Spain beat Italy on the second day of Group B of Euro 2024. In Gelsenkirchen, Spalletti’s Azzurri were beaten 1-0 by La Roja, in a match dominated for large stretches by coach de la Fuente’s team. After several chances for the Red Furies, with Nico Williams as the absolute protagonist, Donnarumma could do nothing on Calafiori’s unfortunate deflection in the 54th minute which caused the decisive own goal. Spain qualified for the round of 16.
And Nico Williams was elected the MVP of the match: “Things worked very well tonight and my teammates helped me a lot. One-on-ones are my forte. When you get past the full-back for the first time, it makes subsequent duels easier. I think it’s my most complete performance with Spain and to be able to help the team as much as possible. I’m very focused on the European Championship and I’m doing everything in my power to do what the coach asks of me. I’ve always dreamed of being involved at a level like this , playing in a European Championship and being awarded player of the match, I’m very happy.”
Here is the match scoreboard:
Spain (4-3-3): Unai Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Pedri (26′ st Baena), Rodri, Ruiz (49′ st Merino); Yamal (26′ st Ferran), Morata (33′ st Oyarzabal), N. Williams (33′ st Perez). Available: Raya, Remiro, Nacho, Vivian, Joselu, Olmo, Grimaldo, Zubimendi, Navas, Fermin Lopez. All.: de la Fuente
Italy (4-3-2-1): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori, Dimarco; Barella, Jorginho (1′ st Cristante), Pellegrini (36′ st Raspadori); Frattesi (1′ st Cambiaso), Chiesa (19′ st Zaccagni); Scamacca (19′ st Retegui). Available: Vicario, Meret, Buongiorno, Gatti, Darmian, Bellanova, Mancini, Fagioli, El Shaarawy, Folorunsho. All.: Spalletti
Referee: Vincic (Slovenia)
Scorers: 10′ st aut. Calafiori
Booked: Rodri, Le Normand, Carvajal (S), Donnarumma, Cristante (I)