UEFA Nations League: Gavi makes history as Spain end Italy’s 37-game unbeaten streak to reach final

Italy’s magnificent unbeaten run has ended at 37 after Spain’s 2-1 victory within the UEFA Nations League closing 4 in Milan on Wednesday. Ferran Torres scored twice within the first half for La Roja as Leonardo Bonucci noticed pink for the Azzurri and the hosts might solely handle one comfort purpose by Lorenzo Pellegrini at San Siro. 

Roberto Mancini’s Euro champions have been unable to repeat their summer season feat after they eradicated Luis Enrique’s males within the semifinals and can now contest the third-place playoff with certainly one of Belgium and France.

5 takeaways.

1. 37 and out

Whereas it has now been ended, Italy’s run was nice whereas it lasted and leaves Mancini in an unusual place of now having to select his gamers up after a aggressive defeat for the primary time since 2018. It could be unfaithful to say {that a} setback had not been coming based mostly on current World Cup qualifying outcomes, however to overlook the chance to win a second piece of silverware in a 12 months — and on residence soil — will damage the Italians for a while.

2. Improbable Ferran

Spain’s two-goal hero on the evening is rising as one of many key figures underneath Enrique and the Manchester Metropolis man’s brace was merely additional affirmation that he’s now La Roja’s predominant purpose risk. After all, there’s additionally the absent Alvaro Morata, however he has had greater than sufficient probability to show himself as dependable because the 21-year-old has been to date at senior stage as continues to be but to persuade.

3. Overbooked Bonucci

Italy’s job was not made a better by their captain’s double yellow card first half dismissal and though the 34-year-old’s second has sparked debate, it was the very last thing that Mancini’s facet wanted up towards it. One common query throughout the Euros was how for much longer Bonucci and Chiellini can proceed to be immaculate on the highest stage and that is already proof to recommend that the drop-off might come prior to anticipated.

4. Roja revolution

Barcelona’s teen midfielder Gavi put collectively a powerful debut and have become the nation’s youngest-ever participant at 17 years and 62 days previous. Spain’s rebirth underneath Enrique continues apace and Torres in addition to Mikel Oyarzabal are simply two of the important thing parts on this new-look facet which might construct on their Euro exhibiting forward of the 2022 World Cup and provides both Belgium or France a troublesome take a look at. A Nations League title can be a superb reward for the progress made in recent times.

5. Donnarumma disgust

The Paris Saint-Germain man was given a tough trip from begin to end and endured a totally depressing return to Milan with two objectives conceded on high of the recent reception he obtained for leaving AC Milan this summer season. Anticipate the 22-year-old to bounce again, but it surely has been a blended begin to life as a Euro champion along with his timeshare with Keylor Navas on high of this vilification.