Spain's midfielder #16 Rodri (left) and teammates applaud fans on the pitch after the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B football match between Spain and Italy at the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen on June 20, 2024. Spain won the game 1-0. (Photo by Patricia De Melo Moreira / AFP)
GELSENKIRCHEN: Spain advanced to the round of 16 at Euro 2024 after a 1-0 win against defending champion Italy on Thursday.
A 55th-minute own goal by Italy's Riccardo Calafiori handed victory to Spain in the first clash of international heavyweights at this European Championship.
Three-time winner Spain totally dominated the Group B game at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, with 16-year-old winger Lamine Yamal further enhancing his reputation as one of soccer's most exciting young stars with an outstanding performance.
Spain defeated defending champion Italy in the last Euro clash of the day! The Spaniards enter the knockout stages! ???????? Spain 1-0 Italy ????????#EURO2024 | #ESPITA pic.twitter.com/l1vHHWLlN0
— The Peninsula Qatar (@PeninsulaQatar) June 20, 2024
Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma kept the score down with a string of fine saves until inadvertently pushing the ball into the legs of Calafiori, who couldn't prevent it from ricocheting into his own goal.
England drew 1-1 with Denmark in Group C after Harry Kane scored and then made a mistake that led to the Danes' leveler. Kane struck a record-extending 64th goal for his country to fire England ahead in Frankfurt. But his loose pass then allowed Morten Hjulmand to equalize from long range.
In the other Group C game, Luka Jovic scored in stoppage time to salvage a 1-1 for Serbia against Slovenia.
England leads the group on four points and is likely to advance to the round of 16.
