Spain certified for the final 16 of Euro 2024 with a match to spare on Thursday after beating Italy 1-0 in a dominant show which ensured that La Roja would undergo as Group B winners. Riccardo Calafiori’s personal purpose 9 minutes after half-time was the distinction between the 2 sides at Gelsenkirchen within the largest match thus far on the match in Germany. However the slender margin of victory did not mirror a press release efficiency from Spain who utterly nullified Italy and will have had the sport received by half-time, as they did of their opening spherical thumping of Croatia.

Nico Williams was the star for Spain as he ran Napoli right-back Giovanni Di Lorenzo ragged and provided the cross from which the unlucky Calafiori poked the successful purpose into his personal web.

Luis de la Fuente’s crew have an ideal six factors on the prime of the group and tackle Albania on Monday realizing that they’re already within the knockout rounds and taking part in like potential champions.

For Italy Thursday’s deserved defeat was a actuality examine as vibrant Spain peppered the good Gianliugi Donnarumma’s purpose all through the match whereas the Azzurri did not have a single try on track.

It was a efficiency paying homage to the Euro 2012 last between the 2 groups when Spain crushed Italy 4-0 within the final worldwide hurrah for tiki-taka soccer.

Nonetheless all isn’t misplaced for Luciano Spalletti’s crew, who’re second on three factors, as a draw with Croatia on Monday will probably be sufficient to ensure qualification behind Spain.

Spain might have been forward twice within the first 10 minutes however squandered two nice headed possibilities.

Lower than two minutes had been on the clock when an unmarked Pedri nodded Williams’ pinpoint cross straight at Donnarumma.

After which Williams, who had a area day in opposition to Di Lorenzo, was the responsible occasion by by some means heading large Alvaro Morata’s fantastically delivered, inswinging ball from the left flank.

Spain had been clearly on prime as Italy struggled to get out of their half, Gianluca Scamacca toiling on his personal up entrance with little assist and losing possession when it did come his approach.

Donnarumma needed to be at his greatest twice inside a matter of seconds when he first caught out a foot to disclaim Morata after which pulled off an outstanding fingertip save which stored out Fabian Ruiz’s highly effective drive from distance.

In the meantime on the different finish of the pitch Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon was a digital spectator as Italy’s sole shot within the first half got here simply earlier than the break when Federico Chiesa blazed a poor effort over from a troublesome place.

The identical sample of Spanish possession and Italian defending continued after half-time and Pedri once more wasted an amazing likelihood within the 51st minute, slamming large after Marc Cucurella pulled again an ideal low cross.

However Spain acquired the breakthrough quickly after and it got here by extra sensational play from Williams on the left, who made mincemeat of Di Lorenzo earlier than fizzing throughout a ball which Calafiori could not assist however divert into his personal purpose.

La Roja went near doubling their lead with two distance strikes from Morata and teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, earlier than the very good Williams smashed an effort previous Donnarumma which got here crashing out off the crossbar within the 71st minute.

Italy pushed ahead in hope of an equaliser after Mattia Zaccagni and Mateo Retegui changed the ineffective Chiesa and Scamacca.

However within the dying moments Donnarumma once more made two very good saves to twice cease Ayoze Perez making the scoreline higher mirror a one-sided contest.

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