From the penalty shootout defeats in Vienna in Euro 2008 and Fortaleza in the Confederations Cup to the debacle in the Euro 2012 final in Kiev, Spain have become a true bogey team for the Azzurri over the last few years. Italy will be looking to make amends for their last two eliminations from the European Championships today at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis (ko 18:00 CEST, referee Turkey’s Cakir). A success would be the men in blue’s first competitive victory over La Roja since the 2-1 win at the 1994 World Cup courtesy of goals from Dino and Roberto Baggio. The prize for the victors will be a match against Germany in the quarter-finals on the 2nd July in Bordeaux.
Italy and Spain have exactly matching records against one another: 10 wins apiece and 14 draws (40 Italy goals, 36 Spanish). This includes the 1-1 draw in their most recent friendly on the 24th March in Udine. The 35th edition of this classic fixture in international football will take place tonight with millions of Italians watching on television. 75,900 fans are expected at the Stade de France and among them will be FIGC President Carlo Tavecchio, CEO Michele Uva and Italian ambassador to France Giandomenico Magliano.
Chantal Borgonovo, widow of the late Stefano, will also be in attendance having accepted an invitation from FIGC President Carlo Tavecchio. On the 27th June three years ago, just a few hours away from Italy’s match against La Roja at the Confederations Cup, Stefano Borgonovo passed away after a long fight with motor neurone disease. Since that time, the Italy team has always remained close to the Borgonovo Foundation and, just last week, the FIGC raised more money for research into the disease through an auction of the Azzurri’s shirts from their last match against Germany.
The full line-up for the quarter finals is now taking shape. Poland, Wales and Portugal have now been joined by France (2-1 vs. Republic of Ireland), Germany (3-0 vs. Slovakia) and Belgium (4-0 vs. Hungary). The final two places will be decided today between Italy and Spain and between England and Iceland.
Photo: figc.it