Italy dump Belgium out of Euro 2020, set up semi-final date with Spain

Italy's Nicolo Barella celebrates with team-mates after scoring their first goal during their Euro 2020 quarter-final against Belgium on Friday. Photo: Christof Stache/Reuters

Italy's Nicolo Barella celebrates with team-mates after scoring their first goal during their Euro 2020 quarter-final against Belgium on Friday. Photo: Christof Stache/Reuters

Published Jul 2, 2021

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MUNICH – Italy set up a Euro 2020 semi-final clash against Spain after first half goals from Nicolo Barella and Lorenzo Insigne led the Azzurri to a 2-1 win over Belgium on Friday in an entertaining encounter in which both sides created a number of chances.

Italy -- who will face the Spaniards on Tuesday in London -- opened the scoring in the 31st minute when Barella picked up the ball, forced his way past defenders in the area and fired home.

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Insigne doubled the lead in the 44th minute after collecting the ball on the left and skipping beyond a defender before unleashing a long-range shot that flew past Thibaut Courtois.

Romelu Lukaku clawed a goal back for Belgium from the penalty spot just before the break after Giovanni Di Lorenzo put an arm on Jeremy Doku and pushed him to the ground.

ALSO READ: Spain reach Euro semi-finals with penalties win v Switzerland

Spain squeezed past Switzerland 3-1 in a penalty shootout to reach the last four after their battling opponents clung to a 1-1 draw after extra time despite going down to 10 men.

Reuters