UEFA EURO 2020, Belgium vs Italy Highlights: Italy win 2-1, book semifinal spot against Spain

Witsel has acres of space in the box to deliver a ball to but it is blocked by Bonucci. Belgium have struggled to create clear chances in the 2nd half. But then there's DOKU again! Cuts in from the right, dribbles past four defenders, and shoots just over the bar. 5 minutes added time left for Belgium to claw back.

Immobile and Veratti go off for Italy with a little more than 15 minutes for the Azzuri to see off. In the 75th minute, Belgium attack again. Both De Bruyne and Lukaku try to unleash shots but both are blocked. A long injury time-off as Italy lose Spinazzola to a muscle pull. The distraught player has to be stretched off the field.

Insigne tests the keeper with a long ranger. Belgium bring on Nacer Chadli and Dries Mertens in place of Meunier and Tielemans. What an introduction! Dries Mertens cuts open the italian defence to create a chance but again Belgium miss out by inches! Lukaku, Hazard, Chadli, all within agaonizing inches of getting the equalizer. 

Doku runs like lightning on the left flank, leading to a splitting pass from De Bruyne, but Lukaku cannot turn the shot in. A big chance goes abegging for Belgium at the hour mark. Italy attack in waves again. All hands on deck for Belgium. A dazzling move by the Azzuri is put just past the goal by Spinazzola.

Jorginho and Veratti continue lording the centre of the park, the latter's yellow card not having much effect on his dedication towards running for every ball. Chiesa drives in a ball through the box, which just eludes Immobile. Belgium's efforts at the other end, inevitably all fizzling out much more harmlessly. Doku, picked as Hazard's replacement today, creates a chance with speed and skill down the left flank to give Belgium their best chance of the half.

2nd half begins. Can Belgium roar back? Or will Italy keep ther discipline? They begin the 2nd half by keeping the ball for a long spell before a shot from Chiesa drifts wide. Italy have started the 2nd half as brightly as they played in the 1st.

Oh! Penalty at the other end! Doku is felled in the box. Lukaku steps in and slots it home. Belgium have a way back at Half-Time. It;s Italy who lead 2-1, but Belgium, having scored at the stroke of half-time, have momentum on their end.

Immobile squanders an open goal opportunity but takes too much time and Italy's lead is somehow not doubled. Lorenzo Insigne doubles Italy's lead! Scores with an incurler from outside the box.

Italy lead Belgium 2-0

Belgium take control of the game a bit more after the goal as Italy's mid-half frenzy slows down to jogging pace as we approach the end of the first half. 

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Italy finally get a goal that stands! Barella dribbles through a forest of Belgian legs and smashes it into the far corner. Italy lead Belgium 1-0.

Italy are shading the possession now, getting a couple of shots away as well. Insigne tries an incurler that goes just over. Chiesa makes a run cutting in from the right but his shot is blocked. 

Veratti yellow carded. Tielemans returns the favour from Belgium. De Bruyne with a moment of magic for the Belgians, makes some space in the middle and unleashes a shot which is kept out by Donnarumma. Two minutes later, De Bruyne drives forward again and carves out a chance for Lukaku, whose shot is kept out for a corner.

Bonucci seems to score as a ball finds its way into a crowded box and Bonucci is the one who gets some connection on it. But Veratti, who was off side, got a connection before Bonucci got to it and so the goal is ruled off side. Italy begin to have more possession.

Italy make their initial forays too. Immobile swings in a floated ball into the box for Insigne, who cannot fins a true connection. Meunier makes a run down the right wing to force a block and the first corner for Belgium in the 11th minute.

Belgium seem to have the lion's share of possession as the second quarterfinal kicks off. The Red Devils using their wide areas, especialy the left one, in the opening minutes. Lukaku gets a shot away in the 4th minute, but it's off side.

Spain are the first side through to thr semifinals. Who will meet them between Italy and Belgium? We'll know in the next 90 minutes, or maybe a slight more.

Whoever wins Euro 2020, this is sure to be known as the Summer of Sommer. Swiss keeper Yan Sommer has kept coming up with save after save to take the match against Spain to penalties. The players have taken the field in Baku, meanwhile.

The first quarterfinal of the day has rolled into extra time, with 10-man Switzerland holding out against Spain. Spain's profilgate finishing keeping that game alive. Meanwhile, the big news from Baku is that Eden Hazard is not in and Kevin de Bruyne is in the starting XI. For Italy, Chiellini returns to the XI and Chiesa is also named after his crucial goal against Austria.

The knockout kerfuffle rolls on into the second quarterfinal of the night. A match between two teams who have been unbeaten so far. One of their unbeaten runs will end? Will it be Belgium or Italy? Match begins at 12:30 am IST. Team news out soon.

Belgium: Courtois; Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Vertonghen; Meunier, Witsel, Tielemans, T Hazard; De Bruyne, Lukaku, Doku

Italy: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Chiellini, Spinazzola; Barella, Jorginho, Verratti; Chiesa, Immobile, Insigne