It takes great courage to step forward for a penalty kick in any situation, not least as your national team stand on the precipice of a final at a major international tournament. However, to step forward and take one in the manner that Jorginho did on Tuesday night at Wembley requires something special.

The Azzurri’s midfield metronome left it until last before strolling forward with the opportunity to win the shootout. Chelsea supporters have become well-accustomed to his inimitable hop-skip-jump approach over his three seasons at Stamford Bridge but executing such a bold technique in the most pressurised of moments takes supreme confidence and composure.

For a moment, one wondered whether he would just play it safe, pick a corner and go for power, but in reality that thought never crossed the 29-year-old’s mind.

He placed the ball on the spot, looked Spain’s Unai Simon directly the eyes and then dispatched his effort into the bottom right corner once the goalkeeper had started moving in the opposite direction. It was vintage Jorginho, synonymous with the unflappable, classy, enviable Italian style.

‘When you take the kick, you feel this weight fall off your shoulders,’ he explained afterwards, once the celebrations had dissipated.

‘I tried to forget everything around me, focus on what I’d trained to do, took a deep breath and got on with it.’

The shootout came after two hours of fascinating football at Wembley, the Italians battling into a lead through Federico Chiesa before former Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata forced extra-time with a well-taken late equaliser.

Roberto Mancini’s men have won all six of their matches at the tournament, albeit two on penalties, and not been beaten since September 2018. They will be formidable opponents in Sunday’s final for either Denmark or England, with Jorginho citing the group’s togetherness as key to their success so far.

‘We never give up, we always believe,’ he noted. ‘This is a marvellous squad that deserves all the best because we suffer together, we play together, laugh together and joke together.

‘Like all families, we can even argue together at times but we always end up there together.’

After failing to reach the World Cup three years ago, Italy’s run to the European final has offered redemption for those involved back in 2018. For Jorginho, Mancini’s appointment in the aftermath of that qualifying calamity has been transformative and our number five has become integral to the Italian team.

With one more game separating the Azzurri from glory, Jorginho is starting to dream of adding international silverware to the Champions League trophy he picked up in Porto in May.

‘We believed in ourselves from the first time we were together almost three years ago,’ he added.

‘We were waiting for this big moment, this big challenge, and now we are here we will see what is going to happen. This group, with this support, are ready for any game against anyone.’