Joselu’s fortunate goal secures Spain’s place in the Nations League final with a well-deserved victory over Italy. The match saw Spain take an early lead through Yeremy Pino’s cool finish, but Italy quickly equalized with a penalty from Ciro Immobile. As both teams struggled to find a breakthrough, the game seemed headed for extra time until a peculiar turn of events led to Joselu poking the ball home for Spain’s winning goal.
This result sets up a rematch of the 2021 semi-final, as Spain prepares to face Croatia in the final while Italy takes on the Netherlands for the bronze medal. Spain’s possession-based style clashed with Italy’s counter-attacking abilities throughout the match. Despite enjoying 61 percent of the ball, Spain struggled to make the most of their dominance. Their opening goal came from a defensive mistake by Leonardo Bonucci, but Italy quickly capitalized with a penalty.
Both teams had their chances to take the lead, with Spain’s Mikel Merino and Alvaro Morata coming close, while Italy thought they had scored through Davide Frattesi, only to be ruled offside. The game entered a lull in the final 20 minutes before Joselu’s timely intervention secured Spain’s place in the final.
The victory provides relief for coach Luis de la Fuente, who faced criticism after a loss to Scotland earlier in the year. Looking ahead to the final against Croatia, Manchester City midfielder Rodri emphasized the need to maintain their performance. Croatia is a competitive team with talented individuals who will fight until the end, making it crucial for Spain to seize the opportunity and not let the trophy slip away.
Reflecting on the match, Italy coach Roberto Mancini acknowledged Spain’s deserving win and felt his team couldn’t do much in the second half.
In other news, Manchester United confirmed that contract negotiations with goalkeeper David de Gea are ongoing, while Mason Greenwood has been included in the retained list after charges against him were dropped. De Gea’s future at the club remains uncertain, with concerns raised about his ability to play out from the back. United has been linked with a move for David Raya from Brentford as a potential replacement. Meanwhile, Greenwood’s situation is still being internally addressed by the club despite the dropped charges.