Italy 0-0 Spain (2-4 on penalties)
"Don't mention June 22nd to the Spanish" begins John Motson before doing so at length as he reels off a list of Spanish penalty shoot-out defeats that have all come on this date. What promises to be an intriguing contest on paper, is an awful one on grass, the first shot on goal coming after twenty minutes as Simone Perotta's header is comfortably saved by Iker Casillas. Spain look the better side, but are being outmuscled by the Italian defence; "like a fourth former against a prefect" is how Mark Lawrenson describes Fabio Grosso getting the better of Andres Iniesta. The best effort of the half comes as David Silva pulls a shot just wide after an incisive Fernando Torres run. Thankfully there is just one added minute before the break.
In the second half chances remain limited and even the substitutions are made in pedestrian fashion. However both sides come closer to scoring, Mauro Camoranesi brings a great save from Casillas after Luca Toni had caused panic in the Spanish area. For Spain Marcos Senna threatens twice from long range, his first effort is beaten out by Gianluigi Buffon whilst his second strike is uncharacteristically spilt by the keeper only to spin onto the base of the goalpost. In a match of niggling half fouls and theatrics, David Villa can count himself unlucky to be booked for 'simulation' after slipping over in the Italian area.
Sadly the match labours to extra-time, the first five minutes of which produces more chances than the rest of the game put together. Silva flashes an effort just wide for Spain whilst Casillas brilliantly tips over a header from Antonio Di Natale. Mark Lawrenson is still having trouble recognising rhetorical questions, as John Motson ponders "Will penalties provide Italy with a psychological advantage?" Lawrenson chips in with a dismissive "I doubt it".
In the second half of extra time Villa almost gets in on goal but Buffon is out quickly to smother the chance. Di Natale endears himself to the Spanish fans by rolling back on to the pitch whilst injured so a Spanish attack is halted, he is subsequently booed every time he comes close to the ball. In the final minute Santi Cazorla drives a shot wide and so the match heads to its inevitable penalty shoot-out climax.
Curiously the BBC choose this moment to show a montage of Spanish penalty shoot-out losses, but it seems they are not tempting fate as Villa and Cazorla score Spain's opening kicks. Grosso does likewise for Italy before Daniele De Rossi's effort is brilliantly saved by Casillas. With Senna and Camoranesi also finding the net Dani Guiza briefly makes it interesting as Buffon saves his kick, however the next Italian effort from the unpopular Di Natale is also saved by Casillas to put Spain back in control. It falls to Cesc Fabregas to strike the winning spot-kick and send Spain through.
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