Spain secured a place in the Euro 2024 round of 16 with a narrow 1-0 victory over reigning champions Italy on Thursday night.
The decisive moment came in the 55th minute when Italy’s Riccardo Calafiori scored an own goal, gifting Spain the win in this highly anticipated Group B matchup at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen.
Spain, three-time European champions, dominated the game, showcasing their prowess.
Sixteen-year-old winger Lamine Yamal shone brightly, solidifying his status as one of football’s most promising young talents with an exceptional performance.
Italy’s goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, was instrumental in keeping the scoreline close with a series of impressive saves.
However, his attempt to clear the ball led to it rebounding off Calafiori and into the net, resulting in the only goal of the match.
Spain kicked off their Euro 2024 journey with a commanding victory against Croatia and maintained their winning momentum against the reigning champions.
In their Group B debut, Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz, and Dani Carvajal found the net for Spain.
The match also marked a historic moment as Barcelona’s young talent, Lamine Yamal, became the youngest player ever to start in a men’s European Championship, at just 16 years and 338 days old.
