Pelle volleyed in a deflected cross in injury time to complete Spain’s heartbreak.
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“I have to thank them for how they helped me in every area, personally and as a player”, Morata said.
“We have to accept this disappointing result”. Spain fans may best remember that game for Mauro Tassotti’s elbow on Luis Enrique that left the current Barcelona coach with a bloody nose but went unpunished.
Spain were struggling to break through their opponents, and the closest they came to threatening Italy’s solid backline came through Cesc Fabregas, though his shot was charged down, while Andres Iniesta arrowed a tame effort into Buffon’s grasp. We felt good and wanted to take “revenge” after many years when Spain had dominated.
Spain’s defeat marked the end of an era for a side who had established themselves as the dominant force in Europe by winning the European Championship in 2008, after knocking out Italy in the quarter-finals, and repeated the success in 2012.
Had the Manchester United goalkeeper not been in such inspired form Italy would have been out of sight but his succession of saves proved to the platform for Spain to mount a late rally.
Giorgio Chiellini has given Italy the half-time lead over Spain, but David De Gea prevented Emanuele Giaccherini adding another. Spain fielded the same XI for the fourth game running, but with Sergio Busquets in front of the defence for more of a 4-1-4-1 shape.
Eder’s powerful effort was parried by De Gea only as far as Giaccherini and he nudged the ball into Chiellini’s path to bundle home.
Giaccherini almost topped off a ideal first half for the men in blue but his fierce drive was met with an acrobatic save from De Gea.
“They were probably better”, Spain coach Vicente del Bosque, said.
De Gea was called upon once more to block from Eder when the Brazilian-born Inter Milan forward burst clear on goal with the chance to double Italy’s advantage.
Italy that stayed in control as Mattia De Sciglio’s picked out Marco Parolo, but the midfielder could not direct his header on target.
Buffon was growing ever busier and Gerard Pique forced the 38-year-old into a full-stretch save as Spain began to turn the screw.
As proceedings got back underway, Spain had a golden chance to level five minutes after the interval.
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Iceland were very much the surprise package in the group stages picking up draws against Portugal and Hungary, before securing second place in Group F with a stoppage-time victor in a 2-1 defeat of Austria in their last group game.
