NEW DELHI: Spain secured a berth in the knockout phase of Euro 2024 with a hard-fought 1-0 triumph over Italy in their titanic clash on Thursday.
Three-time champions Spain prevailed against the reigning titleholders Italy at the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen as Riccardo Calafiori inadvertently diverted the ball into his own net 10 minutes after the interval to settle the encounter.
A second victory in as many fixtures for Spain suffices for them to clinch top spot in Group B with a game to spare, implying they already know they will contest their last-16 tie in Cologne on June 30 against one of the best third-place finishers.
Italy, conversely, have not yet progressed but a point against Croatia in Leipzig on Monday will secure second place in the group for Luciano Spalletti's squad.
The teams were convening at a fifth successive European Championship and Spain should have emerged victorious by a far more substantial margin as they pursued retribution for a defeat on penalties in the semi-finals at Wembley three years prior.
Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made several pivotal saves while Lamine Yamal came close from distance in the second half for La Roja and the exceptional Nico Williams rattled a shot off the crossbar.
"I am elated and proud not just with the result against a formidable side but with the manner in which we achieved it," Spain coach Luis de la Fuente was quoted as saying by AFP.
"It's quite straightforward, they were swifter than us, compact and were right on top of us," Spalletti conceded. "We simply weren't as sharp as them."
