Spain coach Del Bosque is under pressure to resign after the holders crashed out of Euro 2016 after being outclassed 2-0 by Italy.
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Italy advance to play World Champions Germany in the quarter-finals, with the winners set to play the victor of France versus Iceland. They showed, though, that they should not be written off, starting the finals with a 2-0 victory over fancied Belgium before winning their group.
Outgoing Italian manager Antonio Conte danced along the Stade de France touchline to celebrate while his players credited his tactics for the win. “I’ve got no problem stating that”, Conte said. I’ve tried to wage a battle over two years so people grasp this point.
Here, we look at the five leading Spain candidates should Vicente Del Bosque decide to depart as head coach.
“In the first half, we were more concerned about watching them play than playing our game”, admitted Iniesta. There was the penalty shoot-out win in the quarter-finals of Euro 2008 that set Luis Aragones’ team on the way to a first major global trophy in 44 years.
Tiny Iceland beat England 2-1 in their Euro 2016 last-16 game in Nice on Monday, one of the biggest ever shocks in major tournament football. Once they ruled the world, but for the second consecutive tournament they were swept aside by teams who looked sharper, smarter, somehow newer.
“It cost us a lot to defend against them”.
De Gea was also happy to admit that he has learned from Buffon, 38, who has made 159 appearances for Italy since making his debut against Russian Federation as a 19-year-old in October 1997.
But De Gea was arguably also at fault for Italy’s goal, which began with a nothing foul from Ramos on the edge of the area. Only the formidable David de Gea kept them in the game.
When Eder’s low free-kick scudded past the Spanish wall, bounced just in front of De Gea and then wriggled out his hands, only Gerard Pique ran back to help out the Spanish ‘keeper.
English expectations may have been lowered over recent years following a succession of failures at major tournaments, but there was a hint of optimism as the squad boarded the plane to France. And Italy’s back three of Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Chiellini – aka the BBC – along with veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, ensured that Morata provided no threat during his 70 minutes on the field.
As the Spaniards camped in the Italian half in their bid to equalise, Italy refused to bog down and in a fierce counter-attack, substitute Matteo Darmian’s cross inside the Spanish box from the right was deflected on to the path of Pelle, who slammed it home to make it 2-0.
Iniesta’s rasping volley was tipped over by Buffon, before Pique’s long-range effort stung the palms of the 38-year-old.
Trailing by a goal and up against a strong defence, Spain replaced Nolito with experienced Athletic Bilbao central striker Aritz Aduriz.
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Italy comfortably held on and Pelle doubled the lead with his poacher’s strike in the first minute of injury time.
