Spain certified for the final 16 of Euro 2024 by beating Italy 1-0 on Thursday, guaranteeing La Roja will advance as Group B winners. Riccardo Calafiori's aim 9 minutes after half-time in Gelsenkirchen made the distinction between the 2 sides within the largest match of the match thus far in Germany. However the slim margin of victory doesn’t mirror the efficiency of Spain, who utterly outplayed Italy and may have gained the sport by half-time, simply as they beat Croatia of their opening spherical tie.
Nico Williams was the star for Spain as he troubled Napoli proper again Giovanni Di Lorenzo and delivered the cross, from which the unlucky Calafiori headed the successful aim into his personal web.
Luis de la Fuente's facet have six factors on the high of the group and tackle Albania on Monday figuring out they’re already by means of to the knockout rounds and enjoying like potential champions.
Defeat was a actuality for Italy on Thursday, as Spain made probably the most of Gianluigi Donnarumma's sensible targets all through the match, whereas the Azzurri failed to attain a single aim.
The show was harking back to the Euro 2012 remaining between the 2 groups, when Spain crushed Italy 4-0 within the final worldwide match of tiki-taka soccer.
Nevertheless all just isn’t misplaced for Luciano Spalletti's facet, who stay second with three factors, as even a draw with Croatia on Monday can be sufficient to ensure qualification behind Spain.
Spain may have taken the lead twice within the first 10 minutes however missed two nice probabilities.
There have been lower than two minutes left on the clock when Pedri headed Williams's exact cross straight to Donnarumma.
After which Williams, who had completed effectively towards Di Lorenzo, was discovered responsible as he someway managed to maintain out a header from Alvaro Morata's brilliantly positioned, in-swinging ball from the left flank.
Spain had been clearly on high whereas Italy struggled to get out of their half, with Gianluca Scamacca struggling up entrance with little or no assist and shedding the ball every time it got here to him.
Donnarumma needed to be at his finest twice inside seconds, first getting his foot out to cease Morata after which making an outstanding fingertip save to maintain out Fabian Ruiz’s highly effective drive from distance.
In the meantime, on the different finish of the sector, Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon stood as a digital spectator as Italy's solely shot of the primary half got here simply earlier than halftime when Federico Chiesa curled a poor effort from a tough place.
The sample of Spanish possession and Italian defence continued after the interval and Pedri once more missed an ideal likelihood within the 51st minute when he missed the ball after Marc Cucurella had pulled again an ideal low cross.
However Spain quickly discovered the breakthrough by means of extra sensational play from Williams on the left, who outmuscled Di Lorenzo and headed the ball into an personal aim which Calafiori couldn’t stop.
La Roja got here near doubling their lead by means of two away targets from Morata and teenage sensation Lamine Yamal however Williams's excellent effort within the 71st minute beat Donnarumma and hit the crossbar earlier than heading it out.
Italy pressed ahead within the hope of an equaliser, changing the ineffective Chiesa and Scamacca with Mattia Zaccagni and Matteo Retegui.
However Donnarumma once more made two excellent saves within the closing moments to disclaim Ayoze Perez twice, giving the scoreline a greater reflection of the one-sided contest.
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