Spain renew Euro rivalry with Italy

Jun 25, 2016 - 10:46 AM A lot has changed for Spain since they routed Italy in the European Championship final four years ago.

While Italy remain the same hard-working team with solid defence and efficient attack, Spain are no longer the dominant force they once were, having lost some important players from their most successful generation and coming off an embarrassing elimination in the 2014 World Cup.

For the first time in quite a while, Spain won't be the obvious favourites when they play old rivals Italy on Monday at Stade de France in one of the most anticipated matches of the round of 16 at Euro 2016.

"Spain has been our nemesis since 2008, which is when the period of their golden era started," said Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini, who was on the team that lost to Spain in a penalty shootout in the Euro 2008 quarter-finals.

"I like the word 'revenge,' but more than the word, we need to put it into practice."

The last two times La Roja defeated the Italians in the European competition, they had a squad that included the likes of Xavi Hernandez, Xabi Alonso and an in-form Fernando Torres. Now their revamped team relies mostly on Andres Iniesta, who is one of five players from this year's squad who played in both matches, along with Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, David Silva and Cesc Fabregas.

Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Juanfran Torres and Pedro Rodriguez were in the team that reached the 2012 final, when Spain easily won 4-0 for their third consecutive major title. They had also won the World Cup two years earlier.

"We didn't expect to meet Spain, but we knew we would have a very difficult last-16 tie whatever happened," Chiellini said. "We know what to expect and we've got to be prepared."

Italy have four players left from 2008 - Chiellini, Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Barzagli and Daniele De Rossi. They also were in the team that played in the final four years ago, along with Leonardo Bonucci, Thiago Motta, Antonio Di Natale and Federico Balzaretti.

Italy, who also lost to Spain in a penalty shootout in the semi-finals of the 2013 Confederations Cup, arrived in France written off by critics back home but got off to a good start by beating Belgium 2-0 and Sweden 1-0, quickly establishing themselves as one of the title favourites. They lost to Ireland 1-0 in the final group game after resting many regular starters.

"Italy is very good on defence but it doesn't mean that it plays defensively," Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque said. "It had changes at midfield and it seems a more objective team than it was in 2012. I don't see it as a defensive team even though that's how it's tagged."

Source: AAP