Spain’s striker Joselu scored late to secure a 2-1 victory over Italy and advance La Roja to the UEFA Nations League final on Thursday.
Spain took the lead after three minutes when Yeremi Pino capitalized on a mistake by Leonardo Bonucci and finished. However, Italy responded quickly, with Ciro Immobile scoring from the penalty spot after debutant Robin Le Normand was called for a terrible handball inside the box.
Italy got the ball in the net for the second time, but VAR ruled Davide Frattesi was offside. The chances for the rest of the proceedings were slim, but Joselu changed everything. In the 88th minute, the substitute was the first to react to Rodri’s deflected strike and tucked home a late winner, sending Spain to the Nations League final.
Joselu wasn’t anticipated to get called up to Spain at this point in his career. The 33-year-old had a mediocre season with a demoted club and didn’t look to have much to offer the national squad. However, he has already scored in each of his first three La Roja games. And this was the most crucial of all. Joselu was not given a starting spot here, but he ended up becoming a hero off the bench. His goal wasn’t difficult – a speculative toe-poke past a hapless goalkeeper. Still, it was enough to start a game that seemed to be heading nowhere.
Roberto Mancini has had a difficult few months. After Italy fell to North Macedonia in a World Cup qualifying playoff over 15 months ago, the manager was probably lucky to keep his job, and his tenure hasn’t improved much since then. The Azzurri have only won seven of their past thirteen games and appear to be a far cry from the team that won Euro 2020. Mancini will almost definitely be in charge of the third-place playoff this weekend, but his days after that may be numbered.
On Sunday, Spain will meet Croatia in the final, while Italy will face the Netherlands in the third-place playoff. Both teams’ Euro 2024 qualifications will continue in September.
