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Spain vs Italy Euro 2024 prediction, team news & possible line-ups: A Group B decider?

Two footballing behemoths will renew their rivalry when Spain and Italy meet in their second group stage game at Euro 2024.

Latest Spain vs Italy prediction

Spain are the joint-most successful side in Euro Championship history, winning the tournament three times so far alongside Germany. Two of those came in Spain’s four-year period of dominance between 2008 and 2012. Since that most recent victory in 2012, Spain have fallen at the round of 16 and then were losing semi-finalists in 2020.

At Euro 2020, Spain were beaten on penalties by Italy, so this is a chance for a bit of revenge while potentially securing a knockout spot. Spain enter this game top of the group after a slightly surprising win. While people may have predicted Spain to beat Croatia, no one really expected them to win comfortably by a 3-0 scoreline.

All the damage was done in the first half and Spain just saw out the victory after half-time, keeping things tight to secure the points.

Italy are the champions and started their defence with a tight 2-1 victory over Albania. Their opponents were tipped to be the whipping boys of the group, but Albania gave Italy a tough run, scoring the fastest goal in European Championship history. Just one nation has ever successfully defended their European Championship trophy, and Spain will be hoping to hurt Italy’s chances of joining them in history.

The showdown between Spain and Italy occurs on 20th June at Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, at 8pm (UK time).

As mentioned, Italy trailed to Albania thanks to the fastest goal scored in European Championship history. Nedim Bajrami capitalised on a poor throw-in deep in the Italy half to score after just 23 seconds. But Italy had turned things around by the 16th minute through Alessandro Bastoni and Nicolo Barella.

Just hours before, Spain scored all three of their goals in the first half against Croatia, meaning each of the six goals scored in games featuring these two nations at the tournament so far have come in the first half.

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Spain latest team news

Unai Simon was the preferred goalkeeper for Luis de la Fuenta, starting over David Raya and Alex Remiro, and that won’t change on Thursday. At the other end of the pitch, Alvaro Morata got the nod over Joselu as the starting striker, and scored the opening goal, a cool finish one-on-one. Morata did suffer a slight injury, as did Pedri, but they have been played down.

Lamine Yamal made history against Croatia, being the youngest-ever player in European Championship history and the youngest player to assist, setting up Dani Carvajal. There’s no reason for him to not start, but Spain do have good options in Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo and Mikel Oyarzabal.

Italy latest team news

Luciano Spalletti had been flirting with a back three this year but against Albania, he reverted to a hybrid of a 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3. Davide Frattesi was the man pushing up the pitch, with Jorginho and Nicolo Barella holding back. Federico Chiesa caused mayhem on the right flank and will do the same, with Lorenzo Pellegrini on the other side.

Spain vs Italy head-to-head

Meetings between these Mediterranean rivals have often been historic. Three previous encounters occurred during the Fifa World Cup, including a notorious 1994 match where Mauro Tassotti and Luis Enrique clashed, leaving the latter bloodied. Spain ended their penalty shootout curse against Italy at Euro 2008, then defended their European title by defeating Italy 4-0 in Kyiv four years later.

Italy got some revenge by beating Spain at Euro 2016 and 2020, with the most recent victory coming en route to winning the tournament. However, in their two recent clashes, Spain narrowly came out on top with 2-1 wins in the Uefa Nations League, which Luis de la Fuente’s men won the most recent edition of that competition.

Spain vs Italy H2H
Date Score Ground
15/06/2023 Spain 2-1 Italy De Grolsch Veste
06/10/2021 Italy 1-2 Spain San Siro
06/07/2021 Italy 1-1 Spain Wembley
02/11/2017 Spain 3-0 Italy Santiago Bernabeu
06/10/2016 Italy 1-1 Spain Juventus Stadium
27/06/2016 Italy 2-0 Spain Stade de France

How to watch Spain vs Italy live

This showdown will be live on ITV1 or STV, as well as online on ITVX or STV Player.

Every Euro 2024 game will be shown live on either BBC or ITV, with the two platforms sharing the broadcast rights.