2nd game, 2nd win

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The jubilation of the "Furia Roja" players ...

(Bild: AFP/AFP )

Over, done, out - the "Furia Roja" are still on course for their 4th European Championship title! Spain beat Italy 1:0 in a one-sided clash between two veritable soccer giants in the 18th match of Euro 2024 to book their place in the last 16. For the "Squadra Azzurra", however, a "final" against Croatia awaits ...

Cloudy evening skies over Gelsenkirchen, a pleasant air temperature of 20 degrees and 50,000 spectators in the stands - at kick-off time, everything was set for a great evening of soccer in the Arena Auf Schalke for the clash between Spain and Italy. From the start, however, it was practically only the "Furia Roja" fans in the stands who experienced a great evening of soccer, because apart from the defensive behavior of the "Sqaudra Azzurra", which is probably the most interesting to watch for tactics connoisseurs, the Spaniards clearly dominated the match as usual in a variable 4-3-3 set-up by their coach Luis de la Fuente.

(Bild: AFP)

(Bild: AFP)

Italy survived the first 23 seconds without conceding a goal
Of course, in contrast to the Albania game, Italy - formed by team boss Luciano Spalletti in a 4-2-3-1 with Nicolo Barella and Jorginho as the pace-setters in central midfield - survived the first 23 seconds without conceding a goal. However, Pedri gave the Italo fans a real scare after 1:25 minutes when he failed to beat goalkeeper Gigi Donnarumma from five yards out after being played in by Nico Williams.

And the game continued in the same vein: after the Spaniards had laid siege to the Italian penalty area for several minutes and increased their possession statistics to over 60 percent, Williams, who had been "forgotten" by Di Lorenzo, had the next great chance - but he headed past the right upright (10th minute). Even though coach Spalletti may have proclaimed the end of the era of primarily defensive-oriented Italian soccer, his team still knew how to position themselves well at the back and repeatedly prevent and block opposing shots with many legs.

"Squadra" could rely on goalkeeper Donnarumma
And if a ball did slip through the defensive bulwark, the "Squadra" could still rely on goalkeeper Donnarumma, who saved in extremis from an acute angle against Alvaro Morata (24th, after preparatory work by 16-year-old Lamine Yamal) and from a long-range shot by Fabian Ruiz from 25 meters (25th). Later, Rodri (28th/shot blocked), Fabian Ruiz (37th and 41st) and Morata (41st) also came close to scoring, but Italy's defensive wall held firm.

Italy's best "chance" in the 45th minute
Incidentally, Unai Simon from Athletic Bilbao stood between the posts for Spain as usual - the reason he hasn't been mentioned so far is because he simply had nothing to do! The very best "chance" for Italy came from Federico Chiesa, who dribbled into the penalty area from the right in the 45th minute, but then failed to hit the target ...

(Bild: AFP)

Spalletti responded with a double substitution for Italy
At the break, "Mister" Spalletti reacted to what must have been a somewhat sobering performance for the reigning European champions by bringing on two new players - Andrea Cambiaso for Davide Frattesi and Bryan Cristante for Jorginho. The positive effect of this double substitution for Italy? Not at all! After referee Slavko Vinčić's restart, the game continued in the same vein as before half-time.

Italy's Calafiori put Spain ahead
It was indicative of the Italians' plight that Roma midfielder Cristante, who had just come on as a substitute, picked up a yellow card just 20 seconds into the game. Two top chances from Pedri in the 52nd minute (narrowly missed to the left) and 53rd minute (Donnarumma!) left the Furia Roja fans still cheering for the goal, but shortly afterwards the time had come: curiously enough, it was an Italian who had to help the Spaniards take the lead. Bologna right-back Riccardo Calafiori had the misfortune to receive a slightly deflected cross from Williams right on his left knee - and from there the ball landed in the Italian box (55'). Unfortunate, but anything but undeserved ...

As in the first group game against Croatia, the "Furia Roja" were far from having less ball possession than their opponents against the "Squadra", who continued to play a lacklustre game, and at times came close to a "two-thirds majority" of 66:33. And Williams and Co. made the most of their possession, creating further chances through Pedri (57th / Donnarumma intervened), Morata (58th / long-range shot), Robin Le Normand (59th / Cambiaso saved from the line) and Yamal (60th / narrowly missed the left corner).

(Bild: AFP/Associated Press)

1st corner kick for the Italians only in the 85th minute
"If you don't score goals up front, you'll get them at the back" - this old soccer adage may have slowly crept into the minds of some spectators in view of De La Fuente's team's proliferation of chances. Admittedly, in order to score a goal, Italy would have had to get dangerously close to Unai Simon's goal from time to time. When they did manage it once or twice, a low Cristante pass to the middle did not reach substitute Mateo Retegui (66') or Lorenzo Pellegrini curled a free-kick over the goal (77'). Tellingly, the Italians were only awarded their first corner kick in the 85th minute ...

And the Spaniards? They kept their fans on tenterhooks until the final whistle by failing to score the decisive 2:0 and repeatedly failing to score against Donnarumma, who seemed to be defending with 12 arms and legs, but in the end it was enough and the victory for Spain was secured.

The result:
Spain - Italy 1:0 (0:0)
Gelsenkirchen, Arena Auf Schalke, referee Slavko Vinčić (SVN)

Goal: 1:0 (55') Calafiori

Yellow cards: Rodri, Le Normand, Carvajal or Donnarumma, Cristante

Spain: Simon - Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella - Pedri (72. Baena), Rodri, Ruiz (94. Merino) - Yamal (72. Ferran), Morata (78. Oyarzabal), Williams (78. Ayoze)
Italy: Donnarumma - Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori, Dimarco - Jorginho (46. Cristante), Barella - Frattesi (46. Cambiaso), Pellegrini (82. Raspadori) - Chiesa (64. Zaccagni) - Scamacca (64. Retegui)