🇮🇹 🇪🇸 Can Italy and Spain create new history at Wembley? | OneFootball

Two of European football’s heavyweights go toe-to-toe on Tuesday in the first Euro 2020 semi-final at Wembley.

Here’s what you need to look out for.

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☝️ What one thing should I keep an eye on?

It’s often the case at the top level that the midfield battle is where the game is won … but that has never been more true than for this evening’s game.

Spain have been the possession-masters this tournament, averaging 67% in their five games so far, with Sergio Busquets offering a brilliant base upon which Koke and the astonishing Pedri have built.

It’s the 18-year-old who has shone brightest at the Euros, proving what many LaLiga-watchers have known all season long — this lad is something very, very special.

But if there’s one team who can negate his strengths and put a stranglehold on the teenager’s talents, it’s this Italian outfit.

It seems likely that Jorginho, Nicolò Barella and Marco Veratti will be the three charged with dominating the middle of that vast Wembley pitch.

🔑 Can you give me a key player from each team?

Jorginho

As Cesar Azpilicueta admitted to reporters over the weekend:

“It is important we limit [Jorginho’s] involvement. He likes to have the ball and control the game. He is a very intelligent player. The better we are at keeping him quiet, the more chance we have of controlling the game.”

The Chelsea midfielder has played in all five matches so far and enjoyed a remarkable passing accuracy of 95% across those games. His involvement will be key.

Pedri

The teenage Barcelona sensation came into this tournament as a relative unknown in the wider footballing conscious.

That is certainly not the case now.

Pedri has been absolutely sensational in pretty much every game Spain have played so far, orchestrating La Roja’s every move and making the best decision possible at every turn.

📊 Fun facts

🔮 Predicted line-ups

Italy (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Chiellini, Emerson; Barella, Jorginho, Verratti; Chiesa, Immobile, Insigne

Spain (4-3-3): Simon; Azpilicueta, Laporte, Torres, Alba; Koke, Busquets, Pedri; Olmo, Morata, Torres.