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Gianfranco Zola Goes Wild With Delight As Italy Defeat Spain On Penalties In Euro 2020 Semi-Final

Gianfranco Zola Goes Wild With Delight As Italy Defeat Spain On Penalties In Euro 2020 Semi-Final

The former Chelsea man was watching the game as a pundit for beIN Sports.

Thomas Harvey

Thomas Harvey

Gianfranco Zola went wild with delight as Italy defeated Spain on penalties in their Euro 2020 semi-final on Tuesday night.

The former Chelsea man was watching the game as a pundit for beIN Sports and couldn't hide his glee as Italy progressed to the final.

When the game had finished, the broadcaster showed footage of Zola watching the spot-kicks unfold.

And there was no impartiality from Zola when Jorginho scored the decisive penalty, with the 55-year-old joyfully jumping to his feet and punching the air.


He even briefly disappears off screen before returning to hug his ex-Chelsea teammate Ruud Gullit.

Watching himself back as Gullit and host Andy Gray chuckle, Zola said: "That's not, that's not me, I apologise!"

Zola scored 10 times in 35 appearances for Italy between 1991 and 1997.

In a breathless encounter, the semi-final at Wembley went to penalties after Federico Chiesa's opener for Italy was cancelled out by Alvaro Morata's equaliser 10 minutes from time.


Manuel Locatelli saw Italy's first spot-kick saved, but Dano Olmo then blazed his effort over the bar for Spain.

The next five penalties were scored but when Morata missed, Jorginho stepped up to send Italy through.

Italy will play either England or Denmark in the final on Sunday.

Peter Schmeichel who was also part of the punditry team and will go through his own set of emotions when the Danes play the Three Lions in the second semi-final on Wednesday.

The former Manchester United goalkeeper, who won Euro 1992 with Denmark, said: "I'm a little bit jealous now. You've made it through, it must have been a really hard watch. I've got all that coming."



Italy eventually triumphed despite having just 35 per cent of possession.

"Almost no-one believed we could do it, yet we're into the final," said boss Roberto Mancini.

"From day one we have believed we could produce something incredible - but there is still one game to go.

"We are delighted to provide a wonderful night of entertainment for the Italian people, and we hope to produce one more.



"We knew this would be very tough. In terms of ball possession, Spain are the best around. They caused us problems and we had to dig in when we needed to.

"I really want to take my hat off to Spain, they are a wonderful team. It was a very open game, but we kept going.

"When you are involved in an intense championship like this, you will always have one match when you have to suffer. And we knew it would be this game.

"But, occasionally, you can win matches in a different way."

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Topics:聽Italy