Italy star Marco Verratti believes England’s penalty decision against Denmark was ‘generous’ but insists Gareth Southgate’s men ‘deserved’ to go through to meet them in the final
Italy midfielder Marco Verratti says England have the ‘generous’ award of a penalty to thank for setting up Sunday’s Euro 2020 final.
Raheem Sterling was adjudged to have been fouled by Denmark’s Joakim Maehle in the first half of extra-time with the score at 1-1 during Wednesday’s semi-final.
Harry Kane scored from the rebound after his spot-kick was saved by Kasper Schmeichel, and that proved enough to take England through.
England were awarded a contentious penalty in extra-time after Raheem Sterling went down
The Italians – penalty-shootout victors over Spain 24 hours earlier – were watching from their team base in Florence, and Verratti said: ‘Perhaps it was a bit of a generous penalty, but it is part of the picture in football. I think it was a bit of a generous penalty.
‘But he (Sterling) is fantastic, he proves this every year and is doing this with England. I think he’s a great player.’
Verratti, though, has been impressed by Gareth Southgate’s team.
‘I think England did a great job,’ he added. ‘They got to the final for the first time and this says a lot.
Harry Kane saw his penalty saved but tucked away the rebound to send England to the final
‘They conceded only one goal, so it is a very solid team, great players, very balanced, and I think they did deserve to get to the final.
‘Now it’s all down to the final, which I think will be an epic final, and history-making either way.
‘England is a very physical team, and they have players who are very skilled as well. We will face a very, very tough team, they will be playing at home, they know the stadium well. But it is a dream for us to win this European Championship.’
Italy are on the back of a 33-match unbeaten run under former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini, and Verratti said: ‘He’s done a great job with us, everyone can see it. He’s a very special manager for us, he boosted our confidence when we lost it because of the negative results of the past.
‘I think he was the perfect man for the job. He restarted our enthusiasm, with his style we actually had fun. We haven’t lost in 33 matches – these are important statistics and it tells you he is doing a great job. Sometimes one might say managers are not so important, but for us he truly is an added value.’
Marco Verratti said England were fortunate to get the decision but deserve place in the final