Spain, Italy in familiar feud

TODAY’S mouth-watering clash of styles between holders Spain and Italy for a place in the Euro 2016 quarterfinals is tough to call, after mixed performances from both sides in the group stage.

Spain, who cruised to a 4-0 victory over Italy in the Euro 2012 final in Kiev, take on their old rivals in the last-16 after starting their title defence in promising fashion before a 2-1 defeat by Croatia.

“I saw that 2012 final on TV. I enjoyed how Spain played,” Spain midfielder Koke said.

“But against such big teams, like Italy, there are no favourites.”

Italy, relying on a bunch of veterans with no real top name in their squad – apart from goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon – had been written off by many and left for the tournament in an atmosphere of doom and gloom. But the Azzurri surprised observers with an opening 2-0 win over fancied Belgium and went on to beat Sweden 1-0 before looking their age in a 1-0 defeat by Ireland.

Italy coach Antonio Conte said: “We need to have the same enthusiasm to face a team like Spain that we had when we approached Belgium, who also seemed stronger than us.”

Giorgi Chiellini, the leader of an Italian defence regarded as the best in the competition, echoed a general feeling by saying he would have preferred the two sides to meet later in the tournament.

“Spain have been our bogey team since 2008 which is when their winning cycle began,” Chiellini said, referring to a loss on penalties in the quarterfinals of the European championship that year, which the Spaniards went on to win.