Spain secured their place in the Euro 2024 Round of 16 with a match to spare after a commanding 1-0 victory over Italy on Thursday. The win, courtesy of Riccardo Calafiori's own goal in the 54th minute, ensured La Roja finished atop Group B.
Nico Williams was instrumental for Spain, tormenting Napoli's Giovanni Di Lorenzo and providing the cross that led to Calafiori's unfortunate deflection. Spain's dominance was evident throughout, reminiscent of their earlier performance against Croatia.
"We had quite a few really good chances, but we're very happy because we showed that we are a great team and that we can stifle any team," commented Spain captain Alvaro Morata.
Spain, under Luis de la Fuente, maintained a perfect record with six points from two matches and will face Albania next, already assured of progression to the knockout stages.
Italy, on the other hand, struggled to pose a threat, failing to register a single shot on target. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made eight saves but couldn't prevent his team's defeat.
"It was a reality check. We misplaced too many easy passes and didn't play with enough quality," lamented Donnarumma.
Despite the loss, Italy remains in contention for qualification, currently second in the group with three points. A draw against Croatia in their final group match would secure their passage to the Round of 16.
The match mirrored the Euro 2012 final where Spain triumphed 4-0 over Italy, showcasing a similar dominant display of possession and attacking prowess.
Spain's Nico Williams stood out with a stellar performance, creating multiple chances, including hitting the crossbar late in the game. Italy made efforts to equalize towards the end but were thwarted by Spain's defense and goalkeeper Unai Simon.
Overall, Spain's victory was a testament to their strength in both defense and attack, setting a confident tone as they aim for further success in the tournament.
