Euro 2020: Italy set up Spain semi after beating Belgium - reaction

1. Use play icon at top of the page to watch live coverage
2. FT: Belgium 1-2 Italy - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live and on this page
3. Barella fires home opener before Insigne curler, but Lukaku pulls one back from spot
4. A distraught Spinazzola carried off on stretcher with hamstring injury
5. Italy will face Spain in the semi-final
6. Get involved via #bbcfootball

Spain lie in wait

Well, we know who the winner of this game will be facing.

Spain have just beaten Switzerland in a penalty shootout to reach the semis.

Anything you can do...

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Italy are not the only side on an extremely good run of results. Belgium's isn't quite as lengthy, but it is not to be sniffed at.

They have won 11 of their last 13 games (D2), scoring 32 goals and conceding eight and have lost just one of their last 27 games (W23, D3).

They have scored in each of their last 34 games, last failing to net in the 1-0 loss to France in the 2018 World Cup semi-final.

In fact, since Roberto Martinez's first game in charge in September 2016, they have won more games (47) and scored more goals (175) than any other European nation.

Yeah, but who have you beaten?!

Here are the teams Italy have not lost to in their record-breaking run (wins in bold)...

Ukraine, Poland, Portugal, USA, Finland, Liechtenstein, Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Armenia, Finland, Greece, Liechtenstein, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Netherlands, Moldova, Poland, Netherlands, Estonia, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Northern Ireland, Bulgaria, Lithuania, San Marino, Czech Republic, Turkey, Switzerland, Wales, Austria.

A run of 31 games unbeaten is superb, no doubt.

But dare I suggest they've not really beaten many big-hitters in that run? 1-0 in the Netherlands in September 2020 is probably the high point of that run.

This is why tonight represents such a big game for them. A proper rights of passage for this undoubtedly talented and well-coached team.

Jurgen Klinsmann

Former Germany head coach on BBC One

Chiesa’s goal in the last round took an entire nation upside down. Mancini has transformed this team, given them a far more attacking philosophy. Italy is going crazy right now.

Record breakers

As I mentioned earlier, Italy are on a record-breaking run of results.

They have won a national record 12 games in a row, scoring 34 goals and conceding one.

They are unbeaten in a national record 31 games (W26, D5) since losing 1-0 to Portugal in the Nations League in September 2018.

On top of that, they conceded just their first goal since October in extra time against Austria, ending a run of 19 hours and 28 minutes without conceding.

Alan Shearer

Former England striker on BBC One

Italy had to find a different way of winning in the last 16, they weren’t as impressive, but they did well to find a way. I would hope we are in for a very, very good game this evening.

Italy love a last-eight spot

Italy are making a Euros quarter-final spot a habit.

They have now reached the European Championship quarter-finals for the fourth tournament in a row.

However, they've only won one of the previous three. That was against England (on penalties) en route to the final in 2012, which they lost to Spain.

Their three most recent quarter-final appearances have actually all been decided by a penalty shoot-out - losing to Spain in 2008, beating England in 2012 and losing to Germany in 2016.

Anyone fancy another shootout?

Hal of a goal

Anyone remember what happened the last time Belgium were in the quarter-finals of a European Championship?

Maybe every single Welsh person?

Archive: Wales v Belgium - Euro 2016

Previous meetings

This is the fifth match between the sides at a major tournament, but the first in the knockout stage.

Italy have won three of the previous four encounters at a major tournament, drawing the other.

Gli Azzurri's 2-0 triumph in Lyon in the group stage at Euro 2016 is their most recent game against Belgium. Emanuele Giaccherini scored after 32 minutes before Graziano Pelle added a second in injury-time.

What chance of progression?

Simon Gleave

Head of sports analysis, Nielsen's Gracenote

"Belgium are estimated to have around a 60% chance of progressing to the Euro 2020 semi-final according to the Gracenote forecasting model.

"Belgium moved to number one on our world ranking after their win against Portugal and Brazil's draw with Ecuador at the Copa America. Belgium began Euro 2020 as our pre-tournament favourites and were given a 14.1% chance of winning. They are currently second favourites behind England due to the latter's more favourable draw and potential home advantage in the last two rounds. Belgium's chance of winning Euro 2020 has increased to 24%.

"Italy began Euro 2020 ranked seventh in the world by Gracenote but they have subsequently risen to fourth. They were our fifth favourites before the tournament started with a 9.1% chance of winning Euro 2020. This has risen to 12.5%. Italy's long unbeaten run has only included one match against Gracenote's current top-10 teams, a draw against Portugal in 2018. While Italy's results have been impressive over the past three years, Belgium are a very different level of opposition to the teams they have beaten in that time."

Lawro's prediction

Mark Lawrenson

BBC football expert

This is the tie of the round and the bad news for Belgium is that Kevin de Bruyne and Eden Hazard aren't going to be fully fit after they were injured in their win against Portugal.

I was impressed by the way Belgium dug in for that win, but this is going to be another huge test for their defence.

Of all the teams that are left in this tournament, the one I like the look of the most in every department is Italy.

If you look back at pretty much every major finals that I can remember, the eventual winners have one knockout game where they don't play as well as they can and scrape through.

If Italy get through this tie, however they do it, they have got a great chance of winning the whole thing. I don't think they have got many weaknesses, put it that way.

Prediction: 1-2

Lawro takes on BBC Radio 5 Live pundits to predict the quarter-final winners

Like father, like son

If you want to know why Federico Chiesa (son of former international Enrico) is starting for Italy, this has something to do with it...

Doku lowdown

What does Jeremy Doku bring in Eden Hazard's absence?

Well, he scored twice in seven games for Anderlecht at the start of last season and then two in 37 games with Rennes in France. He was purchased by the French team as replacement for Raphinha following his move to Leeds.

Doku completed 190 dribbles in Ligue 1 this season, more than any other player (Kylian Mbappe and Neymar rank third and fifth respectively). Doku’s total includes 12 vs Bordeaux in May, the highest figure by a single player in 2020-21.

Team news

Two bits of big team news - Kevin de Bruyne and Giorgio Chiellini are fit and start.

Belgium midfielder De Bruyne has recovered from an ankle injury in time - but Eden Hazard misses out though with a thigh problem.

Teenager Jeremy Doku replaces Hazard in the only change from the win over Portugal.

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Italy make two changes from their extra-time win over Austria. Captain Chiellini and Federico Chiesa replace Francesco Acerbi and Domenico Berardi.

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Belgium had fitness doubts over key duo Kevin de Bruyne and Eden Hazard after the pair picked up injuries in their last-16 victory over Austria.

Italy were waiting on whether Giorgio Chiellini would be available again after missing the last two games with a muscle strain.

Here is the team news...

The loaded side of the draw was always going to throw up games like this (although maybe fewer than first thought after France's exit).

It is the kind that could easily have graced the final. It is a real treat then to have it with nine days of the tournament still to go!

It feels like a game not just with stakes for this tournament, but further-reaching implications too.

How much longer will this Belgian golden generation last as a group? And Italy are in a real high moment right now. Just how destructive could a crushing last-eight defeat be?

Big guns

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Belgium v Italy.

In the red corner, we have the best team in the world, according to Fifa. A golden generation in it's prime. A 100% winning record in the tournament so far. The reigning European champions on their list of victims. Lukaku, De Bruyne, Hazard (x2) and the rest.

In the blue corner we have a team currently unbeaten in 31 games (W25 D6), the longest run in their history. A side who have conceded just once in Euro 2020 and only conceded more than once in one of their last 18 matches at major tournaments, four-time World champions, Chiellini, Spinazzola, Verratti, Insigne and more.

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Clash of the titans

Take from it from someone who has experienced a few, not all big tournaments are as eventful and enjoyable as Euro 2020 has been so far.

Nothing is perfect, and it has had its share of quieter moments and duller games. But right now, it is definitely in credit.

Tonight, we could potentially add to the account, with what the WWE (back when they were called the WWF) would have dubbed as 'The Mega Powers explode!'

Oooooooohhhhhhh yeeeaaahhhhh!

Take a moment to really savour it...

A major football tournament moves pretty fast.

If you don't stop and look around once in a while...

...you could miss it.