June 20 – With a display of total dominance, Spain dispatched Italy 2-0 to clinch a ticket to the last 16 of Euro 2024 and send a warning to other tournament contenders that they mean business.
For 55 minutes, Spain attacked and attacked, but failed to find the end product, thwarted by their own inefficiency and a staunch Italian defence, until Italy’s budding star defender Riccardo Calafiori turned the ball into his own net.
It was agony for the Azzurri, but a just reward for Spain, who dominated the match from start to finish and laid down a marker for the rest of the tournament. They will not be easy to beat and they still know how to deliver a masterclass.
For the fifth time in a row, Italy and Spain met at the European championship and Luis de la Fuente’s team began on the front foot with Nico Williams causing havoc on the left channel. His first cross was almost converted by Pedri, whose header lacked proper direction with Gianluigi Donnarumma at his mercy.
Italy had a déjà vu: against Albania, they had also been overwhelmed by their opponent’s fast and furious start. From the left, captain Alvaro Morata picked out Williams, who flashed a header wide in another terrible miss, confirming Spain’s poor aerial credentials.
Wondered Lamine Yamal controls the ball whilst under pressure from Federico Dimarco
Inside the first ten minutes, De La Fuente’s team should have had a two-goal advantage.
Most of the game was played in Italy’s half and Williams was a constant menace, tormenting Giovanni Di Lorenzo at full-back.
The Italians, unchanged from their opening victory, struggled to get hold of the ball. Morata was up next to take aim at Donnarumma, but the Italian goalkeeper blocked his low attempt with his leg he followed up by keeping out Ruiz Fabian’s rising shot with a formidable fingertip save.
It seemed only a matter of time before Spain would score. Italy lurked on the counter but failed to string together a coherent sequence of…
Source link : https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2024/06/20/spain-deliver-masterclass-dispatch-italy-head-last-16/
Author : Paul Nicholson
Publish date : 2024-06-20 20:56:19
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.