analyse
Although Spain didn’t score a goal themselves, they still managed a well-deserved win against Italy. In this form, the Spanish are the top favorites for the title.
His temperament apparently left him no other choice. Dani Carvajal shot the ball furiously towards his own goal. Less than two seconds earlier, Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic had blown the whistle for half-time.
The Spanish defender did not have to fear an own goal, but he obviously wanted to vent his frustration with this powerful shot. Despite the Iberians’ striking superiority, they simply could not score a goal in the first 45 minutes.
King Felipe keeps the fans on
The Spanish team had virtually overwhelmed the team of Italian coach Luciano Spaletti with their great playing and individual quality. 60 percent possession, four great scoring opportunities in the first half alone. In the end, there were 20 shots on goal and eight great scoring opportunities against a completely overwhelmed Italian team.
“The team has disappointed. I advised my players to meet the Spaniards on equal terms, because otherwise it will be difficult in the long run against this opponent,” said Spaletti, who admitted the deserved defeat.
It was not only the Spanish King Felipe VI, who, upon his arrival, brought the football fans on the ring around the Gelsenkirchen Arena to a standstill for a good 20 minutes for security reasons, who probably no longer understood the (football) world, at least at that point.
Own goal a logical consequence
The only shortcoming of the Iberians: for 55 minutes – despite the best opportunities – the ball just wouldn’t cross the goal line. The outstanding Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma prevented a debacle for his team with eight magnificent saves. “They have great quality and they showed it,” said Donnarumma afterwards, appreciative of the opponent.
The fact that Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori unluckily shot the ball into his own goal after one of the countless Spanish attack attempts, giving the Iberians a 1-0 lead, was only the logical consequence of a superiority that was hardly thought possible.
“We wanted to show something big and that’s what we did. We put in a great performance,” said strong Spanish striker Nico Williams with an extremely satisfied look on his face.
Dominance and transition play
As in the opening match against the Croatians (3-0), the Spaniards had the entire offensive palette to offer: headers, dribbling, long-range shots, combination play. Coach Luis de la Fuente’s team has – like no other team at this European Championship so far – the entire repertoire of offensive options.
The Spanish are capable of dominating a game for the long term, as they did against Italy. But they can also play from a more reserved position (only 46 percent possession) as they did against Croatia and make use of their strengths in transition play.
“I am very proud of the result and the way we won the game. I believe that we were superior to our opponents in every respect. That is not easy because Italy is a top team,” said de la Fuente a few minutes before midnight and shortly before his 63rd birthday: “We have to keep both feet on the ground.”
More efficiency needed
While in earlier times the Spanish passing machine alone often wore down the opponents, de la Fuentes’ team is able to use the entire keyboard. And the fact that the defense also exudes stability and has not yet conceded a goal is a symbiosis that is difficult to overcome.
If the Spaniards show even greater efficiency in the coming matches, the European Championship title will probably only be decided by the Iberians.
