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 received 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 referred to 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 laborious work for them when defender Calafiori changed into his personal internet from Williams’ low cross.
Calafiori practically 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 had been merely outclassed, mustering only one shot on the right track, with Donnarumma retaining 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 quality. That real pace, you can’t coach that. It’s a threat. When he gets one-on-one with the full-back, there’s trouble for the defender.
“He can go left or proper. His capturing energy and his crossing is great. He confirmed nice power at occasions and his perspective was spot on.
“He was the best player on the park.”
Will missed possibilities price Spain?
Sky Sports activities’ Gary Neville on ITV:
“Spain needed to be more ruthless. They could 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 value them in the long run?
“They should be scoring more goals with the way they play football. Some of the play is outstanding.”
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 simple.
They eased previous Croatia of their opening match after which tore Italy aside. The one concern would be the possibilities they missed, however they will not be arising in opposition to 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 midst 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 in opposition to Spain however in the long run that wasn’t sufficient in opposition to Luis de la Fuente’s slick aspect.
Captain Donnarumma was required to make quite a few good saves to maintain the rating at 1-0 on an evening when, in fact Luciano Spalleti’s aspect had been second finest.
They seemed disjointed for lots of the evening and when defending so deep, they want an outlet, however they didn’t give Spain’s defence lots 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 preserve the defence of the trophy going and qualify for the knockout levels.
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 may doubtlessly be both hosts Germany or Switzerland.
