Spain 1-0 Italy - Euro 2024 RECAP: Spain sink the Italians (2024)

*Pretends to be shocked*

There really are no surprises with this one, Nico Williams has been named Player of the Match.

Italy are going to be having nightmares after what he just did to them - ran them ragged all night.

It's fair to say, many Premier League sides are going to be having a look at this lad. A future star.

Maybe even a current one going by that display.

Matt Barlow, Mail Sport, in Gelsenkirchen:

Last chance saloon for Italy, Gianluigi Donnarumma is up for a corner... can they salvage a point late on?

No, they cannot, after a couple bites of the cherry, Spain hold on.

They may have just won by a single goal, but the Spanish were dominant in Gelsenkirchen tonight.

Luis de la Fuente's side rarely gave Italy a sniff all night. With Lamine Yamal on one side, and Nico Williams on the other, they ripped them apart.

However, it was an own goal from the unfortunate Riccardo Calafiori that separates the sides in the end.

Spain are well, and truly, a force to be reckoned with in this tournament.

It's substitutions galore in Gelsenkirchen.

Now it's Italy who have decided to call upon the bench again with Napoli attacker Giacomo Raspadori joining proceedings.

He replaces Lorenzo Pellegrini.

Not many would have predicted this at the start of 2024...

Former Newcastle and Leicester forward Ayoze Perez is entering the fray, and guess who he is replacing?

The one and only Nico Williams, what a performance the winger has put in.

Mikel Oyarzabal is also called upon and he comes on for captain Alvaro Morata.

Very interesting substitutes...

It's time for some Spanish alterations.

Lamine Yamal has been superb this evening, but his night has come to an end.

He is applauded by his fans and replaced by his club compatriot Ferran Torres.

Barcelona's Pedri is also replaced. Alex Baena is the man that comes on for him.

Wow, what a hit that is!

Nico Williams has been in magical form all night and he has nearly just scored a stunner.

The Athletic Bilbao winger cuts in from the left and curls a ferocious effort toward the top right corner.

It crashes off the bar and brings an 'ooooo' from the crowd. What a goal that would have been.

Don't get many straightforward decisions like that these days.

Robin Le Normand is solid a ticket by Italy substitute Mattia Zaccagni, and in turn, he takes him out.

Funnily enough, he gets a booking for it.

Unsurprisingly, Luciano Spalletti is making some changes.

Federico Chiesa has really struggled to make an impact today and he is being hooked.

Coming on in his place is Mattia Zaccagni, while Mateo Retegui replaces Gianluca Scamacca.

Can they make a difference?

SPAIN FINALLY BREAK THE DEADLOCK!

After all of the chances Spain have missed, it's an Italian that has fired them in front.

The ball is fired across the box by Nico Williams, it then takes a touch off Alvaro Morata's head, and then Gianluigi Donnarumma's fingers.

The next person in line? Riccardo Calafiori. The centre-back can't get out of the way and the ball bounces off his knee and in.

It's what Spain deserve, but now how we thought it would come.

Yet another chance goes begging for Spain!

I am in disbelief at the amount of opportunities that the Spanish are throwing in the bin.

Marc Cucurella does really well on the left-hand side and pulls the ball back for Pedri.

You just expect him to score, but first time he fires wayward. He has to do so much better.

His head is in his hands...

Well, he has changed it...

Luciano Spalletti has made two changes at the break with Bryan Cristante and Andrea Cristante entering the fray.

And wow, Cristante has picked up a yellow card after 21 seconds for a challenge on Rodri.

That's one way of making an impact.

Well then, what should Luciano Spalletti do?

You can just tell from this photo that there is a lot going through his head, and so there should be.

His tactics have been ripped apart by Spain and their wingers, so far, it's just not working.

He will surely make some changes.

Matt Barlow, Mail Sport, in Gelsenkirchen:

That's it from a breathless first half in Gelsenkirchen.

How Spain aren't ahead I don't know. They've been utterly dominant here and are unfortunate not to be two or three in front.

Italy have not had chance to grab a foothold in the match but they're still in it, thanks largely to their goalkeeper.

A fascinating second half awaits, and HARRY BAMFORTH is here to take you through it.

Donnarumma has been a busy boy so far. This fingertip save prevented Ruiz from adding another to the long list of goal of the tournament contenders from these Euros.

Spain are still looking threatening here as they flood forward in search of the opening goal.

The referee is not happy with something and books Italian goalkeeper Donnarumma for dissent after he questioned a decision a tad too vociferously.

Spain go straight up the other end and miss yet another glorious opportunity, this time it's Williams.

Morata whips a superb ball in and Williams cannot divert his effort on target. Big chances already wasted for Spain.

First bright spark from Italy. Gianluca Scamacca, once of West Ham, is played through by a neat flick on but his back-heel is wayward and the chance goes begging.

MATT BARLOW IN GELSENKIRCHEN: When this tie came out in the draw it was arguably the tie of the opening phase. Italy looking to defend their title and Spain looking to become the first to win it for the first time.

Although first game victories for both sides followed by a draw between the teams they beat, Croatia and Albania have served to take a lot of the jeopardy out of it. A draw is a good result for both teams and the pre-match mood is very chilled here in Gelsenkirchen but they will both set out looking to win. Spalletti’s Italy are unchanged. Laporte in for Nacho is the only change for Spain, reforming the France-born central defensive partnership with Le Normand.

First huge chance of the game goes to Spain in just the second minute. Italy haven't woken up yet...

Williams gets to the byline and produces a peach of a cross right onto the head of Pedri, who can only head straight at Gianluigi Donnarumma.

He really should have done better there. What a start that would have been for Spain.

They're up and running over in Gelsenkirchen. Laporte, who is in for Nacho, has also been suffering with a muscle problem so it will be interesting to see how he gets on here.

Mario and Luigi are there! Of course they are...

Some - erm - interesting choices of attire in the stands in Gelsenkirchen.

Gary Neville and Ian Wright appear to have a differing opinion - to say the least - about whether Spain could go all the way in Germany.

Neville says this tournament is 'one too soon' for the young Spanish side, but Wright backs them to lift the trophy in Berlin on July 14.

'That's the third team you've said will win it in the last 24 hours!' Neville jokes.

Chelsea have posted on their social media platforms ahead of kick-off as they wish good luck to Marc Cucurella, their left-back who starts again for Spain tonight.

Ian Wright says the presence of Yamal and Williams on the flanks means Spain can play two types of football - the usual possession-based style we associate with them and more direct balls in behind.

'It must be brilliant for the likes of Morata,' Wright says on ITV's coverage.

Roy Keane describes Morata as a 'top-quality' striker, even if he 'needs a few chances to score'.

Will he find the net tonight?

Not long to go now. England fans up and down the country will no doubt be tuning in after a pint or two hoping to see an entertaining game for a change...

Italy manager Luciano Spalletti has sent a pre-match warning to his side. 'When you play a Euro, all games are finals, all games are unique, all games are something to remember,' he said.

“We want to play the same kind of football we played against Albania and measure ourselves against one of the strongest teams in Europe. I’m sure that if we leave the ball to them, it will end badly for us.'

Both managers have been speaking to the media ahead of the match.

Spain boss Luis de la Fuente said this is a 'classic game' that could 'easily be the final'.

'We are prepared to get muddy, to dig deep in a quarry and for a day in the office. Ready for everything. We know what kind of football they play and how competitive they are, so we won’t be surprised. I expect a strong, aggressive Italy who will try to control possession.'

There's been more than a bit of needle between supporters during this tournament - but there was none of that as Spain and Italy fans enjoyed a pre-match kickabout in Gelsenkirchen.

Watch the footage below:

Fans are filling up the stands at the Veltins Arena ahead of kick-off.

Both sides will be hoping for three points which will guarantee their place in the last 16.

Which way do you think it will go? Let us know on our socials or in the comments below.

Spain and Italy's players have been out on the pitch with just under an hour to kick-off.

Let's hope it's better than the surface for England's draw with Denmark...

Italy manager Luciano Spalletti wants his side to show their mean streak when they take on Spain tonight.

They conceded the fastest-ever goal at a Euros in the win over Albania and Spalletti was not happy.

Read more below:

No team news from Italy yet but they were spotted leaving for the stadium about an hour ago.

Lamine Yamal is just 16 but was one of the stars of the show when Spain cruised to victory over Croatia in their first match of the tournament.

Here, MATT BARLOW takes you through all you need to know about the Barcelona wonderkid.

Spain's XI for this mouthwatering fixture has been released.

Spain XI:Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Pedri, Rodri, Ruiz; Yamal, Morata, Williams.

It's one change for the Spaniards as Aymeric Laporte comes in for Nacho.

Both teams claimed victory in their first games in Germany - Spain outclassed Croatia 3-0 and Italy squeezed past Albania - and they will be hoping to secure a spot in the last 16 with another three points tonight.

The two sides know that a win will see them progress to the knockout phase as group winners, which should give them an easier path to the quarter-finals.

Remember this? Albania fans jokingly taunted their Italian counterparts by snapping pasta prior to their game on Saturday night, which the defending champions narrowly won 2-1.

Kick-off is 90 minutes away but fans are already gathering inside the Veltins Arena, the venue for England's opener against Serbia.