Image Source: Alamy Stock Photo
Euro 2024
Group B
Spain v Italy
Veltins-Arena
Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Thursday, 20 June 2024
Kick-off is at 21h00
Spain and Italy will be fighting for supremacy in Group B when they lock horns at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen on Thursday, June 20.
La Furia Roja occupy top spot on goal difference after they ran out convincing 3-0 victors over Croatia in their tournament opener at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on June 15.
First-half goals from Alvaro Morata (29'), Fabian Ruiz (32') and Dani Carvajal (45+2') secured all three points for Luis de la Fuente's side, who reached the semi-finals at Euro 2020.
De la Fuente is hoping to emulate the title-winning teams of 2008 and 2012, but acknowledges there are still areas they can improve upon in the quest to be crowned record four-time champions.
Image copyright: Getty Images
"We're just taking it game by game. We're not thinking about becoming [Euro 2004] champions," he said. "We know there's big room for improvement here. We're taking it step by step.
"I think this team is already full of champions. I know them very well, and the ambition and desire they have. I think we are different teams at different stages, with bits from both Luis Aragones and Vicente Del Bosque's [teams].
"I hope we can achieve the same sort of success that those national teams had under those coaches. But everything needs a pathway. Luis Aragones and Vicente Del Bosque were also in similar situations to us when they started out.
"And in the first few days they would not have thought that they'd end up achieving what they achieved (winning the Euros). We'll try to go all the way while knowing that it's a very difficult path."
The Azzurri kicked off their title defence with a nervy 2-1 comeback win against Albania at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund on June 15.
Luciano Spalletti's side found themselves trailing after just 23 seconds when Nedim Bajrami latched onto a defensive throw-in inside the box to fire home inside the near post from an angle.
However, the Italians responded quickly as Alessandro Bastoni restored parity on 11 minutes before Nicolo Barella scored what turned out to be the winner five minutes later.
Spalletti was far from impressed with the performance of his players and felt they should have finished off the Albanians, who almost equalised late on but for the intervention of Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Image copyright: Getty Images
"We saw many good things, but they need to actually take us somewhere, otherwise they are pointless," he said. "There was the possibility to hurt them several times and we didn't go for it.
"We prepared the move well, then passed it backwards. We changed our minds too quickly."
Commenting on the reliance of Barella, Spalletti added: "A national team must be able to do without anyone, because there are 26 strong players. I don't like this idea that the team depends on an individual."
Head-to-Head (Last Five Meetings)
Matches - 5
Spain wins - 3
Italy wins - 1
Draws - 1
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