Spain v Italy LIVE: Result and reaction as Nico Williams skill forces own goal winner in Euro 2024 clash
Spain 1-0 Italy: Riccardo Calafiori’s own goal sends Spain into the knockout rounds
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Riccardo Calafiori’s own goal handed Spain a 1-0 victory over defending champions Italy as they booked their place in the last 16 at Euro 2024.
The defender’s misfortune 10 minutes after the break ultimately settled the Group B contest in Gelsenkirchen, although had it not been for the heroics of keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who made a string of fine saves, and the crossbar, which denied the impressive Nico Williams a deserved goal, the Spaniards would have prevailed in some comfort.
Spain would have been ahead within two minutes had Donnarumma not managed to tip Pedri’s header from Williams’ pinpoint cross over his bar, and the traffic was very much one-way throughout most of the game.
Relive the updates from Spain v Italy below.
Spain 0-0 Italy
34 min: Williams produces another lovely bit of skill on Spain’s left wing and wins a free-kick, from where he can deliver a cross...
Spain 0-0 Italy
29 min: Morata tries a bit of skill that doesn’t come off on the edge of the Italian box, and he ends up clumsily fouling Di Lorenzo in an attempt to win back the ball.
Spain 0-0 Italy
26 min: Rodri tries a long-range shot but it’s well wide of the target. A moment later, Spain stitch together a nice passing move and Rodri has another chance from the edge of the box, but this time it’s blocked.
Spain 0-0 Italy
23 min: Fabian Ruiz chests down the ball around 30 yards out, looks up, and decides to crack a shot at goal. It’s a fizzing effort and it takes a good save from Donnarumma to keep it out.
Spain 0-0 Italy
20 min: This is one of the best periods of play I’ve seen during this European Championship so far. Spain have had an excellent 20 minutes or so, controlling most of the play and zipping the ball around sharply, against a strong opponent, and the only thing missing is the finishing touch.
Spain 0-0 Italy
18 min: Nico Williams drives into the box once more but this time his pass is intercepted. He has been outstanding so far, other than that big miss in front of goal which, admittedly, was quite a key moment.
Spain 0-0 Italy
15 min: Spain are monopolising the ball, and not in their old way of passing for passing’s sake. There is plenty of forward momentum in everything they are doing right now.
Spain 0-0 Italy
12 min: Italy finally show some attacking intent as Pellegrini brings the ball down the left wing and crosses towards Dimarco, but can’t quite pick out his teammate.
Spain 0-0 Italy
9 min: Oh wow, what a miss! Alvaro Morata whips in a beautiful cross for Nico Williams to nod home from six yards, unmarked, but the winger can’t hit the target and that’s a huge let-off for Italy, who are being completely outplayed right now.
Spain 0-0 Italy
6 min: Pedri slides into a challenge with Pellegrini and catches the Italian forward on the shin. The referee is quickly on to the scene to award a foul, though Pedri’s opponents are urging more. No card is forthcoming, however, and Pellegrini soon hops to his feet.
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