Euro Wrap, Quarterfinal: Italy vs. Spain

The last time Spain advanced from a match with Italy in a major tournament was the same year women in the United States were formally granted the right to vote. 1920. After 88 years, the curse is broken, but only just, as Spain go through on penalties. A match report and videos, after the bump:

QUARTER-FINAL 4	June 22nd, 2045 CET, Vienna (Austria)
Spain 0 (4) VS Italy 0 (2)

This was never going to be a goalfest. Despite the fact that Spain had outscored their Group D opponents 8-3, they hadn’t faced a defense anything like Italy’s, and they knew it. From the opening whistle, it was clear that Spain was going to try to throw the kitchen sink at the Italian back line, hoping to find a hole, and that Italy was content to calmly wait for their chance.

They both had chances, though the ones for Spain came mostly from the wrong sources. Fernando Torres and David Villa were relatively quiet, but the unlikely figures of David Silva and Marcos Senna woke up this morning dreaming of glory, because they suddenly fancied themselves strikers. Unfortunately, they might have had the mindset of a striker, but they did not have the shot of one, as they sent chance after chance sailing high or wide.

Italy relied mostly on their main weapon, the head of Luca Toni, which continued to be just a few degrees off kilter. His closest attempt was a very low percentage shot in which he had to turn his body at a near-impossible angle, and even Toni at his best would have had a tough time with it.

Throughout the match, it was the same song, stuck on repeat. The Spanish attack huffed and puffed, but Italy’s house was made of bricks, and there were always defenders (or defensive midfielder Daniele De Rossi) there to keep things clean. Buffon was barely troubled, aside from one ball that popped out of his hands and almost comically (or tragically) rolled in. Still, the Italians were strong at the back and patient up front, and you couldn’t help but see the makings of another 1-0 win for them.

But as good as their defense was, the Italian attack failed them. Not only was Toni ineffective, but so were his associates up front. Antonio Cassano and Massimo Ambrosini both had moments of danger, but they were surrounded by longer stretches of aimless, inaccurate play. Fabio Grosso, the engine of Italy in the group stage, again had his moments, but something was clearly missing for the Azzurri.

That something was Andrea Pirlo. Without him, the midfield looked a bit lost, never picking out the right man at the right time the way he so effortlessly does. And he was of course missed on the free kicks. As good as De Rossi is from a set piece, he is not yet Pirlo.

Extra time was, as expected, cagey. There were chances, again, but as time ticked on, each side was more and more intent on avoiding the loss, rather than chasing the win. Spain fans must have felt the inevitable coming at them like a train … 120 minutes … penalties … defeat. But against their nature, Spain was able to win ugly, a hugely encouraging sign for them. Iker Casillas saved two spot kicks, to Buffon’s one, and Cesc Fabregas went to the spot for the game, burying his penalty and putting the Italians out.

Aside from the refereeing, horrible stuff from Herbert Fandel, no one comes away from this with any shame. Italy played their game, and it didn’t work out. They look ahead to a World Cup defense, and almost certainly a new coach. Spain gets a huge monkey off of their back and move on to face Russia once again, and the Spanish fans, some of the most hardened and skeptical in the game, might just be starting to believe.

First half highlights:

Second half highlights:

Penalty shootout: