Spain vs Italy Highlights: Italy fail to impress as Spain clinch knockout berth with a 1-0 win
Welcome to Spain vs Italy highlights at the Euro 2024!
Italy failed to create any kind of impact on the game as Spain dominated proceedings and came out 1-0 winners in their Euro 2024 clash at the Arena AufSchalke in Germany.
An own goal by Riccardo Calafiori in the 55th minute was enough for Spain to grab all three points and secure their position in the round of 16 of Euro 2024.
Spain vs Italy Highlights
3′ – The biggest chance of the game came at the very beginning when Inaki Williams found space on the wings and slotted in a cross towards Pedri in the box. Pedri’s attempt is saved by Donnarumma
11′ – Another incredible chance falls for Spain. Morata received the ball on the left. He cut inside onto his right before crossing the ball to the back post. Williams was unmarked, but he somehow missed the target with a header
15′ – Yellow card – Gianluigi Donnarumma
23′ – Yamal does all the hardwork to get past Italy defenders before passing the ball to Morata whose shot is saved by Donnarumma
25′ – Donnarumma is called into action once again as he pulls off a world class save from Ruiz
38′ – Williams produces a clever flick towards Pedri on the edge of the Italian box. Pedri returns the favour and Williams is almost through on goal before Bastoni makes an interception
45′ + 3′ – HALF TIME
46′ – Jorginho is replaced by Bryan Cristante
46′ – Frattesi is replaced by Andrea Cambiaso
46′ – Yellow card – Cristante is booked on his first challenge in the game since coming on from the bench
52′ – BIG CHANCE – Cucurella pulls a pass back to Pedri, who struck the ball first time. He had all the time in the world but couldn’t convert as his attempt misses the target
55′ – GOAL! – Williams wrecks havoc on the left wing before delivering a cross in the box. Morata flicks it towards the back post where Calafiori was defending for Italy. The ball hits his knee and goes into the Italian net as an own goal.
61′ – 16 year old Yamal receives a pass on the left. He approaches the box and strikes a curling attempt towards Donnarumma’s goal’s top corner, but the ball just passes by the post!
63′ – Federico Chiesa is replaced by Mattia Zaccagni
64′ – Gianluca Scamacca is replaced by Mateo Retegui
69′ – Yellow card – Robin Le Normand
71′ – Pedri is replaced by Alex Baena
71′ – Lamine Yamal is replaced by Ferran Torres
73′ – Italy get a free-kick which Pellegrini slams above the wall, but far and wide from the Spanish goal
78′ – Nico Williams is replaced by Ayoze Perez
78′ – Álvaro Morata is replaced by Mikel Oyarzabal
81′ – Lorenzo Pellegrini is replaced by Giacomo Raspadori
84′ – Nearing the end of the game, Italy were still struggling to have any kind of attacking impact in the game, as they produced just two shots at this point in the game, with none of them being on target
90+2′ – Ayoze Perez gets a great chance to extend Spain’s lead, but his attempt is brilliantly saved by Donnarumma
90+4′ – Fabian Ruiz is replaced by Mikel Merino
90+5′ – Yellow card – Dani Carvajal
90+6′ – FULL TIME
Player of the Match: Bryan Ruiz (Spain)
The gifted midfielder had a 95% pass completion rate and created three big chances for his Spanish teammates. He had 100 touches throughout the game, but almost all of those touches were towards Spain’s progression in Italy’s box.
Key Moment
Gianluigi Donnarumma came up with multiple moments of brilliance to keep Italy in the game as much as he could. Every save of his ensured Spain never felt comfortable with just a 1-0 lead.
Key Stats
Italy managed just four shots against Spain (one on target), their fewest in a game at the UEFA European Championship on record (since 1980).
Riccardo Calafiori is only the second Italian’s player to concede an own goal between the European Championship and the World Cup, after Cristian Zaccardo in the World Cup 2006 vs USA.
This game was Pedri’s 12th appearance at a major tournament (WC/EURO), which is the joint-most by a European player while aged 21 or under, along with Cristiano Ronaldo (12).
Conclusion
As much as Italy were disappointing in their approach to this game, Spain were brilliant in all aspects.
Denmark will feel they have one foot in the knockouts after this result! De la Fuente’s side dominated throughout and thoroughly deserve the win, but they should have found the back of the net more than once.
Up next for Spain is their final group match against Albania, while the Italians will face Croatia.
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