Last time we had late late drama as American hearts were broken by China, who will face Spain in the semi-final after their easy win over Turkey. This is how the draw looks:
However, today is about the other teams left in the tournament, as Brazil and Italy reprise their historical World Cup rivalry aiming to be the first team into Sunday's final.
Brazil got here with a superb controlled performance that saw them cruise beyond Netherlands, whilst Italy are only here courtesy of the worst shoot-out in living memory, as they overcame Portugal. After real-life Brazil were knocked out in Russia by Belgium, there are now no teams that are in both the DWC and the real tournament.
Team news
With no selection issues, Brazil stick with the same XI that overcame the Dutch in the previous round – the only real question was whether Paolo Guerrero’s lack of goals would see him dropped. Italy, meanwhile, are still without Pjanic, whilst Florenzi is suspended. Juan Cuadrado comes in at RWB, but the biggest change is Mauro Icardi in for Marek Hamsik, as they move to a 5-2-1-2 formation.
Brazil got here with a superb controlled performance that saw them cruise beyond Netherlands, whilst Italy are only here courtesy of the worst shoot-out in living memory, as they overcame Portugal. After real-life Brazil were knocked out in Russia by Belgium, there are now no teams that are in both the DWC and the real tournament.
Team news
With no selection issues, Brazil stick with the same XI that overcame the Dutch in the previous round – the only real question was whether Paolo Guerrero’s lack of goals would see him dropped. Italy, meanwhile, are still without Pjanic, whilst Florenzi is suspended. Juan Cuadrado comes in at RWB, but the biggest change is Mauro Icardi in for Marek Hamsik, as they move to a 5-2-1-2 formation.
Brazil kick off and immediately get the ball into the Italian box. It’s cleared as far as Diego Barbosa, whose shot is just over. Alex Sandro picks up an early yellow – luckily for him, yellows are reset for this round, so he won’t be suspended for the next game (unless he picks up a red, of course). In fact, it’s a dominating start by Brazil, who have had 75% possession in the opening 10 minutes. Italy calm the game down, but it isn’t until the 39th minute when they have their first chance – a counter-attack results in a nice clipped ball from Paulo Dybala to Gonzalo Higuain, whose shot is just wide. Dybala himself has a shot also just miss right before the half time whistle sounds. On balance, Brazil have played better, but it’s been a very even semi-final so far.
Petros has been carrying a knock since halfway through the first half, and at the interval he is replaced by Elias. Italy kick off, and Sandro’s pass into the channel gives Higuain a bit of space, and his low cross is met by Icardi – it looks a certain goal but Vanderlei is there to block it! Italy are the stronger team this half, although it’s still very tight. Brazil react by making a surprising switch – Lucas Lima is taken off for Walter Kannemann, and they shift to a 5-4-1 (or 5-2-3) formation. In the 69th minute Brazil turn on the style – Arthur’s long pass cuts out the defence and finds Luan, who selflessly plays it across the box for Everton Ribeiro, who should score but is denied by a fine Buffon save! However, this fails to spark either team, and the game drags on until we reach the end of normal time... extra time it is!
Italy are doing a very poor job of passing, and it’s a loose one from Cuadrado that gives Brazil a chance to attack. Barbosa plays Dudu in down the flank, and his low cross is met by Luan. Buffon produces yet another great stop to prevent the ball trickling into the bottom corner, but the ball rebounds straight back to Luan, who taps in the most unmissable of chances – Brazil lead! They hold the lead to the break in extra time.
Italy continue to look fairly devoid of ideas. They have a corner in the 113th minute, which is cleared as far as Marek Hamsik, on for Nainggolan. Hamsik decides to hit it first time, and the ball flies past everyone in the box and into the back of the net! What a outrageous goal! Italy are level!
Despite trying to keep the pressure up on Brazil, Italy can’t find a winner, so we go to penalties! Italy won their last match courtesy of a shootout (albeit the worst shootout in living memory), whilst Brazil will draw on memories of 1994...
Elias is up first... down the middle and saved by Buffon! Here we go again... (0-0)
Mauro Icardi, who scored the opening penalty against Portugal... tucks it into the bottom corner! (0-1)
Dudu... hits it low, Buffon guesses correctly but can’t get there! (1-1)
Paulo Dybala... right into the top corner, his second successful shootout penalty! (1-2)
Arthur... great penalty, sends Buffon the wrong way! (2-2)
Claudio Marchisio, the first Italian who missed against Portugal to step up today... it’s not a good penalty, soft and down the middle, but Vanderlei had already dived and it goes in! (2-3)
Fagner, one of the best players this tournament... beats Buffon’s dive! (3-3)
Here is a chance for Ricardo Rodriguez to move Italy to match point... but he’s denied by Vanderlei! A great save diving to his right! (3-3)
Last standard penalty for Brazil, and it’s Everton Ribeiro... clips it into the right side of the goal! (4-3)
All of a sudden, Italy are fighting to stay alive, and the man to step up is Gonzalo Higuain, who missed the chance to win against Portugal. He’s also had a terrible game here... but that’s a really great penalty, right into the top corner! (4-4)
So now it is sudden death...
Luan for Brazil, the goalscorer... fires it low and beyond Buffon! (5-4)
Now it’s Italy’s goalscorer, Marek Hamsik... goes to his left – but it’s parried by Vanderlei and Brazil win the shootout!
Elias is up first... down the middle and saved by Buffon! Here we go again... (0-0)
Mauro Icardi, who scored the opening penalty against Portugal... tucks it into the bottom corner! (0-1)
Dudu... hits it low, Buffon guesses correctly but can’t get there! (1-1)
Paulo Dybala... right into the top corner, his second successful shootout penalty! (1-2)
Arthur... great penalty, sends Buffon the wrong way! (2-2)
Claudio Marchisio, the first Italian who missed against Portugal to step up today... it’s not a good penalty, soft and down the middle, but Vanderlei had already dived and it goes in! (2-3)
Fagner, one of the best players this tournament... beats Buffon’s dive! (3-3)
Here is a chance for Ricardo Rodriguez to move Italy to match point... but he’s denied by Vanderlei! A great save diving to his right! (3-3)
Last standard penalty for Brazil, and it’s Everton Ribeiro... clips it into the right side of the goal! (4-3)
All of a sudden, Italy are fighting to stay alive, and the man to step up is Gonzalo Higuain, who missed the chance to win against Portugal. He’s also had a terrible game here... but that’s a really great penalty, right into the top corner! (4-4)
So now it is sudden death...
Luan for Brazil, the goalscorer... fires it low and beyond Buffon! (5-4)
Now it’s Italy’s goalscorer, Marek Hamsik... goes to his left – but it’s parried by Vanderlei and Brazil win the shootout!
Oh. My. Word. Well, the match itself was pretty terrible with the exception of Hamsik’s wondergoal, but he’s rapidly turned hero to villain with that miss! So Italy suffer a shock in the DWC semi-finals for the second year in a row! As for Brazil, they claim yet another impressive scalp to add to Germany and Netherlands, and they have somehow got through to the final! So of Europe’s big five leagues, only Spain are left standing. Can China or Brazil overcome them?
It really wasn’t a classic match – both teams had a handful of shots, but a penalty shootout feels like the fairest way to separate them.
It really wasn’t a classic match – both teams had a handful of shots, but a penalty shootout feels like the fairest way to separate them.
Tomorrow's schedule
Spain vs. China
Spain vs. China