A Riccardo Calafiori personal purpose despatched Spain into the Euro 2024 final 16 as Group B winners with a 1-0 victory over Italy.
Spain impressed once more having thrashed Croatia 3-0 of their opening sport and will have gained in Gelsenkirchen by a much bigger scoreline had it not been for a mixture of excellent saves from Italy’s Gianluigi Donnarumma and poor ending.
They dominated from the beginning with Donnarumma known as into motion inside two minutes, spectacularly tipping over Pedri’s close-range header.
Nico Williams terrorised Italy right-back Giovanni Di Lorenzo and will have scored with a header from contained in the six-yard field earlier than Donnarumma saved twice extra from Alvaro Morata and a long-range blast from Fabian Ruiz.
Spain picked up from the place they left off within the second half with Pedri side-footing a golden likelihood broad inside minutes of the restart, however Italy did the onerous work for them when defender Calafiori was his personal web from Williams’ low cross.
Calafiori almost scored a second, Andrea Cambiaso hacking his team-mate’s rogue header at a nook off the purpose line whereas 16-year-old Lamine Yamal and Williams each continued to dazzle, the previous sending a shot inches broad of the highest left nook and the latter hitting the crossbar with a scrumptious roller.
Italy have been merely outclassed, mustering only one shot heading in the right direction, with Donnarumma maintaining them in it till the ultimate minute with a late save from substitute Ayoze Perez when one-on-one.
Star performer: ‘Williams pure high quality’
Sky Sports activities’ Roy Keane on ITV:
“It was pure high quality. That actual tempo, you possibly can’t coach that. It is a risk. When he will get one-on-one with the full-back, there’s bother for the defender.
“He can go left or proper. His capturing energy and his crossing is superb. He confirmed nice energy at occasions and his angle was spot on.
“He was one of the best participant on the park.”
Will missed probabilities value Spain?
Sky Sports activities’ Gary Neville on ITV:
“Spain wanted to be extra ruthless. They might have been two or three up at half-time.
“They weren’t ruthless within the final event. Is that going to hold on right here and price them ultimately?
“They need to be scoring extra targets with the way in which they play soccer. Among the play is excellent.”
Spain new favourites to win Euro 2024
Sky Sports activities’ David Richardson:
Spain are the crew to beat at Euro 2024 after making Group B look simple.
They eased previous Croatia of their opening match after which tore Italy aside. The one concern would be the probabilities they missed, however they will not be arising towards goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma each time.
Spain’s Pedri, left, is challenged by Italy’s Nicolo Barella
There’s a acquainted zip and aptitude to their play seen throughout their four-year domination from 2008. Rodri is the glue that holds all of it collectively in the course of midfield, pulling the strings for the likes of Pedri, Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams to precise themselves.
Spain are well-placed to finish their 12-year event drought.
Door open for Croatia?
Sky Sports activities’ Oliver Yew:
Italy confirmed loads of resilience towards Spain however ultimately that wasn’t sufficient towards Luis de la Fuente’s slick aspect.
Captain Donnarumma was required to make a variety of sensible saves to maintain the rating at 1-0 on an evening when, in reality Luciano Spalleti’s aspect have been second finest.
They regarded disjointed for lots of the evening and when defending so deep, they want an outlet, however they didn’t give Spain’s defence quite a bit to consider at they might not get their counter-attacking sport going.
The end result nonetheless leaves holders Italy with work to do in the event that they need to maintain the defence of the trophy going and qualify for the knockout levels.
They face Croatia, who have been dealt their very own blow on Wednesday when Albania snatched a last-gasp 2-2 draw, on the ultimate matchday in Group B in what might be a winner-takes-all conflict for second spot within the group and a possible last-16 match with the runners-up in Group A, which may probably be both hosts Germany or Switzerland.