Spain vs. Italy: Players Who Let Azzurri Down in Confederations Cup Semifinal

If certain footballers had stepped up for Italy, it may have defeated Spain in the 2013 Confederations Cup.

The Italians averaged 2.7 goals per match in the group stage and the Spaniards averaged five, but neither club was able to score in regulation or overtime in their semifinal match. It came down to penalty kicks. There, Spain scored on all seven of its attempts while Italy managed six goals, falling just short of a Confederations Cup final berth.

Here are the Italian players who could’ve given their club the edge had they performed better on Thursday.

Leonardo Bonucci

Bonucci was the only player who failed to convert their penalty-kick attempt in the match. The fact that Iker Casillas didn’t even get a glove on it made the gaffe even worse. Here are all of the penalty kicks from Italy vs. Spain, including Bonucci’s blunder.

This is how FourFourTom reacted to Bonucci’s miss.

Bonucci was part of a defensive unit that shut out the scorching Spaniards, but his miss wasn’t his only mistake against them. He also committed four fouls. No other Italian committed more than two.

Alberto Gilardino

Paul Carr of ESPN tweeted that Italy would be without a large chunk of its offensive firepower against Spain with Mario Balotelli unable to play due to an injury.

Gilardino replaced Balotelli, but he failed to effectively fill his cleats. The 30-year-old forward only attempted one shot in the entire match despite the extra time.

His inability to find a clean look wasn’t the only way he let down the Italians. He also drew a whopping five offside penalties. No other footballer from either side drew more than one.

Gilardino left Italians wondering if their club could have been bound for the Confederations Cup final had Balotelli been physically able to suit up and in the starting lineup instead.

David Daniels is a breaking news writer at Bleacher Report and news editor at Wade-O Radio.