GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany
Spain qualified for the last 16 of Euro 2024 with a match to spare on Thursday after beating defending champions Italy 1-0 in a dominant display which ensured that La Roja would go through as Group B winners.
Riccardo Calafiori's own goal
nine minutes after halftime was the difference between the two sides in the
biggest match to date at the tournament in Germany.
But the slender margin of
victory in Gelsenkirchen didn't reflect a statement performance from Spain who
completely nullified Italy and should have had the game won by halftime, as
they did in their opening round thumping of Croatia.
Nico Williams was the star for
Spain as he ran Napoli right-back Giovanni Di Lorenzo ragged and supplied the
cross from which the unfortunate Calafiori poked the winning goal into his own
net.
"We had quite a few
really good chances, but we're very happy because we showed that we are a great
team and that we can stifle any team," said Spain captain Alvaro Morata.
Luis de la Fuente's team have
a perfect six points at the top of the group and take on Albania on Monday
knowing that they are already in the knockout rounds and playing like potential
champions.
For Italy Thursday's deserved
defeat was a reality check as vibrant Spain peppered the brilliant Gianliugi
Donnarumma's goal throughout the match.
"We misplaced too many
easy passes and didn't play with enough quality. If you make that many mistakes
you are going to be punished," said Donnarumma who made eight saves.
It was a performance
reminiscent of the Euro 2012 final between the two teams when Spain crushed
Italy 4-0.
However, all is not lost for
Luciano Spalletti's team, who are second on three points, as a draw with
Croatia on Monday will be enough to guarantee qualification behind Spain.
"We created some
situations with which we could have equalised, but they were much better than
us. They deserved to win," said Spalletti to RAI.
Spain could have been ahead
twice in the first 10 minutes but squandered two great headed chances.
Less than two minutes were on
the clock when an unmarked Pedri nodded Williams' pinpoint cross straight at
Donnarumma.
And then Williams, who had a
field day against Di Lorenzo, was the guilty party by somehow heading wide
Morata's superbly delivered, inswinging ball from the left flank.
Spain were clearly on top as
Italy struggled to get out of their half, Gianluca Scamacca toiling on his own
up front with little support and wasting possession when it did come his way.
Donnarumma had to be at his
best twice within a matter of seconds when he first stuck out a foot to deny
Morata and then pulled off a superb fingertip save which kept out Fabian Ruiz's
powerful drive from distance.
Meanwhile at the other end of
the pitch Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon was a virtual spectator as Italy's sole
shot in the first half came just before the break when Federico Chiesa blazed a
poor effort over from a difficult position.
The same pattern of Spanish
possession and Italian defending continued after halftime and Pedri again
wasted a great chance in the 51st minute, slamming wide after Marc Cucurella
pulled back a perfect low cross.
But Spain got the breakthrough
soon after and it came through more sensational play from Williams on the left,
who made mincemeat of Di Lorenzo before fizzing across a ball which Calafiori
couldn't help but divert home.
La Roja went close to doubling
their lead with two distance strikes from Morata and teen sensation Lamine
Yamal, before the superb Williams smashed an effort past Donnarumma which came
crashing out off the crossbar in the 71st minute.
Italy pushed forward in hope
of an equaliser after Mattia Zaccagni and Mateo Retegui replaced the
ineffective Chiesa and Scamacca.
But in the dying moments
Donnarumma again made two superb saves to twice stop Ayoze Perez making the
scoreline better reflect a one-sided contest.
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