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Euro 2020 Quarterfinal Roundup: Chelsea going all the way

By Travis Tyler

ROME, ITALY - JUNE 16: Manuel Locatelli of Italy celebrates with team mates after scoring their side's second goal during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Group A match between Italy and Switzerland at Olimpico Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY - JUNE 16: Manuel Locatelli of Italy celebrates with team mates after scoring their side's second goal during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Group A match between Italy and Switzerland at Olimpico Stadium on June 16, 2021 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images) /
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ROME, ITALY – JUNE 20: Jorginho (L) of Italy is challenged by Joe Allen (R) of Wales during the UEFA EURO 2020 Group A match between Italy and Wales at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, Italy, on June 20, 2021. (Photo by Isabella Bonotto/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – JUNE 20: Jorginho (L) of Italy is challenged by Joe Allen (R) of Wales during the UEFA EURO 2020 Group A match between Italy and Wales at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, Italy, on June 20, 2021. (Photo by Isabella Bonotto/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) /

Belgium versus Italy: Jorginho, Emerson, and Michy Batshuayi

The tie of the round, though entertaining, proved to be more straight forward than anyone might have expected. The (maybe) last hurrah of Belgium’s golden generation went out to an Italian side just starting a new renaissance. Belgium’s best answer was to lump it to Romelu Lukaku and hoped he could be a one man attack. It didn’t work as Belgium crashed out while only giving Michy Batshuayi one cameo this tournament.

Italy, meanwhile, continues to stake their claim as tournament favorites. Unlike others, they blitzed through the group. Unlike others, they have eased through the knockout stages. For every problem Italy has faced, they have had a solution. It’s not the catenaccio often associated with Italy, nor is it anything like tika-taka. It’s somewhere in between.

Much of this has been on the back of Jorginho as the lynchpin of midfield. There has been a strange notion coming up lately that 4-3-3 doesn’t suit him (which doesn’t make sense for a few reasons) but here he is in Italy’s 4-3-3 doing splendidly. Italy hasn’t really had a standout player with everyone performing well, but Jorginho has been a constant unlike many others. If Italy is going to win this whole thing, it’ll be with Jorginho doing well at the heart of the team.

The injury to Leonardo Spinazzola is likely to mean Emerson will get more playing time as the tournament closes. He hasn’t played a great deal this tournament (or season really) but now he’ll get a chance to get his name out there ahead of a transfer.

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