Vicente Del Bosque’s Spain crashed out of the European Championships after Georgio Chiellini and Graziano Pelle scored to take Italy through to the quarter-finals of the competition, on Monday.
The Italians managed to get revenge for the Euro 2012 final defeat at the hands of La Roja, with soon-to-be Chelsea boss Antonio Conte masterminding a brilliant tactical victory for the Italians. Conte, who had made eight changes to his starting XI in Italy’s last Group E game, brought all the big guns back into his side.
The Azzurri side that took the pitch was almost same as the one that defeated the highest ranked European team Belgium. The exceptions were Mattia De Sciglio and Alessandro Florenzi, who replaced Matteo Darmian and the injured Antonio Candreva.
Player Reactions
Leonardo Bonucci had another brilliant game, as the Juventus man showed why he is considered as one of the best defenders in the world right now. The 29-year-old made five clearances and four interceptions during the match, besides having a 90 per cent pass success rate.
“It was a huge performance against the best team in the world. The coach said we had to be 23 men – and we were. Spain did well in the second half, pressing us higher up the pitch and it was harder for us,” Bonucci was quoted as saying on UEFA’s official website.
Meanwhile, Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta praised the Italians for carrying out their job perfectly. In fact, the Barcelona man even went on to say that the Azzurri were more effective during the game.
“I’m lost for words. They were more effective when it mattered, they were superior. We were waiting too much for what they were going to do. Sometimes these situations can come back to hurt you,” said Iniesta.
Manager Reactions
Spain head coach Vicente Del Bosque believes that his team were not brave enough in the first half, and that might have cost them in the round of 16 match against Italy. However, he did concede that Italy were better on the day, and deserved to go through.
“We were a bit timid in the first half, there was not enough bravery, but in the second half we took more risks, we tried to get the equaliser but we couldn’t,” said Del Bosque. “Italy were the better team and I wish them the best. We tried until the end, we were not tired. We’re not a physical team, we are technical.”
Del Bosque, whose contract with the Spanish national team runs out after the end of the European Championships, said that he is yet to hold a discussion about his future with the Spanish federation.
“As for my position as coach, I will speak to the [Royal Spanish Football Federation] president and we will see,” he said.
Meanwhile, Italy head coach Antonio Conte hailed his team’s performance against the defending champions, saying that the Azzurri’s club mentality carried them through against the Spaniards.
“I’ve always said, right from the start of my work here with the national team, that the only road we can follow if we want a bit of success is to be like a club, to be like a team that play together every week – we cannot allow ourselves to be a selection,” said Conte.
The Italians have the unenviable task of facing World Champions Germany in the quarter-final of the European Championships on Saturday. To make their job even more difficult, they could have to play without the services of a holding midfielder against the Germans.
Thiago Motta is suspended for the game, after picking up a booking a booking against Spain. Meanwhile regular starter Daniele Di Rossi is doubtful, as the AS Roma man has picked up a knock on his hip.
“It’s going to be very, very hard in all aspects. We’ve got to do well to recover and prepare for Germany the best way we can,” said Conte. “We are without Thiago Motta and that’s a big blow, also because De Rossi took a knock to his hip. But we know that in adversity, we give that little bit more.”
Twitter reactions
Italy created history by defeating Spain 2-0 on Monday night. This was the first time since 1949, that the Azurri had defeated La Roja by more than one goal. Here is the statistic from Opta.
2-0 – #ITA have won 2-0, their largest win against #ESP since 1949 (3-1). Great, #ITAESP
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) June 27, 2016
Twitter was abuzz after this historic win for the Italians, as praises poured in from all sides for Antonio Conte. Twitter loved Conte’s reactions on the sidelines, especially the one where he furiously kicked a lose ball away. This made the fans on Twitter proclaim Conte as the Man of the Match. Here are some of the best reactions for the match.
MAN OF THE MATCH #ITAESP pic.twitter.com/Y7zeWveg06
— THE BET SOCIETY (@thebetsociety) June 27, 2016
Antonio Conte was leading #ITA by example against #ESP tonight #ITAESP https://t.co/TcIKdylHg7
— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) June 27, 2016
The Italian job! They just know how to get things done smoothly. #ITAESP
— Nick Parker (@NickParkerMusic) June 27, 2016
Meanwhile in southern #Italy#ITAESP pic.twitter.com/wlQXPymygM
— Gabriel (@gabrix_90) June 27, 2016
Is there any doubt that Leonardo Bonucci is the best CB in the world? No, there isn’t. That back 4, my word. Untouchable, if need be #ITAESP
— Rajath Kumar (@rajathkumar) June 27, 2016
Summed it all.. Spexit ? #ITAESP pic.twitter.com/8CClT8hyA0
— Asma Yusufzai (@asma_rehman02) June 27, 2016
This just about sums it up…#ITAESP pic.twitter.com/Ug1kDPynEy
— BenchWarmers (@BeWarmers) June 27, 2016
Never quite liked Italy. Eleven men looking like models playing boring, clinical football. #ITAESP
— Abhijit Majumder (@abhijitmajumder) June 27, 2016
SORRY FOR THE (s)PAIN.#ITAESP pic.twitter.com/0o5E9vFpfG
— Reyhan Gufriyansyah (@Reyhan_Rysya) June 27, 2016
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