Spain Edges Italy 1-0 in Euro 2024 Group B Clash with Calafiori Own Goal

Spain secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Italy in a highly anticipated UEFA Euro 2024 Group B clash at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen. The win propelled Spain to the top of their group and secured their place in the knockout stages.

First Half:

Spain started the game brightly, dominating possession and creating several scoring opportunities. The Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was in exceptional form, making several crucial saves to keep the score level. Italy, on the other hand, adopted a more conservative approach, looking to absorb pressure and hit Spain on the counter-attack.

Spain’s midfield trio of Rodri, Pedri, and Fabián Ruiz controlled the tempo, with Dani Carvajal and Marc Cucurella providing width from the full-back positions. Despite their dominance, Spain could not find a way past Donnarumma in the first half​​.

Second Half:

The breakthrough came in the 55th minute when a low cross from Nico Williams, intended for Álvaro Morata, was inadvertently turned into the net by Italy’s Riccardo Calafiori, resulting in an own goal. This gave Spain the lead they had been pushing for throughout the match.

Following the goal, Italy made several substitutions, bringing on more attacking players like Mateo Retegui and Mattia Zaccagni in an attempt to find an equalizer. However, Spain’s defense, led by Aymeric Laporte and Robin Le Normand, remained solid and well-organized, preventing Italy from creating any clear-cut chances.

Key Players:

• Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy): Despite the loss, Donnarumma was outstanding, making numerous saves to keep Italy in the game.
• Rodri (Spain): Controlled the midfield with his passing and defensive work, ensuring Spain maintained their dominance.
• Nico Williams (Spain): His cross led to the decisive own goal, and he was a constant threat down the right flank​​.

Tactical Analysis:

Spain’s 4-3-3 formation allowed them to dominate possession and control the midfield, with their full-backs pushing high up the pitch to support the attack. Italy’s 4-2-3-1 setup focused on defensive solidity and counter-attacks, but they struggled to maintain possession and create meaningful chances.

Post-Match Reactions:

Spain’s coach expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, highlighting their control and persistence. Italy’s coach acknowledged the defensive mistakes but praised the team’s effort and Donnarumma’s performance.

This win places Spain at the top of Group B, advancing to the knockout stages, while Italy will need to secure a positive result in their final group match to progress​