Spain impressed Europe this Thursday evening in Gelsenkirchen against Italy. If the score (1-0) seems to reveal a certain balance, it is undoubtedly due to the clumsiness of the attackers in front of goal and Gigi Donnarumma, the only Italian at the level.
Obviously, the press of both countries widely commented on this meeting. In a very different atmosphere between the two countries. A quick overview.
Spain, the new big favorite for the Euro
“We can dream big” : it’s the front page of the sports daily Marca this Friday. If Spain was advancing in the shadows in this Euro, rarely being mentioned among the favorites, this three-star performance against the Squadra Azzurra changed the situation. “After the crushing siege of La Roja, it was ultimately Calafiori’s own goal that was decisive.”
”The score does not reflect the performance of the national team against Italy”, believes the newspaper As which is ecstatic on the front page of its edition: “Spain is a party” or “Spain is pure art”on its website.
A new coronation twelve years later?
As a result, the sports daily is already starting to dream of a new coronation: “It was as if we found ourselves 12 years back (Spain won Euro 2012 and achieved a historic treble, Editor’s note). If this duel ended with a score of 1-0 and not 4-0, it was only by the whim of the gods. Evenings like these invite optimism.”
For its part, Mundo Deportivo wanted to be a little more provocative with a first page, in Italian in the text, “Excellent”.
”Italy came up against a powerful Spain, a versatile team that showed that they are capable of adapting to different styles, because their goal is none other than to win”continues the Catalan newspaper.
”The best football in Spain, the worst goal”underlines El País for its part, “The team played like eleven guys dream of playing together.”
Italy has a hangover
On the Boot side, the atmosphere was obviously much heavier. “Little Italy”soberly headlines La Gazzetta dello Sport which does not seek to find excuses for its team: “The Azzurri were never in the game, Donnarumma avoided humiliation but Calafiori’s own goal was decisive.”
“We lack talent and a player who can eliminate a man”comments on the daily newspaper printed on pink pages, “1-0 is a misleading result. With the exception of a final Italian forcing, Spain deprived us of the ball for 80 minutes and only had the fault of not finishing the match earlier.”
And La Gazzetta dello Sport measures the gap that separated the two nations this Thursday evening: “An individual and collective technical difference that is sometimes almost embarrassing: we knew they were stronger than us, but not that much. There were no photos on the ground.”
La Republicca goes even further, estimating that “Italy lost one of the worst matches in recent history, although ironically they only conceded an own goal.”
”Total blackout, Italy was nowhere to be found”writes for his part the Corriere della Sera, “the Squadra Azzurra only avoided humiliation thanks to the exploits of Donnarumma.”
Reasons to believe in it for the Squadra
Same story with Tuttosport, for whom “Italy was annihilated”also pointing out the excellent performance of his goalkeeper who prevented the score from being heavier: “Donnarumma avoids humiliation but Squadra Azzurra was dominated in all areas of the game without ever managing to be dangerous.”
The sports daily still ends on a positive note since a “draw against Croatia will be enough for the round of 16.”
Ultimately, it is Corriere dello Sport which spares its team the most on its front page: “Reset”write our colleagues. “It’s not over until it’s over. Let’s not be discouraged: we are not very good but we are still alive.”
