NATIONS LEAGUE | ITALY-SPAIN Review, suspense and to the final

Italy is Italy, however they paint it. In blue or white, with eleven players or with ten. And true to that DNA is capable of forcing a final heart attack despite being little less than on the canvas. This was the case at San Siro, where a goal from Pellegrini in the 83rd minute almost ruined Spain's recital. There was no time and La Roja qualified for the final of the Nations League. He did it with a 21-year-old boy (Ferran) as a scorer and two 17 (Gavi) and 18 (Pino) ​​as debutants with a note. With people like this one can look to the future with the best face.

That Luis Enrique surprises is no longer a surprise. So Gavi's ownership, still striking, landed on our ears almost silently. It is always a joy to see people as young as Barça make their debut, with all the possible challenges ahead, but we had to find out if the San Siro was the best possible scenario to load their boots with extra weight. Not only because of the premiere itself, but because of the responsibility of entering the history books of the Spanish National Team, where Ángel Zubieta held the precocity record since 1936. From the 17 years and 284 days of the Basque to the 17 years and 62 days of the Sevillian. From north to south with the ball as a prize.

Did those stripes weigh on Barça? Absolutely. He asked for the ball, he wanted to be the protagonist of a big game like the ones he did not see on TV. The same self-confidence that he showed Chiesa, the main threat in those first minutes in which the azzurra He was trying to stifle the ball out of Spain thanks to that iron belt that Mancini wears: Jorginho, Barella and Verratti.

Between whistles to Donnarumma from his own stands, who does not forgive him for leaving Milan for the lights and brightness of Paris, the game was passing when a goal of those that collapse YouTube lifted us from the chair. It is radiographed like this: Marcos Alonso passes to Oyarzabal, who crosses from left foot so that Ferran shoots from the first to goal. Shiny. Justice to the best game of La Roja, that with the rival half groggy about to silence San Siro a minute later, but Marcos's shot escaped from Donnarumma's hands (not even a 1.96 giant is made of ice when your own fans whistle at you) but he saw the post come to his aid. The 0-2 as a mirage.

It was time to continue rowing with the conviction that against Italy you always have to do it. Di Lorenzo headed wide for a corner on 28 '. Two minutes later, the strategy between Insigne and Chiesa also ended in a blur. The yellow to Bonucci for protesting was the best synonym of how much the azzurra in his attempt to sink his teeth into the party. It was not necessary to trust, that yes. Bernardeschi was in charge of making it clear, whose shot was deflected to the post by Unai. Also Insigne when in 35 'he sent a frank shot to the stands after Emerson's pass. But the Italian I want and I cannot reached its peak almost on the brink of halftime, when Bonucci saw the second yellow for taking his arm for a walk in a jump with Busquets.

The result and the numerical superiority forced Spain to say what it wanted to be when it grew up. And it did not take long to decide, because just when everything pointed to rest, it was 0-2. Again started in the pass of Marcos Alonso, with the intervention of Sarabia and sweet assistance from Oyarzabal (what a left-handed player) to Ferran, who this time sentenced him with a head. It was the best heading to a first part of ten of La Roja, whose game forced Mancini to take draft measures.

The transalpine coach sat down Bernardeschi and put Chiellini before a second half that presaged infinite wear. However, it was Spain that suffered first. He did it in his goalscorer, as Ferran had to be substituted in the 49th minute. Luis Enrique redoubled his bet with the entrance of Yeremy Pino, his second debut of the night. The canary did not hide either. He heeled over to the right wing and from there he became a toothache for Emerson and Bastoni. The 0-3 was about to arrive in the 62nd minute after a header from Oyarzabal to a pass from the Villarreal player. Also minutes later, after the tiqui-taca to sleep the game, when Marcos Alonso was unable to beat Donnarumma in a heads-up (78 ').

But Italy is always Italy. And with that character he was able to stroke the tie after scoring 1-2 in 83 '. Everything was born in a corner of La Roja. The rejection of Chiellini, the Spanish indecision and the serious error of Pau Torres, who left the ball in Chiesa's boots. He hurried and yielded for Pellegrini to score at will. Fortunately, it was already late. And the final push of the azzurri did not find the prize of the goal. The victory dressed in red and left Luis Enrique's men in the final on Sunday. That will be another big game. We look forward to it.