Our prediction for this Euro 2020 match:
All eyes will be on Wembley Stadium when Italy and Spain go head to head in the EURO 2020 semis. The Italians have been impressive at the showpiece tournament, with the team setting up a meeting with Spain by beating Belgium 2-1. Napoli winger Lorenzo Insigne, who scored a wonder goal in the quarter-finals, will be the man to watch in Roberto Mancini’s team, while both Alessandro Florenzi and Leonardo Spinazzola are out of contention through injuries.
La Roja, on the other hand, did well to survive Switzerland in the quarter-finals. Luis Enrique’s troops are likely to stick to their attacking style of play, and given Italy’s attacking potential, both teams to score betting option should be considered. Both Pablo Sarabia and Aymeric Laporte are rated doubtful, and the duo will be assessed ahead of the kick-off. In their last meeting at the European Championship finals Italy defeated Spain 2-0.
Highlighted Player (Lorenzo Insigne):
Born in Frattamaggiore, Naples on June 4, 1991, Lorenzo Insigne is an Italian footballer who plays for his hometown club Napoli in the Serie A. Insigne is a product of Olimpia Sant’Arpino football school, but he joined the Partenopei at the age of 15.
The diminutive attacker scored his first ever goal in the Italian top flight on September 16, 2012 in a 3-1 win over Parma. Insigne, who played for the likes of Cavese, Foggia and Pescara on loan before returning to Naples, made his debut with the Italian national team on September 11, 2012 in the World Cup qualifier against Malta.
The Napoli forward scored his first ever goal for the Azzurri in a friendly against Argentina on August 14, 2013. His main position is left winger, but he is used as a second striker as well. Lorenzo Insigne has a contract with Napoli until June 30, 2022.
Highlighted Team (Spain):
Historically, Spain have been regarded as one of top sides on international stage, but they often struggled to live up to the billing. After reaching the semi-finals at the 1950 World Cup, La Furia Roja won the European Championship trophy on home soil in 1964, but little did they know that it would remain their only trophy for another 44 years.
Following some disappointing showings, Spain finally returned to the biggest stage under Vicente Del Bosque, winning three straight trophies between 2008 and 2012, before crashing out in the group stage at the 2014 World Cup. La Furia Roja enjoyed plenty of success with their tiki-taka style of play, originally designed by Barcelona, with Vicente Del Bosque’s side packed with technically skilled players such as Xavi Hernandez, Xabi Alonso, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas and David Silva.
Strikers Fernando Torres and David Villa also had a major role to play in those successes, but when it comes to their famous predecessors, the likes of Alfredo Di Stefano, Michel, Emilio Butrageno, Raul Gonzalez, Fernando Morientes and Fernando Hierro should not be forgotten.