And then there were four. Italy take on Spain at Wembley on Tuesday night with a place in the Euro 2020 final up for grabs.
Spain have the upper hand in the recent meetings between the two teams having won three of the last six encounters, but Italy have been one of the more enjoyable teams to watch this summer.
Ahead of this first semi-final showdown, we have all your need-to-know matchday information in one place. Running through important team news, probable XIs and how both teams fared in the quarter-final.
When is kick off?
Tuesday 6th July, 20:00 GMT
Where is the match?
Wembley, London (England)
What TV channel is it on?
BBC One
Quarter-Final Recap
Football fans bore witness to both sides of Italy against Belgium on Friday. The Azzurri were excellent in the final third in the first half to head in at the break 2-1 up and then defended with their lives to book a semi-final spot. Nicolo Barella put Italy ahead and Lorenzo Insigne doubled Belgium's advantage before Romelu Lukaku halved the deficit from the spot in first half injury time. The Red Devils huffed and puffed, but were unable to blow down the Italy wall after the break.
For Spain, they were taken to extra time for the second game running against Switzerland as they struggled to make their numerical advantage count in Russia. Yann Sommer was in inspiring form between the Switzerland sticks, but Spain didn't help themselves as La Roja's profligacy reared its ugly head again. Ultimately it took a Denis Zakaria own goal for Spain to go ahead in the first half, only for a defensive mix up to allow Xherdan Shaqiri to equalise midway through the second half. Dani Olmo, Gerard Moreno and Mikel Oyarzabal then scored their penalties to set up a semi-final meeting with Italy.
Team News
The main absence for Italy comes at left-back after Leonardo Spinazzola sustained an Achilles injury in Friday's 2-1 win over Belgium. The Roma star has been exceptional for the Azzurri this summer and his absence is a huge blow for Roberto Mancini's side. Emerson, who has registered more game time at Euro 2020 (100 minutes) than he did the Premier League last season (89 minutes), is expected to deputise. Lorenzo Pellegrini misses out, too, while Alessandro Florenzi is a doubt. Federico Chiesa may keep his place on the right, while Andrea Belotti is an option after Ciro Immobile's sub-par display against Belgium.
Pablo Sarabia is a doubt having sustained an adductor strain against Switzerland that forced him off at the break in Spain's eventual penalty shootout win. Dani Olmo is expected to be drafted in on the left wing. Luis Enrique may also keep faith with Pau Torres at the heart of the defence alongside Aymeric Laporte, though Eric Garcia is pushing for a return.
Probable XIs
Italy (433) - Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Chiellini, Emerson; Verratti, Jorginho, Barella; Chiesa, Immobile, Insigne
Spain (433) - Simon; Azpilicueta, Laporte, P. Torres, Alba; Koke, Busquets, Pedri; F. Torres, Morata, Olmo
Key Battle: Jorginho vs Sergio Busquets
Two midfield controllers face off at Wembley on Tuesday night. Jorginho has been mooted for Ballon d'Or success having helped Chelsea to the Champions League in May and the calls will grow louder if he can play an instrumental role in aiding Italy to Euro 2020 glory. First, though, he needs to maintain his impressive consistency to ensure the Azzurri get the better of Spain in London.
A 94.1% pass success rate is the third best of midfielders to have made three or more starts at Euro 2020 as Jorginho continues to maximise a WhoScored strength of 'passing'. Off the ball, too, the 29-year-old has been influential. Indeed, only club teammate N'Golo Kante (24) has made more tackles and interceptions combined than Jorginho (21) at Euro 2020, so it wouldn't be a shock to see the latter dictate the tempo on Tuesday night.
However, it is impossible to discount Sergio Busquets from putting in a captain's display in the midfield. Spain missed the Barcelona man's verticality in the opening group stage draws with Sweden and Poland, with his return coinciding with a 5-0 win over Slovakia in their final Group E game.
A total of 22.1% of Busquets passes have gone forward, a huge increase on Rodri's 12.3%, the player who deputised for the former against Sweden and Poland. Fans have since seen a quicker Spain side and if he can maintain this willingness to get the ball upfield rapidly, then it is impossible to rule La Roja out from securing their spot in the Euro 2020 final.
Score Prediction: Italy 2-0 Spain
