#1 ITALY v Spain
All through Euro 2016, Italy were demonstrating how football is a team sport as everyone in Antonio Conte’s side had a specific role and each one’s role was different. That was best demonstrated in the Round of 16 clash against two-time defending champions Spain at the Stade de France.
Both teams had come into the game on the back of defeats – Spain had lost to Croatia and the Azzurri had lost to the Republic of Ireland.
But the Italians were terrific in the game. La Roja were on the back foot from the first minute of the game as Conte set out to destroy Spain’s passing rhythm. But the best part of the game was that Italy did not just sit back and absorb pressure. They streamed forward in numbers and were only denied because of a stunning display from Spain keeper David de Gea.
Before Giorgio Chiellini gave Italy the lead, the Azzurri should have been at least two goals to the good, but de Gea produced some absolutely stunning saves. When Chiellini’s goal came, it was after de Gea had saved a free-kick, the rebound fell to Emmanuele Giaccherini and his shot was saved by the Spaniard, before Chiellini put the ball in the net off the rebound.
After that, Italy were in complete control and the Manchester United goalkeeper made a couple of more saves. Spain had one big chance when they breached the Italian defence, but Gerard Pique was brilliantly denied by Gianluigi Buffon.
Graziano Pelle put the icing on the cake in injury time after lashing Matteo Darmian’s cross past De Gea.
Spain were not undone by their lack of proficiency on the pitch; they were outdone by a brilliant tactical set-up from Conte and the players executing the plan to a T.