ITALY have taken their incredible unbeaten run to a whopping 32 matches – and have celebrated in style.
The Azzurri are now just three behind the all-time record shared by two countries.
Roberto Mancini’s side extended their impressive form with a 2-1 win over Belgium in their Euro 2020 quarter-final last night – and celebrated as they flew home from Munich.
Nicolo Barella and Lorenzo Insigne fired Italy into a 2-0 lead before Romelu Lukaku pulled one back from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time.
The victory set up a semi-final date with Spain at Wembley on Tuesday night.
But it also means Italy are closing in on the international football record for the most number of games without tasting defeat.
They last lost way back in September 2018, 1-0 to Portugal in a Nations League clash.
Since then, the four-time world champions have won 27 and drawn five.
That includes victory in their last 13 matches.
The run also features 6-0 and 5-0 wins over Liechenstein, a 9-1 against Armenia, 6-0 at home to Moldova and thumping San Marino 7-0.
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In total, Italy have scored 85 goals and conceded just nine in that time – keeping a staggering 23 clean sheets.
Austria’s strike in extra-time last week brought an 11-game stretch of shutouts to an end.
Victory over Spain in Tuesday’s semi-final and then winning the final next Sunday would leave Italy on 34 matches unbeaten, one shy of the record currently shared by Brazil and Spain.
The Selecao’s 35 came between 1993 and 1996.
After losing a friendly to Germany in November 1993, they went on to win the World Cup the following year – beating Italy in the final in the United States.
They did lose a penalty shootout to Uruguay in the Copa America final in 1995 but their normal-time unbeaten run carried on until January 1996 when Mexico recorded a 2-0 win.
Spain, meanwhile, enjoyed their domination between 2007 and 2009, starting by beating England 1-0 at Old Trafford then won Euro 2008 with Fernando Torres scoring the winner in the final.
A shock Confederations Cup semi-final defeat halted the streak in 2009 but was a rare one-off as Spain won 27 out of 28 games then secured the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
