Euro 2024: Spain advances to Round of 16 after topping ‘group of death’ with 1-0 win over Italy

On June 21, local time in Germany, Spain secured their advancement to the UEFA Euro 2024 Round of 16 with a narrow 1-0 victory over Italy at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen. This win also positioned them at the top of their challenging group, which includes Albania and Croatia. Spain demonstrated a commanding performance that challenged the defending champions, managed by Luciano Spalletti. The game’s critical moment came in the 55th minute when Italian defender Riccardo Calafori inadvertently scored an own goal, ensuring Spain’s progression and complicating Italy’s path forward.

Italy struggled offensively throughout the match, managing only two shots, neither of which were on target, showing their inability to penetrate Spain’s solid defense orchestrated by coach Luis de la Fuente.

Standout players for Spain included Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, and Marc Cucurella. Yamal and Williams continually threatened Italy’s defense, while Cucurella played a pivotal role in maintaining the defensive integrity of his team.

Italian goalkeeper and captain Gianluigi Donnarumma was notable for repelling all of Spain’s on-target shots, but his efforts were not enough to thwart the persistent Spanish attack.

Despite this setback, Italy still has a chance to progress to the Round of 16. They must avoid a defeat in their upcoming game against Croatia, a match that promises to be decisive. The loss leaves the current champions with significant challenges to address as they prepare to face a strong Croatian team led by Luka Modric. Italy’s response and strategy in this critical match will be crucial as they seek to defend their title.