FERRAN THE MAN!
Spain get Euros revenge as Italy’s 10 men are torn apart by Torres
It could not go on forever, of course, but a style guru such as Roberto Mancini would never have expected his Euro 2020 champions to surrender their long unbeaten run in quite such untidy fashion.
Italy had not lost for 37 games over three long years, a sublime sequence stretching 1,122 days back to September 2018 and peaking at Wembley in July when they crushed English hopes to clinch the European title on penalties.
then Spain rolled into Milan to avenge their defeat at the hands of the Azzurri in the semi-finals of Euro 2020 and secure a return to the San Siro in the final of the Nations League on Sunday, against France or Belgium.
they outplayed the Italians at Wembley and they did so again, this time with a far better display of finishing thanks to Manchester City’s Ferran torres, who scored twice in an eventful first half.
Leonardo Bonucci was sent off for two yellow cards — the second for an elbow on Sergio Busquets — and the Italian crowd booed their own goalkeeper before a late goal by Lorenzo Pellegrini gave them hope.
torres, one of four Premier League players to start for Spain, struck early with his first.
Alessandro Bastoni failed to cut out a cross from Mikel Oyarzabal and there was the 21-year-old to guide a volley inside the post.
Italy almost went 2-0 down within seconds when goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma missed a routine save and allowed Marcos Alonso’s shot to slither through his hands.
Donnarumma escaped. the ball hit the post and Bonucci, wearing the captain’s armband in the absence of Giorgio Chiellini, hooked the rebound to safety under pressure from Koke.
It proved to be a rough ride home for Italy’s No 1, voted Player of the tournament at Euro 2020, in a summer when he also left AC Milan for Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer.
He returned to the city on the eve of this game, greeted by an enormous banner hanging from a bridge outside the team hotel. ‘Donnarumma in Milan you will never be welcome again,’ it read and then, ‘Man of Sh**’, signed by the Curva Sud ultras.
Former England boss and Milan legend Fabio Capello said the 22-year-old, who made his AC Milan debut at 16, was ‘ungrateful’ to run down his contract and join the recruitment drive at PSG.
Donnarumma’s every touch drew whistles from the steep stands inside the San Siro. Little wonder he started shakily in a game played at a ferocious tempo.
Italy summoned a response. Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon made a fine save to turn a low drive by Federico Bernardeschi against the post and Lorenzo Insigne missed a wonderful chance.
But their task was made much more difficult when they lost Bonucci four minutes before halftime. He was cautioned for dissent early in the game and dismissed for leading with an elbow in his aerial challenge with Busquets.
No sooner had Bonucci disappeared from the scene than torres pounced again. It was another chance created by the excellent Oyarzabal, who crossed from the left. torres drifted away from Emerson Palmieri before planting a firm header past Donnarumma.
City need a goalscorer, apparently, but torres has scored seven in 11 games this season for club and country. It sparked delight among the visitors. Manager Luis Enrique gave a start to Gavi who, at 17 years and 62 days, became Spain’s youngest ever international.
Mancini sent on Chiellini at halftime, Italy tightened up in defence and Donnarumma made a splendid save to thwart Alonso and prevent Spain going 3-0 up.
Federico Chiesa hit the outside of the post from a tight angle before Pellegrini cut the lead to guarantee a frantic closing few minutes.