In the end, it all came down to one kick. One kick to put Italy into the final. One kick to erase the years of underachievement, one kick to quench a nation’s longing, one kick for everything. The kick fell to Jorginho. With his customary hop and skip, and a composure verging on the ridiculous, he sent Unai Simón the wrong way and rolled the ball into the corner.
That one kick ended almost three hours of the highest tension, as well as Spain’s flawed, valiant campaign to regain the trophy they won in 2008 and 2012. For Pedri, the brilliant 18-year-old midfielder who ran the game and completed 98% of his passes, the tears flowed and would not stop. But once the sadness has ebbed there will be real pride for Luis Enrique and his team: progress to build on, a new generation of fearless young stars to fete and nurture. Judge this team not too harshly. Dani Olmo – one of their best players – put a penalty over the bar. Álvaro Morata – whose goal forced extra time in the first place – had his saved. It is no kind of margin at all.
Continue reading…
