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

Paris Seeking to win an unprecedented third consecutive European Championship Vicente del Bosques Spain will once again have to see off old foes Italy to retain their crownSpanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas during a training session at the Saint Martin de Res Stadium near Paris yesterday PicsAFPBefore winning backtoback Euros and a maiden World Cup in 2010 Spain suffered an inferiority complex with Italy having never beaten them in five tries at major finalsA quarterfinal clash between the two in Vienna in 2008 changed that Spain mdash who had previously suffered a terrible record on penalties mdashwent through in a shootout before going on to win the tournamentAfter winning the World Cup Spain had to face Italy twice more in retaining the Euros four years ago A 11 draw in the opening match was long forgotten as del Bosques men thrashed Italy 40 in the final La Roja then also won another shootout between the two in the Confederations Cup semifinals in 2013 Indeed the European champions have lost just one of their last 11 meetings with Italy mdash a 21 friendly defeat in 2011Super striker Spanish striker Alvaro Morata tries an acrobatic kick during training at the St Martin de Res Stadium yesterday Morata has scored three goals in Euro 2016 so farChelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas has been a constant menace to the Azzurri He scored the winning penalty in 2008 Spains equaliser in the 2012 opening game and set up David Silvas 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 seasonThe way they play will demand the absolute most of us Fabregas told Spanish sports daily MarcaSpain started the tournament in great form sweeping aside the Czech Republic and Turkey However a shock 21 defeat to Croatia in Bordeaux on Tuesday cost del Bosques men top spot in Group D and a much easier route to the final BBC Italys 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 yesterdayEven 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 10We 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 FabregasMeanwhile Contes men have been unfortunate to find themselves on the tougher side of the draw despite beating the highlyfancied Belgium to top Group EThere 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 01 defeat to the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday with qualification to the last 16 already assuredChiellini confidentJuventus 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 theyre our bogey team But lets keep things in perspectiveThe Ireland match with all respect to them didnt 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 specialChiellini will also come face another former Juventus teammate Alvaro Morata who Real Madrid exercised a buyback clause on last weekI wish him well for the rest of his career but I hope he has a bad match on Monday Hes a special kind of guy and a player who as well as having great skills is only going to get better said Chiellini