The national teams of Italy and Spain are permanent participants in the Euro Cup. The Spaniards reached the final tournament 12 times, the Italians 11. Only Germany participated more frequently in the European Championship (14). The draw brought together Spain and Italy in the Euro 2024 group. Surprisingly, the teams will meet for the eighth time and in the fifth consecutive European Championship! Let’s remember this series.
Euro 2008, quarterfinals
The Italians came into the tournament as the current world champions. The betting houses considered Italy as the second favorite (after Germany) and Spain in fourth place in the quotes for the title. But already in the Eurocup it was clear that the Spanish generation is prepared to become the best. Iker Casillas, Carles Puyol, Sergio Ramos, David Silva, Andrés Iniesta, Xavi, David Villa, Fernando Torres, Cesc Fábregas… they were all young, hungry for victories and in top form. Spain easily passed the group stage, achieving three victories: over Russia, Sweden and Greece.
But Italy had problems. Roberto Donadoni’s team ended up in the “group of death” along with France, Holland and the strong Romania. And the status of second favorite in the Euro Cup did not justify it at all. Italy lost to the Dutch (0-3), tied with the Romanians (1-1) and only beat the French (2-0) in the repeat of the 2006 World Cup final. Four points allowed us to take second place and advance to the quarterfinals. However, it became clear: Spain has excellent chances of sending Italy home.
SPAIN ITALY
Photo: Jasper Juinen/Getty Images
The match confirmed expectations. Spain looked more solid and created many more chances. But the reigning world champions held on and did not concede a single goal in 120 minutes of regulation and extra time. The penalty shootout arrived. While Italy was lucky in the 2006 World Cup final, Spain proved stronger in the Euro quarterfinals. On the Italian side, Daniele De Rossi and Antonio Di Natale failed to convert their attempts. The only penalty missed by the Spanish was Daniel Guiza. 4:2 – and Spain advanced to the semi-finals to face Russia there.
“This victory was deserved, although it was very hard. I have nothing to blame the team. It was necessary to score a goal in regulation time. Lack of luck. But everything ended well and that allows me to relax a little. Russia and the road to the finals lie ahead. We have already beaten this team in the European Championship and I see no reason why we can’t do it again,” said Spanish coach Luis Aragonés after the match.
But Roberto Donadoni could not contain his emotions: “Unfair! I declare that we did not deserve this defeat! The penalties were a joke. Although I agree that my team had to solve all the problems within the allotted time. Then my monologue wouldn’t have happened. Unfortunately, we couldn’t. Now they can only blame me, because I couldn’t prepare the team, I couldn’t find the right words… As for our opponent, I’m not at all sure that the Spanish will advance further. Russia showed a game much superior in quality and level to what we saw from the opponent. However, what difference does it make now?
However, Spain easily beat Russia (3-0) and then beat Germany in the final (1-0).
Tactical results of the 1st round of Euro 2024:
First round of the Euro Cup: the favorites rest, the play in the three center backs prospers
Euro 2012, group stage
The end
Spain approached Euro 2012 as current world and European champions. The national team had an incredible lineup and all the players were at their best. Spanish football then dominated at club level: all European clubs were afraid of Barcelona and Pep Guardiola’s style became an object to emulate. Italians were experiencing a generational change. In the 2010 World Cup the team did not even make the playoffs. A group of legends (Cannavaro, Materazzi, Zambrotta, Del Piero, Gattuso, Camoranesi) have already left the national team and several new names appeared in it. Although Buffon and Pirlo were still leaders.
As a result of the draw, the teams were classified in the same group. Ireland and Croatia were also included. The head-to-head confrontation between Spain and Italy in the 1st round ended in a 1:1 draw. The Italians scored first: in the 61st minute, Antonio Di Natale took advantage of a one-on-one situation. But almost in the next attack the Spanish equalized the score. Cesc Fábregas sent the ball into Buffon’s goal after a nice combination between Iniesta and Silva.
SPAIN ITALY
Photo: Claudio Villa/Getty Images
The teams made the playoffs without problems. In the quarterfinals, Spain easily faced a France in crisis (2-0). And Italy suffered against England, but eliminated them in the penalty shootout (0-0, 4-2 on penalties). Germany awaited the Italians in the semi-finals. The Germans were considered favorites, but Mario Balotelli did not care about the situation. The striker’s double took Italy to the Euro 2012 final 2-1. And Spain could not open Portugal for 120 minutes. In the penalty shootout, luck still smiled on Vicente del Bosque’s team (0-0, 4-2), which reached the third consecutive final of major tournaments.
Hitting. If we were to briefly describe the Euro 2012 final, this word would be ideal. Spain outperformed the Italians on several levels and achieved an easy 4:0 victory. The Spanish dominated in their traditional style with possession. Furthermore, Del Bosque’s team did not have a pure center forward. The place of the nominal ‘nine’ was occupied by Cesc Fábregas. And yet, Spain managed to score four goals against the Italians with Buffon, Bonucci, Chiellini, Barzagli and De Rossi.
It is worth noting that in the 57th minute, coach Cesare Prandelli had already made the three changes. And Thiago Motta, who entered the field, left the field four minutes later, leaving Italy in the minority for the rest of the match.
Vicente del Bosque
coach of the Spanish team
“We played a spectacular game, but don’t underestimate the Italians, they were just unlucky. Everything worked out in our favor. The Italian team was in the minority, they had one less day of rest, the Italians tried to get into the game, but to no avail. We played in a characteristic way, without betraying the principles to which we have been faithful in recent years. “A great moment for all Spaniards.”
“We can only regret that we were very tired. We are facing a great team, world champions. When there were ten of us, it was all over. At the beginning of the second half we created several chances, but we didn’t take advantage of them. Then Thiago Motta left the field and our tank was empty.
SPAIN IS WINNER OF EURO 2012
Photo: Alex Grimm/Getty Images
We celebrated a wonderful Euro Cup. It’s a shame that before this match we didn’t have a few more days off. We met the Spanish in the group and then, in my opinion, we played very well. All because they were one hundred percent prepared. In games against teams like Spain you have to fight a lot and give your best, but today everything was different. You have to give credit to the Spanish. Today they made history and they did it rightly. They can play without a pure striker and still cause a lot of problems for the opponent,” Prandelli summarized the final and the tournament.
We choose the strongest European champion of the 21st century:
Classification
The strongest Euro Cup winner of the 21st century. Greater Spain, Italy 2021 or even Greece?
Euro 2016, round of 16
Both teams faced Euro 2016 in crisis. Italy and Spain did not even qualify from the groups of the 2014 World Cup. So at the Euro Cup fans were waiting for their rehabilitation. The Italians and the Spanish left their groups with six points, after having lost one game each. Italy lost to Ireland (0-1) and Spain lost to Croatia (1-2). Antonio Conte’s team finished first, but the Spanish finished second. Therefore, the teams met in the round of 16. And how Italy surprised everyone! Conte, without the most powerful lineup (Marco Parolo, Eder, Graziano Pelle, Emanuele Giaccherini were starters) beat Spain. The Italians scored in the first half: Chiellini was the first to capture a rebound in the rival area after a set piece. In the second half, the Spanish woke up and created several good chances. But the Italians finally scored: in the 90+1 minute, Pelle received a pass in the area and took care of David de Gea.
ITALY – SPAIN
Photo: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
“For 75-80 minutes we clearly fulfilled our game plan, the essence of which was to prevent people of the caliber of Iniesta and David Silva from putting the ball between the lines, from where they could “kill” any rival. We could have scored the second goal earlier and I’m a bit sorry we didn’t. Because in the last quarter of an hour Buffon had to make a couple of first-rate saves. But I always told the footballers: don’t stop dreaming! You can beat anyone! And today we have proven it. I’m happy because we played football and created a lot of opportunities. Yes, as always we acted in an organized way in defense, but my task was to destroy the stereotype that Italy can only play defensively. “I don’t train the team to play on the counterattack,” Conte enthused after the match.
And del Bosque admitted defeat: “We have to accept this result and move forward. The Italian team is strong and physically good. The Italians knew well what had to be done. In the first half we were too timid, but after the break we attacked with all our strength and tried to save the game until the end. Of course, any defeat brings pain. We have been strong in the last eight years, but today was Italy’s day. We tried to play with serves, apply pressure, change the style of play, but nothing helped.”
After Euro 2016, del Bosque left the Spanish team and ended his coaching career. And Italy lost to Germany in the quarterfinals only on penalties (1-1, 5-6), earning the love of neutral fans.
How were the first matches between Spain and Italy at Euro 2024:
Euro 2020, semi-final
And again the situation was repeated, as in Euro 2016. Italy did not qualify for the 2018 World Cup and Spain lost there in the round of 16. Both teams were expected to perform well at the European Championship, which was postponed until 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Italy easily advanced from a group with Türkiye, Switzerland and Wales, with three wins. And the Spanish took second place after Sweden (they only won once and tied twice). But even in the playoffs Luis Enrique’s team suffered: in the round of 16 it was a thriller with Croatia (5-3, dv), and in the quarterfinals they beat Switzerland only on penalties (1-1, 3:1 pen .) .
Italy not without problems beat Austria in the round of 16 (2-1, dv) and in the next round eliminated one of the favorites: Belgium (2-1). But it was all worth it when the Spanish and Italians met in the semi-finals. And they gave the highest quality match of Euro 2020. Italy scored first: in the 60th minute, Chiesa shot brilliantly after a counterattack. However, in the end Morata equalized the score by breaking into the area and clearly beating Donnarumma.
ITALY – SPAIN
Photo: Frank Augstein – Pool/Getty Images
Spain looked a little more interesting throughout the 120 minutes of regulation and overtime. But Italy acted brilliantly in defense, stopping the attacks of Luis Enrique’s team, without forgetting to periodically threaten each other. In the end it went to a penalty shootout. Italy was luckier: yes, Locatelli did not convert his attempt, but the Spanish missed in Olmo and Donnarumma saved Morata’s shot. The Spanish were left without a final, and Italy ended up epically beating England and becoming champions.
Roberto Mancini
head coach of the Italian national team
“We wanted to reach the final, although few people believed in it before the tournament started. Congratulations to Spain, they are a great team. Penalties are a lottery. There are games in which you have to suffer, but we deserve to be here. We knew it would be difficult. It wasn’t easy and Spain surprised us from the beginning by choosing to play without a striker. Everyone wants to win, but our team wanted to achieve something special and they achieved it. “This lineup is incredible.”
