European Football Championship: Exciting Spain presses until Italy shoots the ball into the goal itself

Next football gala at the European Championships
Furious Spain presses until Italy shoots the ball into the goal itself

20.06.2024, 23:55

Spain’s footballers conjure, press and dominate – but they don’t score a goal. It’s enough to drive you to despair until an Italian unfortunately deflects a ball into his own goal. In the decisive group duel for first place, the Spaniards still make another statement with their play.

Spain’s young stars delighted their king, stormed into the round of 16 – and this time they were not stopped by Italy’s EURO hero Gianluigi Donnarumma in the first giant duel of the European Championship against the defending champions. Thanks to an own goal, the record European champions beat the Azzurri and their outstanding goalkeeper 1-0 (0-0) in the “Clasico de Europa” in front of Felipe VI and became the second team after hosts Germany to secure their ticket for the knockout round early. “We have achieved our goal. We have shown what we can do and of course we want to become European champions,” said Spain’s attacker Nico Williams.

For a long time, the overwhelmingly superior co-favorites despaired of Donnarumma, who was celebrated as a penalty killer in the Italian title win three years ago and who ended up in the semi-finals for the Furia Roja. The keeper thwarted several top-class chances before his own defender Riccardo Calafiori beat him (55th). Despite their first defeat in Group B, coach Luciano Spalletti’s team still has good prospects; a draw on Monday (9 p.m.) against Croatia would be enough to advance. “We are sad, we will do everything in our last game,” said Donnarumma: “We have to do better. The attitude was there, we have to do better, do much better.”

In the “second living room” of their legend Raul at Schalke, the Spaniards clearly dominated the game, but initially failed repeatedly against Donnarumma. After just 90 seconds, the 25-year-old was called into action when he used a strong reflex to deflect a header from Pedri over the bar. Alvaro Morata was also thwarted by Donnarumma (24th minute), as was Fabian Ruiz with a long-range shot (25th minute).

“You shouldn’t overestimate them either”

“We will stay true to our identity, we will play with elegance, but also with the willingness to eat grass if necessary,” Spalletti announced, and despite all the praise for the opponent, he stressed: “You must not overestimate them either.” He had warned his team above all about the “power and intensity” of the Spaniards when attacking. With the same starting eleven as in the 2-1 win against Albania, the Azzurri immediately went on the defensive. Spain’s coach Luis de la Fuente spoke of the “Clasico of Europe” and expected two teams to play similarly in the eighth European Championship duel between the giants. He made one change compared to the 3-0 win against Croatia: Aymeric Laporte played for Nacho.

In fact, the systems mirrored each other. The difference was that the Spaniards had significantly more possession and were able to combine more freely and were more aggressive against the ball than the Italians. “Eviva Espana,” sang the 10,000 fans of the Furia Roja, while the almost 30,000 Tifosi became increasingly quiet. Only after falling behind did the defending champions become more offensive, but Spain continued to have the better chances: Nico Williams hit the crossbar (70th minute). In injury time, Donnarumma saved twice against Ayoze Perez.

Unlike the opening match between England and Serbia (1:0), when there was harsh criticism of the host city of Gelsenkirchen and especially of the public transport on social networks, the mood was excellent even before kick-off: Both fan groups celebrated exuberantly in the city, the Spaniards marched together to the arena. The police described the atmosphere as “peaceful and happy”.