'Extraordinary' Italy beat Belgium in thrilling encounter

Azzurri triumph 2-1 in high-calibre game and extend winning streak to 32 games

Italy forward Lorenzo Insigne celebrates scoring his country's second goal at the end of the first half. AFP

Italy reached the Euro 2020 semi-finals with a 2-1 win over Belgium on Friday as first-half goals from Nicolo Barella and Lorenzo Insigne settled a thrilling encounter against the number one-ranked team in the world.

Barella fired home the opener after 31 minutes before Insigne’s wonderful curling strike doubled their advantage on the brink of half-time before Romelu Lukaku pulled one back for Belgium in first-half stoppage time.

Both sides had chances to score after the break in a breathless match, but Roberto Mancini’s side held on for a 13th consecutive win to extend their record unbeaten run to 32 games.

They will face Spain at Wembley on Tuesday for a place in the final after Luis Enrique’s side squeezed past Switzerland 3-1 in a penalty shoot-out after their battling opponents clung to a 1-1 draw after extra time despite going down to 10 men.

Italy started strongly when Leonardo Bonucci bundled the ball into the net after 13 minutes from a free-kick, but his celebrations were cut short when it was chalked off for offside.

Italy's Gianluigi Donnarumma then produced a superb one-handed save to deny midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, who was fit enough to start after picking up an injury in Belgium's last game, before the goalkeeper tipped a Lukaku effort wide.

The Azzurri went in front when Barella lashed a finish into the bottom corner after holding off two defenders in the box. It was Italy’s 10th goal of the tournament, their most at a European Championship.

Italy looked set to end the half on a high when Insigne’s outstanding curler doubled their lead, but Belgium cut the deficit three minutes later when Giovanni Di Lorenzo barged over Jeremy Doku in the box and Lukaku converted the penalty.

Leonardo Spinazzola performed a superb goal-line clearance to deny Lukaku an equaliser after the break, but the impressive Italy left-back's night ended in tears when he was carried off on a stretcher with a muscular problem.

The lively Doku caused problems for the Azzurri defence all night and he threatened a late equaliser when he cut in from the wing to lash a shot at goal, but it flew inches over the bar.

Mancini was unsurprisingly overjoyed by the outcome.

“We deserved to win. The boys were extraordinary in the game,” he said.

Spain? Let's enjoy this victory, then we'll think about it. Congratulations to my boys, they were very good.

Roberto Mancini

“We only suffered in the last 10 minutes because we were really tired, we had spent a lot. But we could have scored a few more goals.”

Mancini said his players deserved to savour the triumph before thinking about Tuesday's game against three-time European champions Spain at London's Wembley Stadium. The Spanish knocked out Switzerland on penalties earlier on Friday.

“We didn't have a minimum goal, we wanted to do our best. The road is still long. There are two games to go; we'll see what happens,” he said.

“Spain? Let's enjoy this victory, then we'll think about it. Congratulations to my boys, they were very good.”

Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was disappointed but gave credit to the Italians.

“This hits hard, but we knew it was going to be a tough game. We had two opportunities but their keeper made a good save and I think we gave the first goal away a bit too easily,” he said.

“It really could have gone either way, but Italy deserved to win here.”