Spain 1-1 Italy LIVE: Immobile scores penalty to equalise for Azzurri after Pino pounces on Bonucci error in Nations League semi-final
European heavyweights Spain and Italy will look to begin their new eras with a bang when they face off for a spot in the Nations League final.
La Roja are ushering in a new guard following their last 16 penalty shootout elimination at the World Cup by Morocco.
Luis Enrique resigned after the humiliating exit and has since been replaced by the country's Under-21 coach Luis de la Fuente.
Italy suffered further embarrassment having not even qualified for Qatar and then lost their opening EURO 2024 qualifier to England.
But Gli Azzurri will be out for revenge when they take on Spain, who ended their world-record 37-game unbeaten run in 2021.
The winner of this tie will take on Croatia in the Nations League final on Sunday.
- Spain XI: Simon, Navas, Le Normand, Laporte, Alba, Rodri, Merino, Gavi, Pino, Rodrigo, Morata.
- Subs: Kepa, Raya, Carvajal, Nacho, Zubimendi, Ruiz, Asensio, Canales, Fati, Garcia, Joselu, Olmo.
- Italy XI: Donnarumma, Di Lorenzo, Toloi, Bonucci, Acerbi, Frattesi, Jorginho, Barella, Zaniolo, Spinazzola, Immobile.
- Subs: Meret, Vicario, Dimarco, Darmian, Verratti, Retegui, Pellegrini, Chiesa, Cristante, Gnonto, Raspadori, Buongiorno.
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Follow our live match blog below for regular updates…
Spain 1-1 Italy
14′ It’s level after a frantic start at the FC Twente Stadium!
GOAL! Spain 1-1 Italy: Ciro Immobile
11′ IMMOBILE SCORES FROM THE SPOT!
Italy are level as Immobile sends Simon the wrong way and finds the bottom corner!
What a start to this game in the Netherlands! We’re all square!
PENALTY! Spain 1-0 Italy
10′ ITALY HAVE A PENALTY!
Le Normand is penalised for a handball!
Jorginho clips a superb pass to Zaniolo who fires a powerful strike across goal which comes straight back off the arm of the Spain defender!
Spain 1-0 Italy
8′ Spinazzola is causing some issues for Spain.
Italy are settled after their early mistake and look threatening.
The left wing back clips a cross into the back post but it evades all bodies in the box.
Spain 1-0 Italy
6′ Italy are looking to respond straight away!
They give Spain a taste of their own medicine and press high but they can’t find a good opportunity and settle for a corner.
GOAL! Spain 1-0 Italy: Yeremy Pino
4′ SPAIN LEAD! IT’S PINO WHO PUNISHES ITALY!
Bonucci loses the ball on the edge of his own box after Spain pounced on a poor pass and they lead early on!
Italy will be very disappointed with that defending!
Spain 0-0 Italy
2′ After only a couple of minutes, Rodri strikes!
Spain start positively and it falls to the Man City man who sends an effort well over the bar!
Spain 0-0 Italy
1′ We’re underway at the FC Twente Stadium!
Who will join Croatia in the Nations League final?
Spain vs Italy
The teams are out!
They will sing their national anthems before we get underway!
Spain vs Italy
The fans are certainly up for it!
Kick-off is five minutes away!
Spain vs Italy
Spain boss Luis de la Fuente has stated he will treat the semi-final as if it’s his last game.
“We think about getting to the final,” he said. “There is no ‘next day’, I look at it as if it’s my last game — not just now, but always.
“The only way to face something with energy, and with desire and giving absolutely everything, is to think that it’s the last chance of your life.
“But I’ve always done it, that’s how it is, as if it’s my last game. We’re going to go all out, I don’t think about what comes next.”
Spain vs Italy
Limbering up for the big one!
Croatia await tonight’s winner in the final this weekend…
Spain vs Italy
Warm-ups are underway in the Netherlands!
We’re now only 20 minutes away from kick-off!
Spain vs Italy
Meanwhile, Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has also been speaking highly of his opponents tonight.
He said: “When you have the chance to play a match at any stage of a competition against Italy, whether it’s a semi-final or a final, it’s exciting because you see two world powers playing against each other with tremendous enthusiasm.
“Italy will surely be looking to make up for not being at the World Cup, they will be very keen to do that. Similarly, with a new coach and a new national team, we’re looking forward to doing something significant.
“You’ll see two teams determined and hungry to win. And that’s what I want my players to show. I’m sure that’s how Italy will plan their game. Just like us: we are eager to win.”
Spain vs Italy
Italy boss Roberto Mancini has been speaking about Spain’s threat and his team’s mentality heading into this evening’s game.
Mancini said: “They dominated for a long time and maybe recently they are changing something especially with the new coach, but they are always a difficult opponent in terms of quality and number of players they have.
“We will see if we are good at winning this match. For us it is already a success to have reached the final phase of the tournament, it is the second time we have succeeded and it is a good result, above all because we had a difficult group and with young players.
“Now we’ll see how these two games go. We too are renewing something and we have already played in the European Championship qualifiers with new, young players.”
Spain vs Italy
The teams are in the building!
Spain vs Italy
Spain will be aiming to overcome a poor recent record against Italy tonight.
Spain vs Italy
This will only be de la Fuente’s third game in charge of Spain and captain Jordi Alba is looking forward to seeing how things go under his new boss.
“I think he’s very calm, everyone has to be united,” Alba said. “Sometimes the players are the ones who have to take a step forward. We can’t doubt the work that is being done, I think the work is very good.
“It’s a new era, everyone is excited, I am excited as captain.
“I’m very proud to captain this team. It’s a team for the present and the future, but what must be clear is that we need to perform immediately.”
Spain vs Italy
New Spain boss Luis de la Fuente has been speaking about his side being involved in the Nations League finals.
He said: “I feel happy for having the opportunity to face three great teams, in this case the semi-final with Italy, who I consider to be, obviously, great opponents.
“We value it very much, and we are very happy because we are going to be able to compete.
“We are on a par with all the best national teams in the world and we are very much looking forward to this competition.”
Spain vs Italy
Italy will be wearing a special edition shirt tonight!
Spain vs Italy: Team news
Manchester City’s Rodri starts for Spain tonight only days after celebrating their treble win!
He is joined by fellow Citizens teammate Aymeric Laporte in the La Roja line-up.
As for Italy, Arsenal’s Jorginho starts alongside reported Newcastle target Nicolo Barella in midfield.
Spain vs Italy: Team news
Spain XI: Simon, Navas, Le Normand, Laporte, Alba, Rodri, Merino, Gavi, Pino, Rodrigo, Morata.
Subs: Kepa, Raya, Carvajal, Nacho, Zubimendi, Ruiz, Asensio, Canales, Fati, Garcia, Joselu, Olmo.
Italy XI: Donnarumma, Di Lorenzo, Toloi, Bonucci, Acerbi, Frattesi, Jorginho, Barella, Zaniolo, Spinazzola, Immobile.
Subs: Meret, Vicario, Dimarco, Darmian, Verratti, Retegui, Pellegrini, Chiesa, Cristante, Gnonto, Raspadori, Buongiorno.
Spain vs Italy
Italy boss Roberto Mancini has been speaking about his side reaching the Nations League finals ahead of tonight’s game.
He said: “First of all, it’s a great achievement to be back in the final four. In the group we had good teams like Germany, England and Hungary.
“We’re in the final stage and it’s clear that we want to win, like the others, but it won’t be easy.
“I had to make some choices, unfortunately someone was left out, but the guys who are here all deserve it.”
Spain vs Italy
The winner of tonight’s semi-final will face Croatia in the final of the Nations League.
Luka Modric and co beat the Netherlands 4-2 in extra-time to secure their place in the final last night!
Who will be joining them?
Spain vs Italy
Tonight’s setting!
