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Euro 2016: Fabregas will be key in high profile Italy vs Spain clash

Updated on: 27 June,2016 09:07 AM IST  | 
AFP |

Having scored the winning penalty in 2008 Euro quarters against Azzurri, the equaliser against them in Euro 2012 opener and then setting up compatriot David Alaba’s first goal in a 4-0 rout of the Italians in the final, midfield maestro Fabregas could hold key to Spanish success again today

Euro 2016: Fabregas will be key in high profile Italy vs Spain clash

Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas during a training session at the Saint Martin de Re's Stadium near Paris yesterday

Paris: Seeking to win an unprecedented third consecutive European Championship, Vicente del Bosque's Spain will once again have to see off old foes Italy to retain their crown.


Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas during a training session at the Saint Martin de Re
Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas during a training session at the Saint Martin de Re's Stadium near Paris yesterday. Pics/AFP


Before winning back-to-back Euros and a maiden World Cup in 2010, Spain suffered an inferiority complex with Italy having never beaten them in five tries at major finals.


A quarter-final clash between the two in Vienna in 2008 changed that. Spain — who had previously suffered a terrible record on penalties —went through in a shootout before going on to win the tournament.

After winning the World Cup, Spain had to face Italy twice more in retaining the Euros four years ago. A 1-1 draw in the opening match was long forgotten as del Bosque's men thrashed Italy 4-0 in the final. La Roja then also won another shootout between the two in the Confederations Cup semi-finals in 2013. Indeed, the European champions have lost just one of their last 11 meetings with Italy — a 2-1 friendly defeat in 2011.

Super striker: Spanish striker Alvaro Morata tries an acrobatic kick during training at the St Martin de Re
Super striker: Spanish striker Alvaro Morata tries an acrobatic kick during training at the St Martin de Re's Stadium yesterday. Morata has scored three goals in Euro 2016 so far

Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas has been a constant menace to the Azzurri. He scored the winning penalty in 2008, Spain's equaliser in the 2012 opening game and set up David Silva's opener in the final. Fabregas will also be coming up against his future manager as Italian boss Antonio Conte will take over at Stamford Bridge next season.

"The way they play will demand the absolute most of us," Fabregas told Spanish sports daily Marca.

Spain started the tournament in great form, sweeping aside the Czech Republic and Turkey. However, a shock 2-1 defeat to Croatia in Bordeaux on Tuesday cost del Bosque's men top spot in Group D and a much easier route to the final.

 BBC: Italy
BBC: Italy's famed defensive trio of Andrea Barzagli (right), Leonardo Bonucci (centre) and Giorgio Chiellini known by the first letter of their surnames as BBC, train in Montpellier yesterday

Even if they see off Italy, Spain face having to beat world champions Germany and hosts France for the right to defend their title in Paris on July 10.

"We need to get back to playing our best football because they will not stop running and fight for every ball. They have a very strong defence and they know how to take their chances," added Fabregas.

Meanwhile, Conte's men have been unfortunate to find themselves on the tougher side of the draw despite beating the highly-fancied Belgium to top Group E.

"There is a crazy imbalance in the draw for the second round, but those are the rules and we have to respect them," said Contem who made eight changes for the 0-1 defeat to the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday with qualification to the last 16 already assured.

Chiellini confident
Juventus stalwart Giorgio Chiellini will return to partner club teammates Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci. And Chiellini is hopeful Italy can reverse their recent run against Spain. "In a way, they're our bogey team. But let's keep things in perspective.

The Ireland match, with all respect to them, didn't really count for us. And if we play to our potential, give it everything and limit them where they are strong, I think we can create something special."

Chiellini will also come face another former Juventus teammate Alvaro Morata, who Real Madrid exercised a buyback clause on last week.

"I wish him well for the rest of his career but I hope he has a bad match on Monday. He's a special kind of guy and a player who, as well as having great skills, is only going to get better," said Chiellini.

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