[monks data]

European Under-21s Championship | Semi-Finals

Jun 27, 2017 at 8pm UK

Spain U21s Spain Under-21s
3-1
Italy U21s Italy Under-21s

Niguez (53', 65', 74')

FT(HT: 0-0)

Bernardeschi (62')
Gagliardini (58')

Team News: Spain revert back to strongest XI for Italy clash

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 27 June 2017

Spain Under-21s boss Albert Celades completely overhauls his side for the semi-final meeting with Italy Under-21s, reverting back to arguably his strongest XI.

Spain Under-21s boss Albert Celades has made mass changes to his side for this evening's Euro 2017 semi-final meeting with Italy Under-21s.

La Rojita made 11 changes for their dead-rubber against Serbia last time out - a match they edged 1-0 despite the complete overhaul - but Celades recalls his big hitters in Krakow.

It is the same XI that faced off against Portugal a week ago, with Marco Asensio, Sandro Ramirez and Gerard Deulofeu tasked with leading the line in a familiar 4-3-3 system.

Denis Suarez was tournament favourites Spain's best player in their final group match, but he is made to settle for a place on the bench in this showdown between the competition's two most successful sides.

As for Italy, manager Luigi di Biagio has made a couple of changes from the crucial 1-0 win over Germany at the weekend, bringing in Davide Calabria - instead of Alex Ferrari - for the suspended Andrea Conti.

Andrea Petagna also comes into the side, taking over from Domenico Berardi, as the Azzurrini go with a likely 4-4-2 formation at the Stadion Miejski.

Spain Under-21s: Kepa; Bellerin, Mere, Vallejo, Jonny; Llorente, Saul, Ceballos; Deulofeu, Sandro, Asensio

Italy Under-21s: Donnarumma; Calabria, Rugani, Caldara, Barreca; Benassi, Gagliardini, Pellegrini, Chiesa; Petagna, Bernardeschi