Euro Quarterfinals, Italy vs Belgium 2-1

 After a laborious & arduous 1st game of the night in which Spain managed to win, focus shifted to a high octane game between two European powerhouses, Italy & Belgium in Munich for the 2nd of the quarterfinals of Euro 2020. Belgium were boosted with the inclusion of De Bruyne, who shrugged his injury niggles to start in the playing eleven, while Eden Hazard was benched. It was a fascinating open game, with both team playing for the kill from start to finish, as Italy managed to thwart current World No 1 team Belgium for a deserved place in the semis, 2-1. One more heavy weight team, out of the tournament. 

The game began at a brisk pace, & plenty happened in the first half, as free flowing Italians tested the Belgian defense with raw energy & flair. Their forwards, tore into the Belgian half, while their backline, strengthened by the inclusion of veteran Chielleni along with Bonnuci & Lorenzo, kept the burly Belgian forward Lukaku quiet & away from the ball, most of the time. In the 13th minute, Insigne whipped in a free kick into the box, which was flicked by Lorenzo onto the onrushing Bonucci, who fired into the back net, to start the celebrations, but the goal was ruled out after a VAR check for offside. Belgium then had a chance to go up as De Bruyne unleashed a vicious shot into the Italian goal, but Donnarumma was equal to parry it off. Minutes later Lukaku's left footed effort was also saved by Donnarumma. Italy, surging ahead with pupose & complete control, went ahead in the 31st minute, when Barella wriggled between a clutch of Belgian defenders, in a goal mouth melee & drilled the ball past the outstretched hands of keeper Courtois into the net. Then just a minute before half time, the shortest player on the field, Insigne sprinted in from almost the half line, going past a couple of bemused Belgian players & unleashed a superb curling right footed bullet, which curled & flew into the top corner of the net, as Courtois threw himself helplessly, watching the ball beat him, as Italy broke into celebrations, leading 2-0. It was certainly one of the best goals of the tournament. However, in stoppage time, Belgium were handed a life line, as Lorenzo fouled Jeremy Doku inside the box for a penalty, which was easily converted by Lukaku. Halftime score standing at 2-1, with all to play. 

The 2nd half started in frenetic fashion, exactly where the 1st half ended, as both teams went for the kill, striving for goals to gain ascendancy. The Red Devils, Belgium were the better of the two in this half & had a number of gilt edged chances spurned, at least three times by the burly big Lukaku, well within the Italian box, with just the keeper to beat. On the other side, Insigne & Immobile & then Spinazzola missed chances to extend their slender one goal lead. With just 12 minutes left to play, Spinazzola's night & possibly the tournament came to a cruel end, as he possibly pulled a hamstring while sprinting down the wing - he had to be carried away in a stretcher, writhing & weeping in pain. What an impact player has has been for Italy in the tournament, running tirelessly across the pitch, defending, attacking with ebullient energy & in a defining moment of the game, denied Lukaku a clear chance to equalise from inches off the goal post. For Belgium, Doku kept up the pressure with incisive runs down the left flank, dodging past Italian defenders with surprising ease, but his shot in the dying minutes, went past the bar, tantalizingly close, for the Italian supporters to heave a sigh of relief. De Bruyne kept trying to feed the lurking Lukaku, but the Italian defense held on somehow, as the injury time of 5 minutes went past slowly. In the end, it was a brilliant golazzo by the duminitive Insigne in the first half, that proved to be the match winner. Its sad to see the Red Devils, bow out, despite enthralling the crowd with some exquisite football skills. This has been their Golden squad for some time, though without much silverware to show, as they seem to fall short in the big events. The Italians have looked wiry & fit, & the squad has the depth in all the positions to go the distance. Unlike earlier times, this team, goes ahead in search of goals with a new found hunger, & the defense go about their job of denying the opponents clear chances - in goal Donnarumma looks very capable. This team looks really good ahead. They now meet Spain in the semifinals, another mouth watering prospect to look forward to.