Spain cruised to a 3-1 win over Italy on Friday that sees either side by way of to the knockout levels on the Girls’s Euros, with the Spaniards topping Group B to arrange a showdown with hosts Switzerland, whereas the second-placed Italians will meet Group A winners Norway.
Spain completed high of the group with an ideal 9 factors from their three video games, with the Italians second on 4 factors, one head of already-eliminated Belgium, who beat Portugal 2-1 to snuff out their possibilities of advancing.
The swashbuckling soccer of the Spaniards has singled them out because the workforce to beat in Switzerland however as soon as extra they obtained off to a sluggish begin earlier than saving the day with some excellent attacking play.
The Italians virtually took the lead within the tenth minute when captain Elena Linari smacked a robust header off the crossbar and seconds later they did rating by way of Elisabetta Oliviero.
Florencia Tan Jun – UEFA/UEFA by way of Getty Photographs
Italy labored the ball in from the left flank and Martina Piemonte discovered sufficient area to squeeze off a shot that Spain’s Mariona Caldente tried to manage, however she solely succeeded in teeing up Oliviero to slam house the ball.
That jolted Spain into life and so they levelled 4 minutes later because the reigning world and Nations League champions started to dominate possession, Athenea del Castillo working the ball in from the proper earlier than taking part in an excellent one-two in a decent area with Alexia Putellas and firing into the web.
Patri Guijarro put Spain 2-1 up within the fourth minute of the second half and the Italians struggled to get out of their half for a lot of the remainder of the sport, with Esther González sealing the deal for Spain with a stoppage-time purpose to make it 3-1.
Guijarro declared herself happy with the business-like manner Spain had secured the group win, even when there have been issues that may very well be improved.
“I am completely satisfied for the three victories. The match was tough [but] we’re first within the group and now let’s go for the quarterfinals,” she stated.
“They performed very properly. These balls that we misplaced, there was lots of area, so now we have to run again as rapidly as attainable, now we have to be extra on high of the strain after dropping [the ball].”
Spain will tackle Switzerland in Bern subsequent Friday, whereas Italy meet Norway in Geneva on Wednesday.