Starting with a very defensive lineup, it took Italy nearly an entire half and falling behind 2-0 in order to get a grip of the kind of opponents they were facing in Japan, but eventually, thanks to a lot more efficiency inside the box and one substitution, putting in Sebastian Giovinco, also scoring the winning goal, the Italians won 4-3 in the best match of the tournament so far, clinching a spot in the semifinal.