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Italy national football team
European Championship | Round of 16
Jun 27, 2016 at 5pm UK
 
Spain national football team

2-0

Chiellini (33'), Pelle (91')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Vicente del Bosque: 'Italy not a defensive team'

Spain boss Vicente del Bosque rejects suggestions that last-16 opponents at Euro 2016 Italy are purely a defensive team.

Spain boss Vicente del Bosque has rejected suggestions that Italy are purely a defensive team, but has branded the Azzurri "very good defensively" ahead of Monday's last-16 clash at Euro 2016.

After missing the chance to top Group D, Spain were drawn against Group E winners Italy in the first knockout round and the two teams will meet at the Stade de France on Monday night.

Del Bosque has paid tribute to the strength of the Italian backline, but does not believe that the last-16 clash, which is a repeat of the Euro 2012 final, will be attack versus defence.

"Italy are very good defensively, but they also have attacking players. They have great wide players, two forwards and it's true that with the defensive quartet, with three centre-backs and Daniele De Rossi, they are immovable but that doesn't make them a defensive team," Del Bosque told AS.

"They've changed the midfield and are perhaps more direct than 2012. I don't see them as defensive even though they have that label. The centre-backs do very well, they know each other well."

Spain are attempting to win their third straight European Championship crown this summer.

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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


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