Tied (1-1) at the end of the regulation period and extra time after goals by Italian Federico Chiesa (60) and draw by Spanish Álvaro Morata (80), so it was the penalty shootout that saw “Italy” stamp his ticket.
Italy, who have come a long way after three years of fighting and a failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, meet the final of a major tournament for the first time since Euro-2012, after a very uncertain semi-final that the extension will not have been enough to tilt to one side.
And while Spain returned to the scoreboard 10 minutes from the end of regulation time and pressed through extra time, it was finally Italy who emerged victorious in the crucial session after the defeats of Morata and Olmo. Alone, Locatelli saw his shot stopped by Simon.
With 33 consecutive games without defeat, Roberto Mancini’s Italy now hopes to meet their opponent between England and Denmark, who face each other this Wednesday on the same ground, at Wembley.
“We had a good game, not quite as usual. We knew we would suffer in such a game,” said the coach. It was open between two great teams. All the teams must defend, not only the Italian teams. The merit is first and foremost that of the players who have believed in it for three years, but it is not over, we must recover the forces abandoned tonight. ” To hope to win a first continental title since 1968.