ENSCHEDE, Netherlands, June 15 (Reuters) - Substitute Joselu scored a fortunate winner three minutes from the end as Spain booked their place in a second successive Nations League final with a deserved 2-1 victory over Italy on Thursday.
"The team played a great game," Joselu told reporters.
Thursday's result in Enschede was a repeat of the 2021 Nations League semi-final between the teams and became a battle of Spain’s possession game versus Italy’s ability to hit them on the counter-attack with swift breaks.
"Spain deserved it, even if they only found the goal right near the end.
We set up slightly differently, but we couldn't do much in the second half," Italy coach Roberto Mancini told RAI.
Persons:
Joselu, Luis de la, Yeremy Pino, Robin Le Normand, Ciro, we're, Leonardo Bonucci, Yeremy, Le Normand, Unai Simon, Roberto Mancini, Nick Said, Ed Osmond
Organizations:
Nations League, Italy, Croatia, Spaniard, RAI, Thomson
Locations:
ENSCHEDE, Netherlands, Spain, Sunday’s, Rotterdam, France, Italy, Croatia, Enschede, Cape Town