Spain Beat Italy On Penalties After Goalless Draw

June 22, 2008 by CLDsport

Spain have beaten Italy 4-2 on penalties after a disappointing 0-0 draw after 120 minutes of play.

The Italians are deservedly out of the tournament, after playing negatively throughout. Their completely unattractive style of football is a bore, and it would have been a travesty if they had gone through to the semi-finals. It almost looked as though they were playing for penalties from the very first minute.

When Spain were on the ball there were 10 Italians in their path, and Arigones team struggled to break them down. Defensive football is all very well, but it must at least be countered by some form of attack.

As the BBC commentators pointed out, they have some fantastic attacking players, but the system deployed by Donadoni’s team fails to allow them any freedom. This leads to pure unattractive, boring football. It’s a pleasure to see them be knocked out – just as it was when Greece suffered the same fate.

The majority of the matches in Euro 2008 have been entertaining. This was not.

It took until the 36th minute for the Italians to play a cross into the Spanish box. Despite the fact that the Italians had a major height advantage over their opponents. Generally, a team with such an advantage would be playing as many balls into the box as possible – but the Italians were happy to pass it around the back while making no inroads whatsoever.

Luca Toni it was who was presented with the first opportunity for Italy. His header looked to be on target, but it hit a Spanish defender’s head and was subsequently cleared. This, however, should have been the encouragement that the Italians needed – strangely though, there was no influx of crosses.

As the second half got under way, the pattern remained the same. On the hour Spain made a double substitution in the hope of breaking the Italians down. Fabregas and Santi Cazorla came on for Xavi and Iniesta.

It was Italian substitute Camoranesi who almost opened the scoring mere seconds later. After a goalmouth scramble the ball fell to the Juventus midfielder, but his effort was expertly blocked by the legs of Casillas in goal.

With 10 minutes remaining of normal time, Italian keeper Buffon almost gifted the Spanish the lead. Senna’s long range shot should not have been a problem, but the ball was fumbled and headed goalwards. Thankfully for Buffon the ball rebounded off the post into his arms – for the neutral however, it was a huge disappointment.

As the game – predictably – moved into extra time, it was Senna again who almost scored. He cut inside from the right and hit the ball low with his left foot from outside the area. The ball fizzed just wide with Buffon beaten.

Di Natale and Luca Toni both came close before the sides switched for the last 15 minutes.

Cazorla’s shot across the face of goal – with Villa running towards the far post – was pretty much the only action worth noting. The last chance to avoid penalties was wasted, and the final whistle was blown.
A fact courtesy of John Motson: Spain had lost three penalty shoot-outs – all on the 22nd June. Was this an omen? Maybe this is the reason Italy seemed to be playing for penalties for 120 minutes!

Villa scored for Spain, and Grosso equalised for Italy. Cazorla then netted for the Spaniards, but Casillas saved brilliantly from De Rossi to ensure Spain were 2-1 up after two kicks each.
Senna scored for the Spanish, and Camoranesi for the Italians to make it 3-2. Buffon then saved a disappointing kick from substitute Guiza, but Casillas saved again from Di Natali – richly deserved for Di Natali after his pathetic unsportsmanlike antics, more on that below!

It was left for Arsenal’s Fabregas to put the ball in and put the Spanish through to the semis. He calmly slotted the ball home to huge celebrations from the Spaniards.

Di Natali’s Behaviour

Sportsmanship is a word Di Natali needs to look up in the dictionary. In extra time went down under a challenge and his momentum (or theatrics!) took him off the field of play. When he noticed he’d left the pitch, he swiftly rolled back on to ensure the game was stopped – with the Spanish in possession. This sort of play is disgusting, and Di Natali should have been punished for it.

If the Italians can’t win fairly and squarely, then they should accept this. Diving, theatrics, and totally unacceptable behaviour is not football. Goodbye Italy. You will not be missed by me – you are simply not worthy of a place in the semi-finals. Thank you, and good night.

Spain now meet Russia in Vienna on Thursday in the semi-final

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