Spain
Gelsenkirchen, Germany, June 21 (PL) - Spain gave another clarification of its solid intentions in the Germany 2024 European Football Championship with a 1-0 victory over Italy in Group B.
La Roja showed talent and superiority against the defending champions with an impressive collective game to seal, with Riccardo Calafiori's own goal in the 55th minute, the advance to the round of 16 as the leader of the group.
Better in every aspect, the Spaniards had possession of the ball, but associated with a direct and flashy action, which did not achieve more because of the firmness of goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarummau and allowed only four Italian shots at the goal defended by Unai Simon.
Spaniard Ñico Williams received the best player of the match award, because it was from his boots that the action and the cross were born, which ended up being decisive.
He also came close to scoring twice, with a header in the first chance of the challenge and a powerful shot that hit the crossbar of the Arena AufShalke.
After defeating Croatia 3-0 on their debut, Luis de la Fuente's team leads the B group with six points, followed by Italy (three points), and Albania and Croatia with one point each.
England retained the lead in Group D with a 1-1 draw against Denmark in their second match.
Goalscorer Harry Kane opened the scoring for England in the 18th minute, but Morten Hjulmand equalized in the 33rd minute at the Deutsche Bank Park stadium to prevent the 1966 world champions from reaching the round of 16 for the time being.
Gareth Southgate's team, 1-0 winners in their first match against Serbia and title contenders, disappointed again with a lack of creativity and ambition.
On Thursday, Kane gave England an early lead when he tapped in a rebound from Kyle Walker's 18th-minute run.
However, Southgate's side conceded by attacking less for much of the first half and failed to manage the game, allowing the Danes to equalize soon after (33rd minute).
Morten Hjulmand unleashed a powerful shot from about 30 meters, straight at goal, unreachable for goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
At the start of the second half, Phil Foden's post shot showed England's individual quality against an opponent who also had promising chances around the box.
Southgate brought on Jarrod Bowen, Ollie Watkins and Eberechi Eze after 69 minutes, but the team's dynamic remained unchanged as the opposition's attack increased with better collective play.
In the second half, the fortunes of the game did not change and the two sides were locked in a one-goal stalemate.
The Three Lions lead the D key with 4 points, followed by Denmark and Slovenia, who have two points, and bottom-placed Serbia (one point).
