If the solid 3-0 win over Croatia (3-0) in the opening round of Euro 2024 was an inflated result considering Spain’s performance and the opponent’s reaction, the 1-0 win over Italy ended up being short-lived, taking into account the overwhelming attack. The talent of Luis de la Fuente’s team. With constant pressure and much more informed and vertical football than we have become accustomed to in recent years, the Iberian side reaffirmed in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, that they are one of the big favorites to win the competition. Currently, he is ranked first in Group B.
Nine shots, five of which were goals, to just one from Italy at the end of the first half, speaks volumes about Spanish dominance in a great classic of European football and the most anticipated match of the group stage. On the pitch, two teams have ten world and European titles to their name.
Ricardo Calafiore’s misfortune is over and the first in Spain??#sporttvportugal #EURONaSPORTTV #Euro2024 #Spain #Italy #Petano pic.twitter.com/eM2imPtopG
– Sports TV (@sporttvportugal) June 20, 2024
And with decisive football, the Iberians – with Laporte replacing Nacho at the heart of the Spanish defence, in the only change in the level of the “eleven” selected for the first round – were in the sharp arrows of young Neco Williams and Lamine Yamal directed towards the goal. The opposite goal. They caused chaos on the flanks, not allowing full-backs Di Lorenzo and Dimarco to advance up the pitch and creating imbalances as they did successfully in the first match, against Albania.
To relieve pressure and quickly reach the opponent’s vulnerable area, the Italians rushed into vertical football, but subtly, without great demands on the team’s defensive organization.
On the contrary, in the opposite area, Pedri (2′), Neco Williams (10′), Morata (24′) and Fabian Ruiz (25′) were very close to opening the scoring and deciding everything in the first half, which they deserved. Huge Donnarumma in goal for Transalpine and some unhappiness at the end.
The negative result in the first half was very interesting for the Italians. The Spaniards lacked some of the intensity they had against Croatia on their debut in the competition, when they stunned by ending the first 45 minutes with a three-goal lead. A somewhat misleading result, as the Croats created difficulties and opportunities to mitigate the defeat, in contrast to the team coached by Luciano Spalletti on Thursday, which had its first major test at the helm.Azura Squadron“, where he arrived a year ago.
The coach changed the team’s lineup at halftime, with Brian Cristante and Andrea Cambiasso replacing Jorginho and Fratesse, but the direction of the match did not change. On the contrary, the Spaniards settled again in the opposite midfield and were more pressing.
In the 52nd minute, Pedri missed again (52nd), but if the Spanish attackers were not having a good night, they ended up getting an assist in the 55th minute. A cross from Neco Williams was blocked by Morata, and an incomplete save was made by the Italian goalkeeper. Which led to the ball hitting Calafiore’s knee, thus opening the scoring. A fifth own goal in this competition was confirmed.
With not much to lose, Spalletti moved again, strengthening the attack, with the arrivals of Retegui (Chiesa) and Zaccagni (Scamacca), but Italy remained harmless. The European champions had no arguments for a realistic bid for the Berlin final and will have to confirm their place in the round of 16 against unpredictable Croatia, in the final round of Group B.
