Spain qualified for the knockout stages of the Euro 2024 with a match to spare after defeating Italy 1-0 in their 11th appearance at a major football contest. With this being their fifth meeting in European Championships, but Spain and Italy were familiar rivals as they took the field in search of success within their respective groups.
Spain showed they can move on, after Italy eliminated them at Euro 2016 and Euro 2024. Their win over Croatia was with less possession; the first time since the Euro 2008 final.
La Roja saw plenty of the ball early in their match with Italy, and some grand build-up saw Pedri’s header cause a spectacular save from Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Italy could not maintain Spain’s space and Nico Williams tried his golden headed chance 10 minutes in, nodding past the post.
As the half continued, the Italians seemed to strike on the counter, but the Spanish dominated as Alvaro Morato sent a shot at Donnarumma, before the keeper pulled off another save from Fabian Ruiz’s long-range effort.
Having witnessed an early chance foiled within 90 seconds of the first half, there was an early second-half symmetry as Pedri sent his 12-yard shot wide of the goal.
Given their inability to find the back of the net, maybe Spain’s coach Luis de la Fuented was relieved when his team led the match, thanks to Riccardo Calafiori’s own goal 55 minutes into the game; although it was well-deserved for Spain.
Spain showed glimpses of their golden era by the way they passed the ball around, with Italy unable to keep up with Lamine Yamal, Pedri, and Williams. Yamal almost scored one of the goals in the match with 20 minutes to go, curling an impressive attempt into the woodwork from the edge of the box.
The Italian team finally penetrated Spain’s defence with 10 minutes left, but it was too late. However, Italy will hope to play better when they face Croatia in a crucial group stage game.
Spain, continue to defy critics and are playing their best football ahead of their meeting with Albania.
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