It’s a knockout as Italy and Denmark reach Euro quarter-finals
Leonardo Bonucci of Italy and teammates celebrate after victory in the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Round of 16 match between Italy and Austria at Wembley Stadium at Wembley Stadium on June 26, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
LONDON, June 26, 2021 - Dramatically, after Euro 2020’s over-prepared and statistically-enhanced group stage, the finals burst into exciting life with the knockout round.
All credit to Italy and Austria for this. Indeed, perhaps more credit is due to the Austrian outsiders who stretched Azzurri nerves almost to breaking point with their hard-working defiance at Wembley in the second tie of the round of 16.
Coach Roberto Mancini’s men were taken all the way into extra-time before escaping with a 2-1 victory. Earlier in the day Denmark, still riding their super-charged wave of emotion, defeated Wales by a deserved and decisive 4-0.
Italy, for all the power and prestige of its football, have not won the European Championship since 1968 when they needed the toss of a coin in the semi-final and a replayed final on home soil.
Perhaps, after so long, this will be their year again. They learned that, if this is to be the case, they will need the sort of physical and mental commitment on which they had barely had to draw in their three group stage victories back in Rome.
Austria have not beaten Italy since 1960. They began with such aggressive intent that Marco Arnautovic was shown a yellow card by English referee Anthony Taylor in the very first minute. But the subsequent 89 minutes belonged to the Azzurri.
Leonardo Spinazzola and Nicolo Barella went close twice each in the first half. Yet the Austrians, working like Trojans, held the line until the end of normal time. They even went close themselves after half-time with a free-kick by captain David Alaba which skimmed the bar and then a headed ‘goal’ by Arnautovic which was ruled out only for a narrow offside by VAR.
Italy did not manage a second-half effort on target before referee Taylor sent the duel into extra time.
Five minutes after the restart so Chiesa thrashed home an angled shot. Ten minutes later fellow substitute Matteo Pessina struck a second goal. Austria's own substitute, Sasa Kalajdzic, pulled one back. Too late for Austria but more than enough to give Italy a fright.
In the quarter-finals Italy will face Belgium or Portugal in Munich while Denmark must play Netherlands or Czech Republic in Baku.
The Danes withstood an early assault from Wales to defeat the 2016 semi-finals more comfortably than the scoreline might suggest.
They led at halftime with a fine goal from Kasper Dolberg. The 23-year-old Nice striker, deputing for injured Yusuf Poulsen, punished a Welsh defensive mistake for a second goal early in the second half.
After that it merely a question of time before Denmark could start celebrating though did not finally collapse until the closing minutes when they had Harry Wilson red carded inbetween further Danish goals from Thomas Maehle and Martin Braithwaite.
The Danish dream goes on. As coach Kasper Hjulmand said: "It's hard to believe that this is reality. I so admire the boys and the way we keep on fighting. These guys are true warriors."
They are also digging deeper for their absent friend, Christian Eriksen, of course.
All credit to Italy and Austria for this. Indeed, perhaps more credit is due to the Austrian outsiders who stretched Azzurri nerves almost to breaking point with their hard-working defiance at Wembley in the second tie of the round of 16.
Coach Roberto Mancini’s men were taken all the way into extra-time before escaping with a 2-1 victory. Earlier in the day Denmark, still riding their super-charged wave of emotion, defeated Wales by a deserved and decisive 4-0.
Italy, for all the power and prestige of its football, have not won the European Championship since 1968 when they needed the toss of a coin in the semi-final and a replayed final on home soil.
Perhaps, after so long, this will be their year again. They learned that, if this is to be the case, they will need the sort of physical and mental commitment on which they had barely had to draw in their three group stage victories back in Rome.
Austria have not beaten Italy since 1960. They began with such aggressive intent that Marco Arnautovic was shown a yellow card by English referee Anthony Taylor in the very first minute. But the subsequent 89 minutes belonged to the Azzurri.
Leonardo Spinazzola and Nicolo Barella went close twice each in the first half. Yet the Austrians, working like Trojans, held the line until the end of normal time. They even went close themselves after half-time with a free-kick by captain David Alaba which skimmed the bar and then a headed ‘goal’ by Arnautovic which was ruled out only for a narrow offside by VAR.
Italy did not manage a second-half effort on target before referee Taylor sent the duel into extra time.
Five minutes after the restart so Chiesa thrashed home an angled shot. Ten minutes later fellow substitute Matteo Pessina struck a second goal. Austria's own substitute, Sasa Kalajdzic, pulled one back. Too late for Austria but more than enough to give Italy a fright.
In the quarter-finals Italy will face Belgium or Portugal in Munich while Denmark must play Netherlands or Czech Republic in Baku.
The Danes withstood an early assault from Wales to defeat the 2016 semi-finals more comfortably than the scoreline might suggest.
They led at halftime with a fine goal from Kasper Dolberg. The 23-year-old Nice striker, deputing for injured Yusuf Poulsen, punished a Welsh defensive mistake for a second goal early in the second half.
After that it merely a question of time before Denmark could start celebrating though did not finally collapse until the closing minutes when they had Harry Wilson red carded inbetween further Danish goals from Thomas Maehle and Martin Braithwaite.
The Danish dream goes on. As coach Kasper Hjulmand said: "It's hard to believe that this is reality. I so admire the boys and the way we keep on fighting. These guys are true warriors."
They are also digging deeper for their absent friend, Christian Eriksen, of course.
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