Current European champions Italy were drawn into group B of the 2024 edition, in the tournament's supposed group of death alongside 2012 winners Spain and 2018 World Cup semi-finalists Croatia and Albania whose only prior experience in the tourney came in the 2016 Euros.
La Furia Roja remains the only nation to have won back-to-back European championship titles, lifting the trophy in 2008 and retaining it in 2012 under the management of Vicente del Bosque.
Over the last two Euro editions, the Spanish giants have only recorded losses to the same Croatia (2-1 group stage loss, 2016) and the Gli Azzurri (Antonio Conte’s round of 16 victory in 2016 and the penalty shootout victory of Roberto Mancini in the 2020 Euros.
This tournament comes up as the 12th appearance of Luis de la Fuente’s side, having emerged victors in the 1964, 2008, and 2012 editions.
In qualification, the gaffer who took over after the 2022 FIFA World Cup racked up 21 points recording seven wins and dropping points in just the shocking 2-0 defeat to Steve Clarke's Scotland courtesy of a Scott Mctominay brace. Putting remaining group members Cyprus, Khvicha Kvarastkelia’s Georgia, Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard inspired Norway. Former Napoli manager Luciano Spalleti took over the Italian job in August 2023 after disappointing performances under Roberto Mancini.
Spalleti oversaw their last six qualification games and looks set to lead them into the tournament. The Gli Azzurri almost narrowly missed out on qualification as they tied on points with Sergiy Rebrov’s Ukraine (14), recording 4 draws, 2 draws, and 2 losses apiece. The Italians picked up the spoils with their superior head-to-head record over both legs and positive four-goal difference tally meaning the penalty misses from Arsenal’s Jorginho didn't eventually cost the Blue and White men. Italy has participated in the tournament 10 times, triumphing twice, most recently in 2020 and as hosts in 1968.
Spain and Italy are European heavyweights and have faced off 40 times to date with the Spanish side boasting a 52.5% win rate over their Italian rivals.
These encounters have seen Spain score 45 times; one short of their Italian counterparts (46). The Spaniards have however triumphed on 13 occasions, been on the back of 11 defeats and a hefty 16 draws between the teams. The Euro 2024 encounter allows both sides to extend an advantage over the other.
Match Tickets
The 50,000-capacity Schalke Arena will play host to this keenly contested European tie between Spain and Italy on the 20th of June, 2024 at 20:00. Home of Bundesliga side Schalke, Located in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, the stadium features a retractable roof and a slide-out pitch, making it a world-class venue for a heavyweight clash.
The stadium has a long and storied history as the home of the seven-time German champions and the 1996/97 UEFA Cup winners. The Schalke Arena will provide an electric atmosphere for this upcoming match with its modern facilities and passionate home support.
Spain vs Italy tickets are available through UEFA's official ticketing portal and are distributed through a lottery system. Each applicant can apply for a maximum of four tickets per match and can only request tickets for one match per day.
Team News
Spain’s fine qualification campaign was overshadowed by the anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered by 2022 Golden Boy winner Pablo Gavira in what many perceived as a seemingly needless game with the La Furia Roja already securing qualification.
Regardless, the manager, a former youth team coach himself, has continued to give opportunities to young players like Nico Williams Atletico Madrid’s Rodrigo Riquelme, and notably handing Barcelona starlet Lamine Yamal his senior debut against Georgia in September becoming the country's youngest-ever debutant and goalscorer.
New captain Alvaro Morata continues to turn up for the nation, scoring four times in six starts. He wants to transcend his fine 23/24 form with Atletico Madrid into the Championships. Real Madrid’s Joselu with 5 goals in eight starts for the national team and Barcelona's Ferran Torres are also names that can share the goal burden for La Roja. High-flying Bayer 04 Leverkusen full-back Alex Grimaldo, Alex Balde, Jesus Navas, and Real Madrid vice-captain Dani Carvajal are also essential cogs in his high-octane style of football.
Spain Possible XI - Simon; Navas, Le Normand, Torres, Grimaldo; Merino, Rodri, Pedri; Oyarazabal, Morata, Torres.
Luciano Spalleti since his appointment, has given chances to new names and fringe players on all sides, particularly in attack. He has handed call-ups to Napoli’s Giacomo Raspadori, Atalanta’s Gianluca Scamacca(on-loan from West Ham United), Mateo Retegui of Genoa and even a senior debut to Leeds United’s Wilfried Gnonto.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Gianluigi Donnaruma is the undisputed number one right now. Support in the goalkeeping department will likely come from SSC Napoli’s Alex Meret and SS Lazio’s Ivan Provedel.
Veterans like Mateo Darmian, Leandro Bonucci, Jorge Frello, Giacomo Bonaventure, and Ciro Immobile remained a part of the squad across qualification and Spalleti will undoubtedly be looking forward to blending this core with the new and younger faces around the national team camp.
Italy Possible XI - Donnaruma; Bastoni, Acerbi, Gatti; Spinazzola, Barella, Jorginho, Frattesi, Dimarco; Raspadori, Scamacca
Prediction
This tie is between heavyweights looking to make their mark before a month-long tournament. It will truly boil down to whichever team wants it the most.
Spain 2-1 Italy
