UEFA Nations League semi-final spain 2-1 Italy, Italy's 37-match unbeaten run was ended by the "Matador"

Source: Global Times

At the same time as the record of 37 unbeaten matches is in ancient times, the Italian team was also blocked from the final of the European National Football League. On the 7th Beijing time, in a semi-final of the European League, the Italian team conceded 2 goals in the first half, and the captain Bonucci accumulated 2 yellow cards and was sent off to make the team worse, and finally the Italian coach Mancini led the team to lose 1:2 at home to Spain.

'I'm sorry to lose at Milan, but we're proud of Italy's winning streak, it's a team that still has room to improve and today's defeat is just a step towards growth.' Italy captain Giorgio Chiellini said in an interview with Italian national television after the match, "Now we are focused on November, when we have to beat Switzerland in the World Cup qualifiers. ”

Mancini said after the match: "It will come sooner or later, and (at least) it is better to lose now than to lose in the European Championship or World Cup final." Despite losing the game, this game will give us more strength. Spain coach Luis Enrique said, "This is a great victory, Italy will have to end the winning streak sooner or later, every streak has a beginning and an end, this record is extraordinary." ”

In the semi-finals of the European Championships this summer, Italy struggled to eliminate Spain through a penalty shootout, and the Matadors army completed their revenge a few months later. According to statistics, Spain's possession rate in this game is as high as 70%, making it difficult for Italy, which has one less person to fight, to touch the ball. In this game, The Italian goalkeeper Donnarumma was booed by domestic fans and was also the focus of the Italian media. Donalumma's refusal to join Paris Saint-Germain after refusing to renew his contract with AC Milan this summer made AC Milan fans very angry. Some fans hung banners outside the stadium before the game that read "You are not welcome to come back.". Italy's Corriere della Sera said Mancini said fans should not bring the club's grievances to the national team competition stage, they can save their emotions for AC Milan's match against Paris Saint-Germain.

Another UEFA Nations League semi-final will be held in the early morning of Beijing time on the 8th, and the winner between Belgium and France will compete with Spain for the championship on the 11th. In addition, the 2022-2023 UEFA Nations League group stage draw ceremony will be held on December 16, 2023 in Montreux, Switzerland.