Spain
by Gio Franco
The dust has settled for Spain and unfortunately after that awful stumble to Croatia in the group stage. Vicente Del Bosque’s side will have the ultimate test to their European dreams on Monday. Monday morning will be their first big test against one of the most decorated teams in the history of Europe, Italia.
Italy went into the European competition with a rather skeptic and apprehensive ambitions. Italy in fact won their group and courtesy of Spain’s lapse and Croatia’s exploits, Italy and Spain face each other again. Italy and Spain are set for another collision course in the round of 16 like the many times before.
Vicente Del Bosque will have his work cut out for him when he faces off against his Italian counterpart Antonio Conte. The crucial aspect to this match that both Del Bosque and Conte will address is which side will win the midfield battle.
Italy and Spain both have a tough and resilient midfield that can defend, create and score goals. Del Bosque will have to find a way to keep De Rossi, Candreva, Florenzi, Parolo, Giaccherini, and Thiago Motta. Conte will also have to hope his midfield can silence Fabregas, Busquets, Iniesta, David Silva, and Koke.
After Spain’s defeat to Croatia in the last match of the group stages. The media throughout the Iberian Peninsula was in shock and awe along with some form of pragmatism depending on where the media group came from. Many of the Madrid based organizations, El Pais, depicted the loss as a “spanking” and that Spain have the tough road now. Barcelona based media, MundoDeportivo, although colored the loss as a mere stumble but also pointed out late that the chance to achieve a third straight European title may be a difficult.
The debate about if Spain was shellacked or “spanked” against Croatia should not be much of discussion.
That discussion will not change anything; it will not make Spain play on the side of the Euro 2016 bracket, where the opponents are much “easier” to play against. La Furia Roja now have to focus on Italy, which there is also history behind this particular match.
The last time Spain faced off against Italy in a competition like this was in the final of the 2012 Euro competition, when Spain won 4-0 and before that in the Euro 2008 quarterfinal where Spain defeat Italy on penalties. The one thing that seems certain is that Spain usually are successful if they somehow manage to defeat Italy.
