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#3 Hit: Emerson
Replacing one of the players of the tournament thus far in Leonardo Spinazzola, Emerson had big boots to fill at left-back. To his credit, he acquitted himself superbly against a Spain side that dominated possession.
While the Chelsea man went about his defensive duties without much fuss, it was in attack that he really stood out. Emerson was arguably Italy’s most potent attacking threat during his time on the pitch, making several probing runs down the left flank. In fact, it was he who came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half, hitting the woodwork from a narrow angle after getting in behind the Spanish defense yet again.
Emerson was replaced with 15 minutes left to play as Mancini looked to freshen up his defense and batten down the hatches to protect the lead. But Emerson did more than enough to win his manager’s trust for future matches.
#4 Flop: Unai Simon
From making a high profile error leading to an own goal to starring in a penalty shootout win, Unai Simon has experienced both highs and lows in his first major tournament with the Spanish national side.
His inexperience at the biggest stage was quite evident in this game as he caused his side a series of nervy moments with his uncertain positioning. Despite Spain retaining the majority of the possession, there were more than a few occasions when Simon rushed out to intercept an Italian pass. It was only to either fail to reach the ball and leave the net unguarded or shank a clearance and invite more pressure on his goal.
Simon’s indecision was less evident in the second half but never vanished completely. The Athletic Bilbao man continued to look extremely nervous with the ball at his feet and would be glad not to have been tested more often during the game.
#5 Hit: Federico Chiesa
Having played his way into the starting lineup with a series of impressive displays on the right flank, Chiesa had the proverbial game of two halves. After being rather ineffective in the first half and receiving public admonishment from Mancini, he played like a man transformed after the restart.
With fatigue starting to play a part and gaps starting to emerge, Chiesa’s pace and positioning saw him take up the right position at the right time. He latched on to a loose ball in the Spanish penalty area and fire his side into the lead with a well-taken finish.
The Juventus man showed outstanding energy levels even as the game wore on, spurring his side onward with his direct running. He was one of Italy’s most promising attacking outlets before earning a well-deserved rest in extra time.
