Spain Qualify for Euro 2024 Knockout Stages after Carlafiori Own Goal

Spain secured their place in the last 16 of Euro 2024 with a brilliant performance against defending champions Italy in Gelsenkirchen.

The Luis de la Fuente side became the second team to book the competition knockout ticket by defending Italy 1-0 thanks to a second-half own goal by Riccardo Carlafiori. After being thwarted by goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma for almost an hour, Alvaro Morata’s flick-on was accidentally nudged in by Calafiori’s knee.

Italy, the defending champions, only managed to keep Spain at bay during the match and the scoreline was kept respectable by Gianluigi Donnarumma’s saves. Spain moved the ball with intensity and creativity throughout the match.

Donnarumma was able to make three saves, including tipping over Pedri’s header in the first two minutes and later denying Fabian Ruiz and Morata. Nico Williams scored a goal, but then he hit the crossbar.

Meanwhile, Italy still has a chance to progress as they look forward to facing Croatia on Monday while Spain will take on Albania.

“I saw a potential that my team boasts tonight. That ability to really make light work of a top-class side like Italy”, said Spain boss Luis de la Fuente after the match. “Italy won the Euros three years ago and we were still a long way off winning it, so I like the fact people are speaking about us and considering that we could win [now]”.

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