MILAN, Oct 5, 2021 (BSS/AFP) - Italy and Spain will again face off in a

semi-final on Wednesday when they take to the field at the San Siro for the
Nations League Final Four opener, a replay of their epic Euro 2020 semi-
final.

  Spain finished on the losing side back in July's European Championship
semi-final as the Azzurri prevailed on penalties and went on to win the
tournament, beginning an unforgettable summer of sport for Italy.

  Roberto Mancini's Italy are on a world-record run of 37 matches without
defeat and have a squad predictably stuffed full of players who took part in
their run to glory in the Euro final over England at Wembley.

  "We'll be facing a great Italy team: they deservedly beat England in the
final of the Euro and they've kept their long unbeaten run going," said Spain
coach Luis Enrique after announcing his squad on Thursday.

  "But like our psychologist says, defeat comes to every team. And that means
that they're closer to losing, that time is getting nearer."

  Mancini admitted that "Spain were the team we struggled against most during
Euro 2020".

  "They are a good team with good players. It will be a good match," he told
uefa.com.

  The only different face from the Euro crowd was supposed to be in-form Roma
midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini, who on Sunday scored his sixth goal of the
season in all competitions.

  However injuries in the run-up to and during the weekend's Serie A fixtures
mean Juventus striker Moise Kean, AC Milan defender Davide Calabria and Inter
Milan youngster Federico Dimarco have all been drafted in at the last minute.

  The trio have respectively come on board in place of Italy's usual starting
centre-forward Ciro Immobile and Atalanta's Rafael Toloi and Matteo Pessina.

  For Dimarco it's a first ever call up and comes from the man who in 2014
gave the 23-year-old his debut at Inter Milan, where he has impressed so far
this season. - Similar philosophies -

  The match will also see the return of Gianluigi Donnarumma to the San Siro
after leaving AC Milan on a free transfer to go to Paris Saint-Germain this
summer.

  Asked whether he might be harangued by Milan fans following a move which
left a bad taste in the mouth of supporters, Donnarumma said: "It would be
sad if that happened.

  "I always gave everything for Milan and I hope the subject can be put to
one side," he added.

  Luis Enrique has too had injury problems with club matches coming thick and
fast between last month's international break and the Final Four.

  Teenage sensation Pedri will not take part after getting injured for the
second time in less than a month, missing out on similarly young squad to the
one which surpassed expectations at the Euro.

  Pedri was one of the best performers of the tournament and gave a
celebrated Italy midfield of Jorginho, Marco Verratti and Nicolo Barella a
tough time for much of their thrilling semi-final.

  Tottenham's Bryan Gil has also been brought in after Marcos Llorente picked
up a thigh injury during Atletico Madrid's 2-0 win over Barca at the weekend,
while the Catalan giants' 17-year-old midfielder Gavi has been picked despite
only having four la Liga appearances to his name.

  Former Barca coach Luis Enrique was lauded by the Italians after he heaped
praise on them despite what must have been a painful defeat at Wembley, and
he continued his charm offensive ahead of what promises to be a worthy opener
to the Final Four.

  "We could have beaten them but we didn't manage to do it, we're two teams
with a similar philosophy and we hope to take part in another exciting
match," he said.