Spain – Italy: winner Spain

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June 19, 2024

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Our tip: Spain – Italy: winner Spain

20.06.2024 21:00

One of the highlights of the group stages will be played on Thursday evening at Schalke Stadium, where reigning European champions Italy and Spain, who won the last edition of the Nations League, will clash. Both countries have made it through to the tournament and the winner of their clash will be assured of a place in the play-offs. A draw should be enough for both.

Spain beat Croatia 3-0, but the result is deceiving. La Roja were more effective in the end, the Croatians had a slight edge on the chances they had, and could have responded to each of the first two goals with an equal coin toss, even giving away a penalty in the second half and having another goal called back by VAR. Defensive miscues might not pay off for the Spaniards next time.

On the contrary, a change in their style of play paid off. It’s no longer just Barcelona’s tika-taka of short, purposeless rushes, Luis de la Fuente has implemented young players into the team and requires quick turnaround play, rushes down the flanks where Williams and Yamal, who at 16 years and 338 days became the youngest player in European Championship history and capped his debut with a goal assist. Against Croatia, Spain even had a lower percentage of ball possession, something previously unseen.

Italy also made European Championship history, but in a negative way. It scored the fastest goal in history after 23 seconds against Albania, but the response was swift and decisive and by the 16th minute it was already 2-1 up, which also exhausted the match’s goal allocation. The defending champions played the second half in a controlled maintenance fashion. However, if they want to repeat their last European triumph, they need to step up. In the match against Albania, the ends justified the means.

What to bet on:

The two teams have clashed quite regularly in recent years. In the semi-final of the previous Euro, Italy won in a penalty shootout and the match ended 1-1 after 90 minutes. Spain has twice returned the favour in the Nations League with 2-1 victories. They will have the upper hand now.

Trust:

6/10

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