Report from Euro 2024 as Spain attain final 16 with spectacular 1-0 victory over Italy in Group B; Spain dominate first half however are denied by excellent Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma; Riccardo Calafiori scores personal purpose in second half from Nico Williams’ low cross
23:02, UK, Thursday 20 June 2024
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 may have gained in Gelsenkirchen by an even 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.
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Nico Williams terrorised Italy right-back Giovanni Di Lorenzo and may 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 extensive inside minutes of the restart, however Italy did the exhausting work for them when defender Calafiori was his personal web from Williams’ low cross.
Workforce information:
Spain made one change from their victory over Croatia with Aymeric Laporte coming in at centre-back for Nacho.
Italy caught with the identical XI that beat Albania of their opening sport.
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 extensive of the highest left nook and the latter hitting the crossbar with a scrumptious roller.
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Italy had been merely outclassed, mustering only one shot on the right track, 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’
Picture:
Nico Williams handed up a golden alternative to present Spain an early lead however was a menace all through
Sky Sports activities’ Roy Keane on ITV:
“It was pure high quality. That actual tempo, you possibly can’t coach that. It is a menace. When he will get one-on-one with the full-back, there’s bother for the defender.
“He can go left or proper. His taking pictures energy and his crossing is superb. He confirmed nice power at occasions and his angle was spot on.
“He was one of the best participant on the park.”
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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 match. Is that going to hold on right here and value them ultimately?
“They need to be scoring extra targets with the best way they play soccer. Among the play is excellent.”
Spain new favourites to win Euro 2024
Sky Sports activities’ David Richardson:
Spain are the group to beat at Euro 2024 after making Group B look straightforward.
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 in opposition to goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma each time.
Picture:
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 match drought.
Door open for Croatia?
Sky Sports activities’ Oliver Yew:
Italy confirmed loads of resilience in opposition to Spain however ultimately that wasn’t sufficient in opposition to Luis de la Fuente’s slick facet.
Captain Donnarumma was required to make plenty of good saves to maintain the rating at 1-0 on an evening when, in fact Luciano Spalleti’s facet had been second greatest.
They appeared 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 consequence nonetheless leaves holders Italy with work to do in the event that they need to preserve the defence of the trophy going and qualify for the knockout phases.
They face Croatia, who had 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 may very well 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 might probably be both hosts Germany or Switzerland.
Stats: Story of the match
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To this point in Group B…
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