Spain qualified for the round of 16 of Euro 2024 with a game to spare on Thursday after beating Italy 1-0 in a dominant display that ensured La Roja qualified as winners of Group B. An own goal by Riccardo Calafiori, nine minutes after the break, made the difference between the two teams in Gelsenkirchen, in the biggest game to date of the tournament in Germany. But the small margin of victory did not reflect an impressive performance from Spain, who completely nullified Italy and should have won the game at half-time, as happened in the first round, defeating Croatia.
Nico Williams was the star for Spain as he beat Napoli right-back Giovanni Di Lorenzo and delivered the cross that allowed the hapless Calafiori to score the winner into his own net.
Luis de la Fuente’s team have a perfect six points at the top of the group and face Albania on Monday knowing they are already in the round of 16 and playing like potential champions.
For Italy, Thursday’s deserved defeat was a reality check, as vibrant Spain had scored from the brilliant Gianliugi Donnarumma throughout the game, while the Azzurri failed to get a single shot on target.
It was a performance reminiscent of the Euro 2012 final between the two teams, when Spain defeated Italy 4-0, in the last international cry for tiki-taka football.
However, not all is lost for Luciano Spalletti’s team, who are in second place with three points, as a draw with Croatia on Monday will be enough to guarantee qualification, behind Spain.
Spain could have been ahead twice in the first 10 minutes, but wasted two great headed opportunities.
There were less than two minutes left on the clock when an unmarked Pedri headed Williams’s accurate cross straight at Donnarumma.
And then Williams, who had a field day against Di Lorenzo, was at fault as he somehow headed wide to Alvaro Morata, who superbly diverted the ball from the left flank.
Spain clearly had the advantage while Italy struggled to get out of their own half, with Gianluca Scamacca working alone in attack with little support and wasting possession when it came to him.
Donnarumma had to be at his best twice in a matter of seconds, as he first stuck out his foot to deny Morata and then made an excellent fingertip save that prevented Fabian Ruiz’s powerful long-range effort.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the pitch, Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simon was a virtual spectator as Italy’s only shot of the first half came just before half-time when Federico Chiesa delivered a poor shot from a difficult position.
The same pattern of Spanish possession and Italian defense continued after the break and Pedri again wasted a great opportunity in the 51st minute, shooting wide after Marc Cucurella’s perfect low cross.
But Spain got the goal shortly afterwards and it came through more sensational play from Williams on the left, who made mincemeat of Di Lorenzo before deflecting a ball that Calafiori was unable to avoid deflecting into his own goal.
La Roja came close to extending their lead with two long-range efforts from Morata and teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, before the superb Williams fired past Donnarumma, who hit the post in the 71st minute.
Italy advanced hoping to equalize after Mattia Zaccagni and Mateo Retegui replaced the ineffective Chiesa and Scamacca.
But in the final moments, Donnarumma again made two excellent saves to stop Ayoze Perez twice, making the score better reflect a one-sided contest.
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