LONDON: Italian coach Roberto Mancini warned his side, “it’s not over” when the Azzurri beat Spain at a penalty to advance to the Euro 2020 final on Tuesday.
“Credit is given to young people, but it hasn’t ended,” Mancini said after a 4-2 shot victory in the match which ended 1-1 after extra time.
“We have us to restore our strength, it’s very difficult.
I know it will be the most difficult game of the tournament.
This is the sixth, it will be tiring, but we want the final.” Federico Chiesa’s curling strike put Italy ahead at the hour sign, but Alvaro Morata came from the bench and his 80th position forced extra time.
Morata missed a spot kick like Manuel Locatelli Italia who failed with the first attempt in shoot-out.
“Punishment is a lottery,” Mancini said.
“It’s a very difficult game.
Spain is a great team, they play very well.
We have a good match, not as usual but we know we have to suffer.” They made us trouble at the beginning, so we found the right way and we were not too risky.
It was a very difficult match.
“We deserve to be here …
it’s not easy, almost no one believes and we arrived at the final.” Italy, pursuing the first European title since 1968, will meet England or Denmark, who play on Wednesday, in London.