Italy’s record run ended by Spain

Spain ended Italy’s record unbeaten run of 37 matches by beating the European champion 2-1 yesterday in the Nations League semi-finals after Roberto Mancini’s team was reduced to 10 men.

Ferran Torres scored two goals in the first half for Spain, the second coming after Leonardo Bonucci was sent off for a second yellow card three minutes before the break.

“We’ve been playing good for a while now. We are a young team playing well and I think this victory is another step,” said Torres, who came off four minutes into the second half after picking up a knock but said he would be fit to play Sunday’s final against either World champions France or top-ranked Belgium.

“Victory over Italy in Italy. Now we’ll start thinking about the final.”

Lorenzo Pellegrini pulled one back for Italy late on as the Azzurri threatened an improbable comeback. In the end though, Mancini’s side fell to its first loss in more than three years, since being beaten by Portugal in September 2018. Their unbeaten streak was a world record in international soccer.

“It (defeat) would have come eventually. And better tonight than the final of the Euros or a World Cup final,” Mancini said. “But this game will give us more strength despite the defeat and help us realise that we are really a great squad.”

In Milan, Italy were in the hunt for more silverware, while Spain were looking for revenge after losing to the Azzurri on penalties in the Euro 2020 semi-finals.

Barcelona teenager Gavi Páez started, making the 17-year-old the youngest player to make his Spain debut. Gavi, who only made his firstteam debut for Barcelona a month ago, broke the national record set by Ángel Zubieta in 1936.