The second appointment of the Italian mission to the 2024 European Championships is set for 9pm this evening, 20 June. The national team led by Luciano Spalletti is playing for first place in group B against Spain. The Slovenian Slavko Vinčić refereed the match at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. If one of the two teams wins, they arithmetically qualify for the round of 16 of the tournament. In the event of a draw, both Italy and Spain will still have an excellent chance of getting through the group: after the 2-2 draw between Albania and Croatia, the latter remain anchored to one point, while the Azzurri and the Furia Rossi – before the match in tonight – they already have three points.
Some numbers
The match brings with it a record: it is the fifth consecutive edition of the European Championships – from 2008 onwards – in which the two teams face each other. And it is the 41st time that Spain and Italy compete in an official match: the score is in favor of the Iberians, who boast 13 victories against the Italians’ 11, while there have been 16 draws to date. In the last direct match, that of the 2023 Nations League semi-finals, the Red Furies won 2-1. Regarding this evening’s match, the bookmakers give Spain the favourite.
Where to see Italy-Spain
The match between Spalletti’s team and Luis de la Fuente’s team will be broadcast free-to-air on Rai 1. Sky has also acquired the rights to broadcast the 90 minutes from Gelsenkirchen which will broadcast on the Sky Sport channels and in streaming on Now.
Probable lineups
The Azzurri should still take the field with the 4-2-3-1 formation. The probable lineup would see Donnarumma, Di Lorenzo, Calafiori, Bastoni, Dimarco, Barella, Jorginho, Chiesa, Frattesi, Pellegrini, Scamacca starting as starters. Spain would instead line up with a 4-3-3. Unai Simon, Carvajal, Nacho, Le Normand, Cuccurella, Pedri, Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, Yamal, Morata, Williams should take to the grass in the first minute.
