In the semi-final of the 2022-2023 UEFA Nations League, held on the evening of June 15th, Spain secured a late goal from Joselu to defeat Italy 2-1 and advance to the final where they will face Croatia.

Currently ranked 10th in the world, the Spanish national team, known as the Matadors, has experienced both highs and lows in recent years, partly due to the transition of players from the old guard to the new generation.

In last year's World Cup, although they advanced from the group stage, they were eliminated in the Round of 16 after playing just one match. In the UEFA Europa League, Spain won one and lost one in the group stage, finishing second in Group A.

However, they showed their strength by overcoming Portugal, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic in the knockout stage to reach the semi-finals.

On the other hand, the Italian team is currently ranked 8th in the world. While the Azzurri clinched the championship trophy in the previous European Cup, they failed to make it to the main stage of the last World Cup.

In the UEFA Europa League, Italy faced formidable opponents like England and Germany but managed to stand out and secure a spot in the semi-finals, displaying an overall commendable performance. In the Europa League group stage, they also secured a win and a loss, currently holding the second position in Group C.

Looking back at their past encounters, Spain has had the upper hand against Italy, with four victories, five draws, and only one defeat in their last ten matches. They have clearly enjoyed an advantage in their head-to-head clashes.

However, both teams have experienced mixed results lately. Spain suffered a setback when they were shut out by Scotland, while Italy stumbled against England in the recent Euros. Considering the current form of both sides, the match between Spain and Italy in regular time is expected to be fiercely contested.

Spain took the lead just three minutes into the match when Italian defender Bonucci was dispossessed, allowing Pino to burst into the box and score with a low shot.

In the 10th minute, Italian midfielder Zagnolo received a pass inside the box and attempted an aerial shot, which struck a defender's arm. As a result, the referee awarded a penalty kick, and Immobile converted it to equalize for Italy.

In the 88th minute, Spain's captain Alba sent a cross from the left side, which was cleared, but Rodri's subsequent low shot from the top of the arc was blocked.

However, Joselu was quick to react and pounced on the loose ball in front of the goal, securing the winning goal for Spain.

Italy's manager, Roberto Mancini, acknowledged their efforts in trying out a new lineup during the UEFA Nations League campaign but expressed disappointment in not achieving victory.

He mentioned their abundance of quality midfielders and defenders but highlighted the need for strong strikers. Mancini expressed hope in finding such talent in the youth team for future endeavors.

In the other semi-final match on the 14th, Croatia emerged victorious over the Netherlands with a 4-2 scoreline in overtime. The final will now see Spain compete against Croatia for the championship title, while the Netherlands and Italy will battle it out for third place.