Italy suffered their first defeat after a three-year-long, 37-games unbeaten run as they run into a rampant Spain who dismantled the reigning European champions on their own turf in the UEFA Nations League semi-final.Barcelona midfielder Gavi became the youngest player in the history of the Spain national team as he took to the field aged 17 years and 60 days. He was named in the starting line-up for the match at the San Siro by coach Luis Enrique despite only having five La Liga appearances to his name. Barcelona starlet Gavi gets his first start for Spain against Italy in the Nations League semifinal. He becomes the youngest player ever to play for the Spanish national team at 17 years and 62 days old 🌟 pic.twitter.com/PQCCI3NbKl— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 6, 2021 He breaks an 85-year-old record held by Angel Zubieta Redondo, who donned the Spain jersey for the first time in a 1936 friendly against Czechoslovakia when 17 years and 284 days old.The teenage midfielder is so fresh to the game that his club Barcelona still haven’t included his profile in the “Players” section of their official website! After making his national team debut and catching the eye of football fans around the world – that will probably change!The match itself proved a largely frustrating event for the home nation. Playing in front of their fans at San Siro stadium in Milan, Gli Azzuri were second-best for the best part of the match as Manchester City forward Ferran Torres scored twice in the first half to put Spain on the brink of the final. 🇪🇸 Ferran Torres again for Spain! ⚽️#NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/YBQJYhiEga— UEFA Nations League (@EURO2024) October 6, 2021 Italy were let down by their captain Leonardo Bonucci, who was sent off in the first half after earning himself a couple of unnecessary yellow cards. There were often shouts of “Ole!” the sound you really don’t want to hear when you’re playing against Spain, but the Italians managed to score late on and make it a nervy finish. However, it was the best they could manage on a night when La Furia Roja reminded of the days from around a decade ago, the period when they were both the European Championship and World Cup holders.▪️ 37 games, 28 wins, 9 draws, 0 losses ▪️ Last defeat was Sept. 10, 2018 against Portugal▪️ Broke the record for longest streak of clean sheets at 1,168 minutes▪️ Won Euro 2020Italy’s 37-game unbeaten run is over, but what a run it was 👏 pic.twitter.com/Vncvt7W8lC— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 6, 2021 Spain will learn their opponents on Thursday night when Belgium and France meet in the other semi-final in Turin.UEFA NATIONS LEAGUESemi-finalWednesdayItaly – Spain 1-2 (0-2)/Pellegrini 83 – Torres 17, 45+2/Thursday21.45: (3.00) Belgium (3.15) France (2.65)***odds are subject to change
