Spain has made their commanding way into the Round of 16 of Euro 2024. After a confident 3-0 win over Croatia, they left from where they had left and fired a one-sided dominance against the defending champions.
Italy has been considered the weakest defending champions since Greece, and this was visible in their clueless performance against a dominant Spain.
Either half seemed going in Spain’s favor, as Morata and Ruiz both were offered chances in the first half but they were denied by Donnarruma. Pedri and Williams however missed simple-headed chances in the first half; otherwise, Spain would have taken a 2-0 lead early on in the first half.
Both the Spanish scorers against Croatia were denied by Italy’s only formidable performer, Donnarruma. Not even a single Italian player posed any probable threat to the Spanish goal; hence, the Spanish defenders didn’t have much to do, especially for the centre-backs.
Cucurella posed a serious threat down the left wing as he kept the Italian mid-fielders busy with his cut-ins. The Spanish midfield gave a far for dominant performance as Pedri controlled the game, providing many key passes, though his only flaw remained as he failed to score early in both halves. Fabian Ruiz also seemed eccentric until he was taken off, though he was denied an opportunity early on in the first half.
Though Morata was repeatedly denied by the Azzurri goalie, yet the two other Yamal and Williams were electric in both halves. Yamal’s curler was probably the best attempt of the night at the Italian goal; however, Donnarruma kept it out. Williams despite missing an easy chase early on almost made up for it with his long-range screamer.
The Atletico Madrid superstar led to Spain’s glory in the game, as it was his cross that led to the own goal by Calafiori and went on to be the winner for La Roja. A well-deserved victory that took them straight into the last 16, leaving behind the defending champions despite the goalkeeper’s valiant efforts.
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