Spain Dominates Italy in European Championship Clash, Secures Spot in Round of 16

The clash between Spain and Italy in Gelsenkirchen had high stakes, with the winner advancing to the knockout phase of the European Championship. Both teams had previously won their first matches in the tournament.

Spain dominated the match, consistently outplaying Italy, but struggled with finishing. It was surprising that the score remained 0-0 at halftime.

In the second half, Spain continued to create chances, finally breaking through in the 55th minute. Riccardo Calafiori inadvertently pushed the ball into his own net, giving Spain a 1-0 lead.

With this victory, Spain secured a spot in the Round of 16, becoming the second team to do so after Germany. Italy now faces a crucial final group match against Croatia to qualify.

The match, highly anticipated as one of the most exciting of the group stage, revealed a significant disparity in strength. Despite Spain’s clear dominance, the game remained tense.

Spain’s breakthrough came when Nico Williams delivered a powerful cross that Italy’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma mishandled, leading to Calafiori’s unfortunate own goal.

Following the goal, Italy attempted to press forward, but Luciano Spalletti’s team struggled to create significant opportunities. Spain maintained their composure and control.

Ultimately, Donnarumma’s efforts kept the scoreline at 1-0. The statistics reflected Spain’s dominance, with nine shots on target compared to Italy’s single attempt.