Tuesday, 06 July 2021 | AFP | London
Italy meet Spain in fourth consecutive European Championship knockout match
Spain enters Tuesday’s contest with a tournament-best 12 goals and have more attacks (365), corner kicks (47), possession (67.2%), and successful passes (3,856 — an astounding 1,182 more than next-best Italy) than any side at Euro 2020.
Dominant stuff from a team that’s spent heaps of time in the attacking third, but a deeper look reveals a worryingly toothless frontline. Luis Enrique’s charges had 28 shots against Switzerland — with 10 of those hitting the target — but still needed an own goal and some horrendous penalties from their 10-man opponent after two hours of open play to progress. Out of Spain’s dozen goals, 10 of those came against Slovakia and Croatia — the latter match also required extra time against an inferior foe — meaning La Roja have managed to score only twice across their other three outings.
Strike tandem Alvaro Morata — who has two goals in 293 minutes played — and Gerard Moreno — who’s on zero goals in 197 minutes — have endured the brunt of these failings, and neither offered much against the Swiss. Moreno came on in the 57th-minute for a fatigued Morata and missed four attempts. Spain’s continued wastefulness could prove costly, especially against an Italian side capable in attack.
Being capable in attack hasn’t always been a hallmark of Italy’s best teams, but that’s precisely what they are under Roberto Mancini. Even without left-back Leonardo Spinazzola — who was one of the best players at Euro 2020 before rupturing his Achilles in the last-16 win over Belgium — Italy’s penchant for probing and relentless attacks should prove a weighty threat against Spain.
Slick interplay and lightning-quick passing sequences have been the calling card of a tactical approach that starkly contrasts Mancini’s predecessors.
The Spaniards will need to have their best performance of the tournament to snap the Azzurri’s stellar streak.
