Live Commentary: Italy 1-0 Netherlands - as it happened

Italy and the Netherlands met in the semi-finals of the European Championships with both sides determined to take on Spain in the final.

The Azzurri topped Group A after taking seven points from a possible nine, while the Dutch finish second in Group B to La Roja.

Italy are now one game away from winning the tournament after a narrow win.

Read how it all unfolded in our commentary below.

9.26pmThat's it from me, congratulations to Italy, good night.

9.26pmSo, it will be Spain vs. Italy in the final of the competition on Tuesday in Jerusalem; a repeat of the senior competition last year.

9.25pmThat's it, Italy are in the final. They were the poorer outfit in the first half, but Italy came back and tightened up in the second. They stopped the Netherlands threat and took their chance, thanks to Liverpool's Borini.

90+7 minFULL TIME: Italy 1-0 Netherlands

90+7 minCHANCE! The ball bounces like a pinball machine in the box, before Depay hits the side-netting.

90+7 minThe keeper is up for Netherlands, this really is the last chance.

90+6 minYELLOW CARD Sansone goes into the book for being a nuisance.

90+5 minNetherlands cannot break down the Italian pack, and the ball rolls out of play for a goal kick. That's it surely.

90+5 minWe have 30 seconds to go. Last chance for the Dutch.

90+3 minMore "injuries" for Italy as Caldirola needs some attention.

90+2 minITALY CHANGE Fausto Rossi makes way for Marco Crimi.

90+1 minYELLOW CARD Martins goes into the book for Netherlands.

90 minThere is still time for the Dutch, we have five minutes of stoppage time to go.

90 minItaly are doing their best to run down the clock with just minutes remaining.

89 minCHANCE! Fur goes close for the Dutch after a terrific leap from a Maher corner, but it is well saved by Bardi.

87 minBardi is down asking for treatment after a minor collision, and the fans are absolutely slaughtering him for it. They feel that he is time wasting.

86 minFour minutes to go, your move Netherlands.

85 minITALY CHANGE Lorenzo Insigne is being summoned to the bench, as Nicola Sansone of Parma comes on.

83 minNETHERLANDS CHANGE Super sub is coming on for the Dutch as Leroy Fer steps onto the pitch for Blind. Striker for a defender, Netherlands are going for it.

83 minApologies to any Dutch supporters for more goal celebrations, I'm supporting neither, but my word did this game need that goal.

81 minNetherlands have to come out and attack now. Blind hits a free kick into the wall from the wide right, but the Dutch stay on the attack.

79 minYES! YES! YES! YES! GOAL! GOAL! GOAL! GOAL! Finally we have a goal, and finally a game on our hands and it's a great goal from Borini. Insigne passes it from the left into the box where Borini nips in ahead of the Van der Hoorn before turning and slotting the ball into the far corner. Great goal.

78 minGOAL! Italy 1-0 Netherlands (Fabio Borini)

76 minNETHERLANDS CHANGE Stefan de Vrij makes way for Mike van der Hoorn to come on.

74 minItaly break with Gabbiadini as he races towards the edge of the Dutch box. He slides it to the left where Borini holds it up before playing it back. The ball comes at an awkward height for Gabbiadini, whose volley hits the floor and bounces into the arms of Zoet.

72 minDepay slams the effort into the wall.

70 minGreat opportunity for the Dutch as De Jong goes down the left side of the box, there are tons of players for him to aim at in the box, but his cut back is desperately hacked away by the Italian defence. They now have a free kick out wide.

68 minNETHERLANDS CHANGE Ola John, who has been quiet today, is the first to make way for the Dutch as the exciting Memphis Depay comes on.

67 minThe Dutch have not had as much control in this half as they did in the first, also been a bit careless with some of their, what is usually excellent, passing.

66 minCHANCE! Nearly some action as the ball is cleared by Netherlands but only as far as Borini, who fires an instant effort back at the Dutch goal, but it skids just wide of the far post. That's more like it!

65 minMichel Platini slumped in his seat, looking close to dozing off, about sums up the action at the moment.

62 minI'm a bit surprised that Italy didn't opt to keep Immobile on as well as adding Gabbiadini.

61 minITALY CHANGE Immobile is coming off as Manolo Gabbiadini, who netted twice against Israel, enters the fray.

56 minIt goes without saying that this game desperately needs a goal. Surely the pace will pick up the further into this match we get? In a semi-final, you would have thought so.

55 minTen minutes gone in the second half, here is my second-half report....Ok, I'm done.

53 minBit of a dull start to this second half, the atmosphere has died a bit, and there have been no chances as of yet. Can only get better.

48 minJust like in the first half, there have been a fair few fouls in the early stages of this second half.

46 minWell...at the second attempt.

45 minNETHERLANDS GET US UNDERWAY

8.31pmBoth sides are back out onto the field for the second half. This will go to extra time and penalties if needed.

8.18pmHowever, all 22 players are still on the pitch for now, and Spain have no clearer idea as to who they will face in the final.

8.18pmSo a goalless first half that began and ended well with some lovely football and a few chances. However, it was spoiled in the middle due to a number of needless fouls, that looked at one point as if it was going to escalate out of hand.

8.17pmHALF TIME: Italy 0-0 Netherlands

45+1 minCHANCE! It's a similar effort from the dead ball situation, again from Maher, but his curler is wide of the right post.

45 minThis will be the last chance as we have one minute of added time.

45 minNetherlands have a great chance from a free kick here after brilliant work from Maher. He goes past two players on the edge of the box before being sliced down.

43 minCHANCE! The game is really coming alive just before the break as Italy take their turn to bombard the Dutch goal. Borini is again the man on the attack, who ruffles the back of the net with his shot, but the small problem is that it went around the post rather than cross the line. Off target.

41 minCHANCE! Two bites of the cherry for the Dutch there. First Bardi saves well from Blind's strong strike from the left, before Maher's follow-up effort is blocked.

41 minCHANCE! Insigne has a half-chance for Italy as he gets in a decent position before dragging his shot wide.

39 minThere are a few elbows flying about during these collisions. Netherlands have a penalty appeal after De Jong goes down in the box, but nothing is given.

35 minThe momentum is with the Italians at the moment, who are starting to attack more. However, Netherlands always look so dangerous on the break with their raw pace on the flanks.

33 minThe way things are at the moment, I really can't see both teams finishing with 11 players.

32 minCHANCE! Italy come at Netherlands with a good counter-attacking move, which ends in a good stop from Zoet. Some lovely play from the Italians who pass their way out of trouble before putting Immobile through on goal. He is running away from the target, but manages to get his shot away, only for Zoet to block with his shins.

30 minCHANCE! It's whipped in towards the penalty spot, where Borini gets his noggin to it, but can't guide it goalwards as it goes behind for goalkick.

28 minNot too much to report in last few minutes. A lot of fouls and offsides in a stop-start match. Italy have a free kick in a crossing position of the right of the Dutch box now though. Good chance.

22 minCHANCE! Bianchetti dives in front of Ola John to block a fierce drive after the forward got his head down and cut in from the left wing.

20 minCHANCE! The Netherlands are a whisker away from going in front. John kills the ball at the byeline and cuts it back to the edge of the box to Strootman. His cross/shot is curling away from goal and is just too far in front of the stretched De Jong for him to convert.

19 minNetherlands have been the better side, Italy just can't keep hold of the ball, whereas the Dutch are so cool, calm and collected in possession.

17 minBit of a feisty one this.

16 minYELLOW CARD Verratti is the second Italian player to go into the book after chops down De Jong.

14 minBit of a scrap going on here as Florenzi takes out John on the touchline. John isn't happy with him, and refuses to shake his opponent's hand, causing Florenzi to point to the 'Fair Play' logo on his sleeve and is pulled away by his teammates.

13 minNetherlands break down the right and Wijnaldum whips in a very good cross level with the six-yard box. De Jong fails to get a head on it and John can't quite keep hold of it.

12 minNetherlands look so fluid when they move forward, but the Italians are proving very physical so far.

11 minBardi does enough to flap it away, and they can get hold of the ball the second time around.

10 minThere has been a good tempo to this match so far though. The Dutch are preparing to take a corner from the left.

9 minNo real chances for Italy as of yet. Borini was played in down the right and he a number of free players to play it to, but he failed to find any of them with his chip.

7 minMaher takes it once again, and there are loud Dutch cries for a handball as it seems to hit Bonati in the box. They have a case but it would have been very harsh.

6 minYELLOW CARD Italy have conceded another free kick immediately, to the right of the box. There will have to be a cross here. Fabio Borini is shown a yellow for the foul.

5 minOFF THE POST! So close to a Netherlands opener. It's a beautiful effort from Maher who guides it round the right of the wall but off the frame of the goal. Unlucky.

5 minIt's about three yards outside the box to the right of the D.

4 minMaher and Strootman are over the ball.

3 minItaly have had much of the ball at the start but the Dutch are very quick on the break. Netherlands have a free kick right on the edge of the box after a handball from Verratti. It's almost too close.

2 minThe Dutch are in their traditional all-orange attire, and are playing to the left.

1 minItaly are wearing blue from top to toe and are shooting from right to left in this first half.

0 minITALY GET US UNDERWAY!

7.30pmWe're about to get underway here.

7.29pmThe two teams are out, and the national anthems have just been sung.

7.29pmNETHERLANDS RESULTS: Won 3-2 vs. Germany Won 5-1 vs. Russia Lost 3-0 vs. Spain

7.25pmITALY RESULTS: Won 1-0 vs. England Won 4-0 vs. Israel Drew 1-1 vs. Norway

7.22pmWe're just eight minutes away from the start of the match, and here is how they have got on so far.

7.22pmNETHERLANDS BENCH: Bizot, Marsman, Van der Hoorn, Van Aanholt, Clasie, Leerdam, Fer, Trindade de Vilhena, Jozefzoon, Hoesen, Depay.

7.21pmAnd now a look at the Netherlands substitutions.

7.21pmThe first name that you are likely to recognise from that bunch is PSV Eindhoven's Kevin Strootman, who has been the subject of interest from Manchester United. Ajax's Luke de Jong should also be familiar, while Adam Maher and Marco van Ginkel are reported targets for Arsenal and Chelsea respectively.

7.19pmNETHERLANDS XI: Zoet, Van Rhijn, De Vrij, Martins Indi, Blind, Strootman, Maher, Van Ginkel, De Jong, John, Wijnaldum

7.18pmRight, and now for the opponents. Here is the Netherlands starting lineup.

7.17pmITALY BENCH: Colombi, Leali, Biraghi, Capuano, Marrone, Bertolacci, Crimi, Gabbiadini, Destro, Sansone, Paloschi, Saponara

7.17pmAnd here is the Italian bench...

7.16pmThe standout name to many will be Liverpool striker Fabio Borini, who starts upfront for the Azzurri. There are also a number of Serie A talents in that team, including Inter's Bianchetti and Napoli's Insigne. Verratti of Paris Saint-Germain also gets a place in the starting XI.

7.15pmITALY XI: Italy: Bardi, Donati, Caldirola, Bianchetti, Regini, Verratti, Florenzi, Rossi, Immobile, Insigne, Borini

7.14pmRight, let's get some team news.

7.12pmThe Italians are probably slight favourites in this match, but take nothing away from the Netherlands. This should be a very even and hotly-contested encounter.

7.07pmThis match should be a corker. Two sides that love to attack and ooze with talent. Italy cruised their way to winning Group A above Norway, Israel and England, while the Netherlands only finished below finalists Spain after dismantling Germany and Russia.

7.07pmGood evening, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of Italy and Netherlands in the final four of the U21 Euro 2013.