Evening Standard
¡20 June 2024
Spain 1-0 Italy: Dominant La Roja book last-16 spot thanks to Riccardo Calafiori own goal
![Article image:Spain 1-0 Italy: Dominant La Roja book last-16 spot thanks to Riccardo Calafiori own goal](https://image-service.onefootball.com/transform?w=280&h=210&dpr=2&image=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.standard.co.uk%2F2024%2F06%2F20%2F20%2F21%2FSEI209664226.jpg.jpg%3Fwidth%3D1200%26auto%3Dwebp%26quality%3D75)
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¡20 June 2024
Spain never looked like losing against an Azzurri side who were swamped from the first minute
Spain have booked their place in the Euro 2024 knockout stages with a commanding win over Italy, though the 1-0 scoreline did not reflect their dominance.
Riccardo Calafiori's second-half own goal was the difference, but La Roja missed a host of chances in an entertaining Group B game.
Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma kept his side in the game during the first half, tipping Pedri's header over and denying Alvaro Morata from a tight angle before producing a brilliant fingertip save from Fabian Ruiz's long-range effort.
Winger Nico Williams, who should have scored a simple early header, tormented Italy right back Giovanni Di Lorenzo and created the winner, sending a dangerous ball across goal which Calafiori deflected into the net in the 55th minute.
Williams almost settled the game in the 70th minute, crashing a shot against the bar, and Italy barely threatened an equaliser before a late spell of possession which Spain withstood with relative ease.