UEFA EURO 2024 Group Stage
20 June, 2024 - Indian Date
Frankfurt Arena
MATCH TIMES
India
12:30 AM
UAE
11:00 PM
Saudi Arabia
9:45 PM
MATCH LIVE INFO
Spain possible starting lineup: Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Nacho, Cucurella; Pedri, Rodri, Ruiz; Yamal, Morata, Williams
Italy possible starting lineup: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori, Dimarco; Jorginho, Barella; Frattesi, Pellegrini, Chiesa; Scamacca
Match Preview
Among all the matchups in this summer's European Championship, none carry as much historical weight as Spain versus Italy, two giants of international football. Both teams have moved beyond their traditional styles—Spain's tiki-taka and Italy's catenaccio—but with a place in the next round at stake, there’s always a chance they might revert to their stereotypical tactics.
Spain's 3-0 victory over Croatia, achieved with only 47% possession, defies conventional expectations. Under Luis de la Fuente, Spain demonstrated a new, more direct approach, scoring three times in just eighteen first-half minutes. While Croatia may be an aging team, Spain’s diverse goal-scoring ability in that match indicates they are a formidable force.
In contrast, Italy's start was less assured. They conceded the fastest goal in Euros history to Albania due to Federico Di Marco’s early error but managed to come back and win 2-1. This shaky start is surprising from the reigning champions and suggests they are still adapting under Luciano Spalletti’s leadership.
Historical context offers mixed omens for both teams. Spain has only lost to Italy twice since 2011, yet both defeats were crucial—once in the Round of 16 at Euro 2016 and again on penalties in the semi-finals three years ago. These outcomes imply that when it counts the most, Italy has managed to edge out Spain.
Spain's convincing win over Croatia suggests their supposed lack of a reliable goalscorer may have been overstated, while Italy's performance against Albania indicates they are still finding their footing under Spalletti. However, both teams are expected to progress comfortably to the next stage of the tournament.
Despite their recent stylistic shifts, the deep-seated rivalry between Spain and Italy might lead them to revert to more traditional tactics, especially in such a high-stakes match. Tournament management and strategic caution are likely to prevail over adventurous play, as both teams seek to secure their advancement while undermining a long-time rival.