Riccardo Calafiori's own goal sends Spain into Euro 2024 last 16

Spain advanced to the Euro 2024 knockout stage as Group B winners after defeating Italy 1-0, with the decisive moment coming from an own goal by Riccardo Calafiori. This victory followed an impressive 3-0 win against Croatia in their opening match. Spain's performance was dominant throughout the game, although they could have won by a larger margin if not for Italy's goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who made several crucial saves.

The match began with Spain applying pressure early on, forcing Donnarumma into action within two minutes to deny a close-range header from Pedri. Spain's Nico Williams was particularly threatening down the right flank, missing a header from close range and seeing Donnarumma save attempts from Alvaro Morata and Fabian Ruiz. Despite Spain's dominance, they only managed to score once, aided by Calafiori's unfortunate mistake.

In the second half, Spain continued to create chances, with Pedri missing a golden opportunity shortly after the restart. The breakthrough came when Calafiori inadvertently turned Williams' low cross into his own net. Italy struggled to mount a serious challenge, managing just one shot on target, while Donnarumma's efforts kept the scoreline respectable until the end.

Spain's attacking flair and midfield control, led by Rodri, were evident throughout the match. Despite their missed chances, analysts noted Spain's potential to be a strong contender for the tournament title. However, concerns lingered over their finishing, as they could have capitalised on their opportunities more effectively, particularly against a goalkeeper of Donnarumma's calibre.

Italy, on the other hand, faced a challenging path ahead. Their performance was marked by disorganisation and a lack of effective counter-attacking play. With their next match against Croatia likely to be a decisive encounter for qualification, Italy must improve significantly to defend their title and progress in the tournament.

via Sky Sports