European Football Championships, Italy defeated by Spain: what is needed now to qualify for the round of 16?

All the way back. Spain gives us a football lesson. This is Italy today: mediocre, submissive, incapable of giving itself a game and a tone. The victory in the debut of Euro 2024 against Albania had lit the fire of illusions. Which immediately went out due to spontaneous combustion.

Spain has dominated us, and the way still offends us. Italy coach Spalletti takes notes: this is not the case, changes are needed. In Gelsenkirchen, in the second match of the group, the Spaniards play target shooting. It ends 1-0, in the most ungenerous and unfortunate way: with an own goal from our Calafiori. It went well for us. The score could have been much more rounded, such was the difference in the technical gap.

If Spain scored only one goal, the credit goes to the exploits of the Italian goalkeeper, Gigio Donnarumma, the only one to save himself in the shipwreck of his blue colleagues. Chiesa insufficient, Jorginho listless, Scamacca never dangerous. Such is the disappointment, free from any regret. For the Spaniards it was the rematch of the Euro 2020 semi-final, won by the Azzurri after penalties.

Italy is mainly missing two things. A striker, for example. Against Spain the Azzurri never (ever!) had a shot on target. Spalletti tried (and tried) all of them (the attackers). Scamacca and Chiesa, Retegui and Raspadori. But too many times zero does not mean one.

Imagination is also lacking. Every regret must be put in the past. At the turn of the century – from 1900 to the dawn of 2000 – Italy could count on champions such as Baggio, Totti, Del Piero, Pirlo. Those champions no longer have residence within our borders today. Italy is not a country of strikers (or even playmakers).

The defeat is deserved, now we just have to entrust our ambitions of progressing to the next match, the third and last of the group, Thursday against Croatia.

Let’s do a couple of calculations: the Azzurri are certain of second place in Group B behind Spain with a win or draw against Modric and his teammates. If they finish in second place, Italy will face the second place in Group A in the round of 16 on Saturday 29th, which at present would be Switzerland. In the event of a defeat against Croatia, however, things get complicated. With this hypothesis, Italy will have to cheer against Albania (who face Spain who have already qualified) to hope for qualification as the best third. Gigio Donnarumma says the wisest words: «Destiny is still in our hands.” There are only a few days to overturn a team that is embarrassing in its smallness. Coach Luciano Spalletti was definitive in his statements: «They deserved it. Spain is too much stronger, deserved defeat. The freshness made the difference, they were much better than us.” All true: too much Spain for this little Italy. During the match – seen by the cameras – Spalletti repeatedly shouted his anger at the players. He evidently was of no use.