Spain 1 – 0 Italy

A Riccardo Calafiori personal objective despatched Spain into the Euro 2024 final 16 as Group B winners with a 1-0 victory over Italy.

Spain impressed once more having thrashed Croatia 3-0 of their opening recreation and may have received in Gelsenkirchen by a much bigger scoreline had it not been for a mixture of excellent saves from Italy’s Gianluigi Donnarumma and poor ending.

They dominated from the beginning with Donnarumma referred to as into motion inside two minutes, spectacularly tipping over Pedri’s close-range header.

Nico Williams terrorised Italy right-back Giovanni Di Lorenzo and may have scored with a header from contained in the six-yard field earlier than Donnarumma saved twice extra from Alvaro Morata and a long-range blast from Fabian Ruiz.

Spain picked up from the place they left off within the second half with Pedri side-footing a golden likelihood vast inside minutes of the restart, however Italy did the laborious work for them when defender Calafiori become his personal internet from Williams’ low cross.

Calafiori almost scored a second, Andrea Cambiaso hacking his team-mate’s rogue header at a nook off the objective line whereas 16-year-old Lamine Yamal and Williams each continued to dazzle, the previous sending a shot inches vast of the highest left nook and the latter hitting the crossbar with a scrumptious roller.

Italy had been merely outclassed, mustering only one shot on course, with Donnarumma retaining them in it till the ultimate minute with a late save from substitute Ayoze Perez when one-on-one.

Star performer: ‘Williams pure high quality’

Sky Sports activities’ Roy Keane on ITV:

“It was pure high quality. That actual tempo, you may’t coach that. It is a risk. When he will get one-on-one with the full-back, there’s bother for the defender.

“He can go left or proper. His taking pictures energy and his crossing is great. He confirmed nice energy at occasions and his angle was spot on.

“He was the very best participant on the park.”

Will missed possibilities price Spain?

Sky Sports activities’ Gary Neville on ITV:

“Spain wanted to be extra ruthless. They might have been two or three up at half-time.

“They weren’t ruthless within the final match. Is that going to hold on right here and value them ultimately?

“They need to be scoring extra objectives with the best way they play soccer. Among the play is excellent.”

Spain new favourites to win Euro 2024

Sky Sports activities’ David Richardson:

Spain are the crew to beat at Euro 2024 after making Group B look straightforward.

They eased previous Croatia of their opening match after which tore Italy aside. The one concern would be the possibilities they missed, however they will not be developing towards goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma each time.

There’s a acquainted zip and aptitude to their play seen throughout their four-year domination from 2008. Rodri is the glue that holds all of it collectively in the midst of midfield, pulling the strings for the likes of Pedri, Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams to specific themselves.

Spain are well-placed to finish their 12-year match drought.

Door open for Croatia?

Sky Sports activities’ Oliver Yew:

Italy confirmed loads of resilience towards Spain however ultimately that wasn’t sufficient towards Luis de la Fuente’s slick facet.

Captain Donnarumma was required to make plenty of sensible saves to maintain the rating at 1-0 on an evening when, in fact Luciano Spalleti’s facet had been second finest.

They appeared disjointed for lots of the night time and when defending so deep, they want an outlet, however they didn’t give Spain’s defence loads to consider at they may not get their counter-attacking recreation going.

The outcome nonetheless leaves holders Italy with work to do in the event that they need to preserve the defence of the trophy going and qualify for the knockout levels.

They face Croatia, who had been dealt their very own blow on Wednesday when Albania snatched a last-gasp 2-2 draw, on the ultimate matchday in Group B in what might be a winner-takes-all conflict for second spot within the group and a possible last-16 match with the runners-up in Group A, which might probably be both hosts Germany or Switzerland.

Stats: Story of the match

To this point in Group B…