Damning image at Euro 2020 is everything wrong with football

A stunning strike by Lorenzo Insigne fired Italy into the semi-finals of Euro 2020 as a 2-1 win over Belgium sent them through to a last-four meeting with Spain.

Nicolo Barella struck the opening goal of the quarter-final in Munich before Insigne curled in Italy’s second in an action-packed first half.

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Belgium grabbed a lifeline just before the break when Romelu Lukaku converted a penalty, but Roberto Martinez’s side ultimately fell short against a disciplined Italian defence.

“We scored two and we could have scored more,” said Italy coach Roberto Mancini. “I think the victory is fully deserved. Spain are next but the more you go forward the most difficult it becomes.”

While Italy face Spain at Wembley on Tuesday, defeat means more European Championship quarter-final heartbreak for Belgium, who exited at the same stage in 2016 after defeat by Wales.

Belgium sorely missed their captain Eden Hazard, ruled out by a hamstring injury, even as Kevin De Bruyne won his race to shake off an ankle injury.

The Manchester City playmaker showed why the medical staff worked around the clock to get him fit by regularly causing Italy problems, but Romelu Lukaku twice was denied by Gianluigi Donnarumma.

“It was a miracle that I played, because there was definitely damage to my ankle,” said De Bruyne. “We tried everything to win that match.

“Getting eliminated is always a disappointment. Too bad I couldn’t do more.”

Italy’s win came at a cost, with left-back Leonardo Spinazzola out of the tournament with a leg injury.

“Leonardo had a great European championship. Now whoever replaces him will do the same,” said Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci.

Diving has long been a problem in football and Italy copped plenty of attention from a sceptical fans who didn’t appreciate some of the players’ acting performances while trying to run down the clock and hold onto a narrow lead.

A clip showing Domenico Berardi roll around on the ground looking like he’d suffered a serious injury — only to get up and jog towards the corner flag when the referee kept his whistle in his pocket — quickly went viral and attracted more than two million views just a couple of hours after being posted online.

When you’re out of it but hear them call last orders at the bar… pic.twitter.com/JZqHIo2yfF

Cricket writer Lawrence Booth has to clarify he was being sarcastic when he tweeted: “Watching Italian footballers run the clock down is a thing of beauty.”

Football writer for The Athletic, Rob Tanner, said: “The play acting is getting ridiculous now. I like this Italy team and I think they will win the whole thing but these closing stages are embarrassing for the game. Pantomime.”

Tanvi Madan wrote: “I don’t know about #Euro2021 but Italy deserves an Oscar for acting or an Olympic medal for diving.”

Ex-journalist Keith Andrew added: “This is why I can’t get behind Italy, despite great football. Consistent diving and cheating.”

Down one minute…Source:Twitter

Up and running the next.Source:Twitter

Federer reacts as Swiss hearts broken

In today’s other match, goalkeeper Unai Simon was the hero as Spain edged past 10-man Switzerland 3-1 on penalties to set up a Euro 2020 semi-final against the Italians.

After a 1-1 draw in Saint Petersburg which saw the Swiss play for 43 minutes a man down, Simon made two saves in the shoot-out to help keep Spain’s bid for a record fourth European crown alive.

Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer encouraged his countrymen to “park the bus” but sadly the result didn’t go the way he wanted.

“It’s been an amazing Sommer guys, thank you,” Federer tweeted. “Great effort, can’t wait for the World Cup.”

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“Football was just there. We are deserved winners,” said Simon, who made an embarrassing error in the 5-3 last-16 win over Croatia.

“Just like we had to erase the memory of that mistake in the last match, it’s time to quickly forget this triumph because we face a tough rival in the next match.”

It was heartbreak for Switzerland, who were bidding for reach the semi-finals of a major tournament for the first time in their history.

Spain forged ahead early on when Denis Zakaria put through his own net, but Switzerland were the better side for long periods and Xherdan Shaqiri, standing in for the suspended Granit Xhaka as captain, equalised in the 68th minute.

The Swiss were reduced to 10 men with 13 minutes remaining, though, when midfielder Remo Freuler was controversially dismissed for a tackle on Gerard Moreno.

Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer, the hero of the penalty shoot-out win over world champions France in the last 16, made a string of fine saves in extra time.

But Simon saved from Fabian Schaer and Manuel Akanji, while Ruben Vargas blazed over in a tense finale as Spain snuck through, with Mikel Oyarzabal smashing home the winning spot-kick.

Euro 2020: Just moments after equalising against Spain, Switzerland had their European Championship hopes shattered by a rash challenge from Remo Dreuler in midfield….

Euro 2020: Just moments after equalising against Spain, Switzerland had their European Championship hopes shattered by a rash challenge from Remo Dreuler in midfield.

With AFP

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