurri eliminated Austria 2-1 in the Round of 16 and then knocked out Belgium by the same scoreline in the quarter-finals.
Spain qualified for the semi-finals after finishing second in Group E, drawing with Sweden 0-0, drawing with Poland 1-1, and beating Slovakia 5-0. Spain eliminated Croatia 5-3 in the Round of 16 and then won against Switzerland 3-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
**History of Spain vs. Italy Encounters**
There have been 15 official matches between Spain and Italy, with Italy winning 6 times, Spain winning 3 times, and 9 matches ending in draws. Their first official meeting was at the 1920 Olympics, where Spain won 2-0, followed by Italy's 1-0 victory in the 1924 Olympics. They met again in 1928, where Spain drew 1-1 but Italy won 7-1 in the quarter-finals.
In the 1934 World Cup quarter-finals, they drew 1-1 before Italy won 1-0 in a replay. They drew 0-0 in the 1980 European Championship, and Italy won 1-0 in Euro 1988. Italy won 2-1 in the 1994 World Cup quarter-finals, while Spain won 4-2 on penalties after a 0-0 draw in the Euro 2008 quarter-finals. They drew 1-1 in Euro 2012, with Spain winning 4-0 in the final. In the 2013 Confederations Cup semi-final, Spain won 7-6 on penalties after a 0-0 draw, while Italy won 2-0 in the Round of 16 in Euro 2016. They drew 1-1 in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, with Spain winning 3-0 in the latest encounter.
**Italy's Strengths**
Italy aims to continue its journey in the Euro, hoping to reach the finals for the fourth time in its history, after winning in 1968 and finishing as runners-up in 2000 and 2012. Italy's coach Roberto Mancini stated in a pre-match press conference that this will be a challenging match and there should be no underestimating Spain, especially after Italy eliminated Belgium.
Mancini emphasized Spain's unique playing style and the rich experience of coach Luis Enrique. Italy will miss players Lorenzo Pellegrini and Leonardo Spinazzola due to injury and will rely on lineup with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, defenders Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Emerson, midfielders Jorginho, Marco Verratti, Nicolo Barella, and forwards Federico Chiesa, Ciro Immobile, and Lorenzo Insigne.
**Spain's Strategy**
Spain seeks victory to advance to the Euro final for the fifth time, having won the title three times in 1964, 2008, and 2012, and finished as runners-up in 1984. Coach Luis Enrique expressed his love for Italy, recalling his enjoyable moments while coaching Roma, stating that the matchup will be tough for both teams looking to qualify for the final.
He noted that his team will aim to control the midfield and limit Italy's attacking capabilities. Spain's lineup will include goalkeeper Unai Simon, defenders Aymeric Laporte, Pau Torres, Cesar Azpilicueta, Jordi Alba, midfielders Sergio Busquets, Pedri, and Koke, and forwards Dani Olmo, Alvaro Morata, and Ferran Torres.
Mohamed Elyamani, former striker for Standard Liege, commented to Eram News that the Italian team is entertaining in this Euro edition, possessing impressive attacking capabilities, and Mancini's strategy enhances their performance. He cautioned that Spain's rising level would present a significant challenge for Italy, making the encounter difficult to predict, highlighting Spain's fast and organized attack.
