Final result: Spain-Italy 1-0
Spain’s report cards (edited by Marco Pieracci)
Simon sv – In the Iberian penalty area there are no traces of the Italians, so we almost forget his presence between the posts. Not judgeable.
Carvajal 6.5 – Serial collector of titles, at the age of 32 he wants to satisfy the whim of the first European Championship with the Roja shirt. The push is constant.
Laporte 6.5 – The only change in the formation compared to the debut with Croatia, he returns to the starting line-up in the heart of the defence, he seems to have never left it.
Le Normand 6.5 – Not a flash of war in the recoveries, as the match is going tonight there is no need. He comes close to doubling his head.
Cucurella 6.5 – Both disheveled in his look and disciplined on the pitch. He easily holds a Chiesa in a minor key, it overlaps well.
Pedri 6.5 – Season plagued by physical problems, but now he seems to be bursting with health: he tortures Jorginho, between the lines he carves out the right position to determine. From 72′ Alex Baena 6 – Flashes of quality
Rodri 6.5 – He passes everything through his feet, because he always offers a clean passage solution to his teammates who know they are docking in a safe port.
Ruiz 7 – Vertically oriented thinking, plays with his head held high without getting caught up in the frenzy when under pressure and shoots from outside. Another great performance. From 90’+4 Merino sv
Yamal 6.5 – Like a child in the park, he has fun. Dimarco can’t handle it. The first play is from PlayStation, he comes close to scoring the great goal on the turn. From 72′ Ferran Torres 6 – More codified movements, still effective.
Morata 6.5 – He attacks the depth as a number 9, finishes like a 10: all he needs to do is throw it in, he comes close, contributing to the lead. From 77′ Oyarzabal sv
Williams 7.5 – A thorn in the side of the Italian defense, Di Lorenzo immediately greets from the mirror. He could score with a header, he redeems himself by propitiating Calafiori’s own goal. From 77′ Ayoze 6.5 – He attacks the Napoli captain, Donnarumma denies him the goal twice.
Luis De La Fuente 7.5 – After having granted the dribble to Croatia, he decides to restore old habits: he puts Italy on the ropes from the first to the last minute with the house specialty. Identical script to that of three years ago when Luis Enrique was on the bench, but this time the final result is different. In the round of 16 as first place, the minimum gap is the only worry.
Italy’s report cards (edited by Raimondo De Magistris)
Donnarumma 9 – Sensational performance, at least four great interventions. He saves everything, just like in the European Championship three years ago. Then he is mocked by one of his teammates.
By Lorenzo 4 – There is no match, unfortunately. When Nico Williams accelerates it looks like a Ferrari, he chases him with a small car: the duel is unequal.
Sticks 5.5 – He tries as best he can to lead the Azzurri defence, but if Spain wins narrowly it is above all because there was a great Donnarumma in front of them. And because Pedri and his companions ate up a few too many opportunities.
Calafiori 5 – He held his own as best he could until the unfortunate own goal. Determining episode, unfortunately, within a not bad performance.
Dimarco 5 – Unlike Di Lorenzo, he doesn’t come away bullied from the duel with Yamal. But he still comes out badly: when he starts with his serpentines, the Barcelona champion is uncatchable.
Jorginho 4.5 – As a low top player he doesn’t have the right physicality to cause problems for the Spanish dribbler. Ready to go and Pedri gets lost who, luckily for him, is unable to beat Donnarumma. He tries to intercept the Spanish passing lines, he does everything he can to help in the defensive phase. But it’s not his game. From the 46th Cristante 6 – He enters the field well and Italy’s first truly interesting opportunity arises from his initiative on the right wing.
Stretcher 5 – He’s the one who should make the difference in transition but tonight he’s too imprecise. Spain’s intensity agitates him and sends him into a tailspin.
Church 5 – A couple of gusts immediately flushed out by Spain’s defence. A shot, Italy’s first, at the end of the first half. Too little. From the 64th Zaccagni 5 – The music doesn’t change when he enters the field.
Frattesi 4.5 – Too light to compare with the Spanish physicality. Three suffocating pressing and very high defense, he never has the chance to get going. From the 46th Cambiaso 5 – He comes in to give Di Lorenzo more cover: he doesn’t succeed.
Pilgrims 5 – Carvajal is a player of superior football intelligence and he never takes his time. Disoriented, he doesn’t even enter the game as an attacking midfielder. From the 82nd Raspadori.
Scamacca 5 – His companions would like to lean on him, but they almost never find him. He plays very isolated, dealing with a constant and debasing one against two. From the 64th Retegui 5 – He enters and after a handful of minutes he arrives late on a cross from Cristante: then he never sees it.
Luciano Spalletti 5 – He tried to challenge Spain on their own soil and came away with broken bones. The final 1-0 does not do justice to the dominance of the Red Furies