Spain secured their place in the last 16 of Euro 2024 with a scintillating performance against defending champions Italy in Gelsenkirchen.
Despite creating countless chances and being utterly dominant, Spain won by a narrow margin thanks to an own goal by Riccardo Calafiori in the second half.
After being thwarted by goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma for almost an hour, Alvaro Morata’s flick-on was accidentally poked in by Calafiori’s knee.
Italy, clearly second best, couldn’t muster a response, though they contributed to a captivating match.
The meeting of these two European giants in the group stage came with high expectations, and the game delivered, especially in an electrifying first half.
Spain produced most of the eye-catching play, moving the ball with intensity and creativity, while Italy managed to keep them at bay – but only just.
Donnarumma was key, making three excellent saves, including tipping over Pedri’s header in the first two minutes and later denying Fabian Ruiz and Morata.
Nico Williams should have scored when he headed wide and then hit the crossbar, but he put in an impressive display alongside 16-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal, who played with freedom and narrowly missed curling an effort into the net.
Italy had just three touches in the opposition box in the first half and no shots on target, and they didn’t improve after the break.
While there were brief glimpses of threat on the counter-attack, it was Spain who continued to rack up the chances, with Pedri and Morata coming close again as they cruised into the last 16 with two wins from two matches, having not conceded a goal.
Italy still have a chance to progress. They face Croatia on Monday, a nation that has finished in the top three of the past two World Cups, while Spain will take on Albania.
Nutmegs, Armani and dominance
Italy manager Luciano Spalletti expressed his desire for his team to play as elegantly as if they were dressed in their Giorgio Armani suits, but Spain ended up stealing the show.
Giovanni di Lorenzo had a torrid evening against Spain’s Nico Williams, who terrorized him with pace, skill, and a fearless attitude that stood out on the main stage.
Spain’s biggest chances came down the left side, where Williams, in collaboration with Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella, dominated the play. Williams nearly scored when he curled the ball onto the crossbar.
Williams and 16-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal frequently nutmegged their opponents, drawing adulation from the Spanish supporters in the stands.
Midway through the second half, Yamal, who had already impressed with an assist in Spain’s 3-0 win over Croatia, turned to the crowd and waved his arms up and down in a rallying cry, prompting an enthusiastic response from the fans.
“I saw the potential that my team boasts tonight. That ability to really make light work of a top-class side like Italy,” said Spain boss Luis de la Fuente afterwards.
“Italy won the Euros three years ago and we were still a long way off winning it, so I like the fact people are speaking about us and considering that we could win [now].”
Italy, though they worked hard and kept their shape throughout, were unable to compete individually and were fortunate not to have conceded more, but Donnarumma was in excellent form.
There was a late retaliation in the final minutes as Spain started to tire – players went down with cramp – and that was enough to give the Italian fans a boost.
But Spain substitute Ayoze Perez came close twice in quick succession right at the end only to be denied by the outstanding Donnarumma.
Italy still have work to do to reach the knockout stages but their narrow victory over Albania means they have three valuable points on the board and the defence of their title is not yet over.
“We were constantly stretched and they caused us problems – beyond what the scoreline suggests, let’s not beat around the bush,” said Italy boss Spalletti.
“We didn’t play a fluid brand of football. When we won the ball back we struggled to keep possession.
“There was too much of a gulf in sharpness and freshness.”