Lorenzo Insigne and Aritz Aduriz scored two minutes apart as Italy and Spain drew in Udine.
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Italy was the more risky side and Spain- which beat the Azzurri 4-0 in the Euro 2012 final to successfully defend its title – did not have a shot on goal in the first half.
Spain equalised minutes later after a free kick was headed goalward by Alvaro Morata, Gianluigi Buffon spilled it and Aritz Aduriz converted from close range on the rebound although the goal should have been disallowed for offside.
Conte will leave his role as head coach after this summer’s European Championship as he seeks a return to club management, but he promised Italy fans they will not be following a complacent team.
“We conceded from a dead-ball situation once again”. Yes, but that’s not to say that Eder [who Insigne replaced] was playing badly beforehand.
“We’ll face them without fear”. Spain won that day in a dramatic and tense match, but Italy feel that they’re a better side now than they were four years ago.
Substitute Lorenzo Insigne popped up with a clever flicked finish on 67 minutes to open the scoring for the Italians in front of home support.
It was the Napoli forward’s first Italy appearance since the 2014 World Cup, as he was subsequently dropped by Conte for pulling out of a squad with a minor knee injury. I don’t want to talk about objectives for the Euro 2016.
“If we get behind the coach, who is totally dedicated to the cause, we’ll go far”.
The Spaniards will now look ahead to Sunday’s global friendly in Romania as Del Bosque continues to run the rule over his players who are bidding to book a spot on the plane to France.
He came out to back his national team boss to do well in the Premier League as he will quickly adapt to the style of football in England.
“Italy made more chances than us, but we did good things”.
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Florenzi admits Spain are the “number one team in the world” for ball possession but said Conte has not been sitting twiddling his thumbs in the run-up to the game. “I hope we’ll be in better condition in the Euros”.
