A goal was not to be found after 120 minutes of football and it took until the seventh penalty taker to finally see Spain through, as Leonardo Bonucci’s miss coupled with Jesus Navas' conversion now sets up a dream final against host nation Brazil.
Head coach Vicente Del Bosque made three changes from the Nigeria win, slotting in Madrid shot-stopper Iker Casillas as his number one while slotting Fernando Torres and David Silva up top in place of the injured Roberto Soldado and Cesc Fabregas. The back four was anchored by Álvaro Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Gerard Piqué and Jordi Alba. Sergio Busquets, Xavi and Andres Iniesta made up the middle and in attack Torres was flanked by Pedro and Silva. As for Italy, Mario Balotelli’s injury made way for Alberto Gilardino to receive his first start of the tournament.
Unlike last summer’s Euro 2012 final where Spain went on a rampaging start in their emphatic 4-0 triumph, Italy was the aggressor in the early going. The Azzurri had several good scoring chances including a 17th minute header from Christian Maggio and an 18th minute header by Daniele De Rossi.
But it was in the 36th minute that Italy had their best chance of the half when Emanuele Giaccherini’s cross to Maggio was spot-on perfect, but the Napoli man’s header from close range was brilliantly saved by Casillas. A mere minute later Torres had a dream chance for Spain when he gathered in a ball, spun and fired with his left foot but the shot sailed wide of Gigi Buffon’s far post.
Gilardino. Reuters
Italy boss Cesare Prandelli made one change at halftime bringing on midfielder Riccardo Montolivo for defender Andrea Barzagli, thus shifting De Rossi back to a central back role. Del Bosque made his first change in the 52nd minute as Jesus Navas replaced new Manchester City teammate Silva.
As much as Spain tried to maintain their possession game, the Azzurri took that away from them and largely dictated the pace through the hour mark. The best chance for La Roja came in the 73rd minute when Jordi Alba played a ball on the left wing to Pedro, but the Barcelona man, who had beaten the offside trap to get clear, hesitated just slightly and enabled Buffon to come off his line and make the block.
Del Bosque made his second change in the 79th minute, bringing on Juan Mata for the struggling Pedro while Prandelli countered by substituting on Alberto Alquilani for Claudio Marchisio.
Fernando Torres. / Reuters
Spain almost found a late winner in the 85th when a noticeably fatigued Torres made a strong run, dished to Navas who then cut back to Piqué but the defender’s shot from inside the area flew way high over the crossbar. A last-second free kick opportunity for Spain went for naught, and just like the Euro 2008 quarterfinal between the two nations, the teams went to extra time with a 0-0 score.
Prandelli made his final change prior to the additional 30 minutes substituting on Sebastian Giovinco for Gilardino. The stifling heat and humidity exacted a toll on both teams and none more so than on Torres as Del Bosque pulled the Chelsea striker for Bayern Munich’s Javi Martinez.
Extra time started with a bang. Just three minutes in a ball across from Maggio skipped to Giaccherini who rifled a shot goal-ward that thundered off the post. Right after the Italy chance, Spain enjoyed a spell of scoring opportunities of their own but Piqué and Sergio Ramos were unable to find the target on a pair of corner kicks and Jordi Alba volleyed high after a delightful pass from Iniesta -- all three Spanish scoring chances coming in the first ten minutes of the extra frame.
Javi Martínez. / Reuters
Five minutes from time Xavi nearly bagged the winner when his bullet from outside the area glanced off the outreached fingers of Buffon and then hit off the post. The follow up shot from Martinez barely sliced wide and Italy survived a major scare. However, a minute later, Navas nearly became the hero but his shot from the right also ran just wide of the far post. A late extra time winner like in Johannesburg three years ago was not to be had, leaving both teams to face the roulette of penalties.
Antonio Candreva stepped up first for the Azzurri and beat Casillas with a Panenka. The two teams then traded successful penalty attempts until the seventh round when Bonucci sent his effort skyward. Navas strode up and cooly converted from the 12 yard spot setting off a wild celebration on the Spanish sideline.
La Roja now hope to claim their first ever Confederations Cup title on Sunday when they face back-to-back defending Confederations Cup champions Brazil at the Estadio Maracaná in Rio de Janeiro.
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