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.
Seeking to win an unprecedented third consecutive European Championship, Vicente del Bosque's Spain will once again have to see off old foes Italy on Monday for a place in the quarterfinals to retain their crown.
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. Spain, who cruised to a 4-0 victory over Italy in the Euro 2012 final in Kiev, started their title defence in promising fashion before a 2-1 defeat by Croatia meant they must now take on their old rivals.
On the other hand, the Azzurri surprised observers with an opening 2-0 win over fancied Belgium and went on to beat Sweden 1-0 before looking their age in a 1-0 defeat by Ireland.
Italy and Spain have faced each other 34 number of times. There is no separating the two teams as both have have recorded ten victories each with 14 matches ending in draws. Their most recent encounter was a 1-1 friendly draw in Udine on 24 March
The sides are facing off for a third European Championship in succession. Spain have the upper hand having won twice.
Spain have lost only once to Italy in their last 11 meetings — a 1-2 friendly defeat in 2011 (W6, L1, D4). The defending champions have not lost a competitive match against Italy since the 1994 World Cup.
Spain has attempted 2023 passes in the group stage, the highest amongst all teams. Their oppenents Italy, could only manage 1239.
Match timing: 9.30 pm, June 27
Where to watch: Sony Six, Sony ESPN and live streaming
Stat attack
Spain's 2-1 loss to Croatia in their last Group D outing ended a sequence of 14 European Championship matches without defeat, stretching back to a 1-0 defeat to Portugal in 2004; prior to Croatia, they had not conceded in their previous seven EURO finals fixtures, since a 1-1 draw with Italy in 2012.
Spain went down 1-0 to France in their sole previous game at the Stade de France, on January 1998
Deadly duel
Alvaro Morata (Spain)
Age: 23
Caps: 12
Goals: 6
Giorgio Chiellini (Italy)
Age: 31
Caps: 86
Goals: 6
Spain's main threat will come from Morata, who has been in a good run of form having scored three goals in the group stage. He will be a familiar face to the Italian backline, who all play for Juventus. With Barzagli and Bonucci being engaged in keeping the rest of the Spanish attack at bay, it will be Chiellini who will be primed with the task of keeping the nifty striker in his pocket
Probable XI:
Italy: G Buffon, A Barzagli, L Bonucci, G Chiellini, M Darmian, M Parolo, D Rossi, E Giaccherini, A Florenzi, G Pelle, Eder
Spain: D Gea, Juanfran, G Pique, S Ramos, J Alba, S Busquets, A Iniesta, C Fabregas, D Silva, Nolito, A Morata
Manager talk
Antonio Conte, Italy
"We need to have the same enthusiasm to face a team like Spain that we had when we approached Belgium, who also seemed stronger than us," Italy coach Antonio Conte said. 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 Conte. While Conte has kept tinkering with his squad in the group stage, Spanish counterpart Vicente Del Bosque has faced criticism for using largely the same lineup in all three games.
"I accept it (the criticism) because it goes with my position," Del Bosque told AS newspaper. "Had I made changes and we lost, people would have said 'why change something that works?' But there was nothing to alter."
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.
Vicente del Bosque, Spain
Spain boss Vicente del Bosque is not expecting a repeat of their crushing 4-0 victory over Italy in the final four years ago when the two sides meet in the last 16 of Euro 2016. "I think that game was conditioned by a lot things, above all Italy were very tired," the Spain coach told reporters on Sunday. They were not the real Italy, the Italy they are now. I think they a lot better. They were really tired when they got to the final and we took advantage."
Spain's victory in 2012 was a brutal demonstration of their destructive passing game at its finest. "They have a special way of playing and it's very effective," added Del Bosque. "We have to be careful about this, we have to be careful about their organisational style." Del Bosque said that only time will tell who is the conquerors of this match. "There are not great differences between the two teams, we will see on the pitch who is better."
Team stats
Italy: Candreva is doubtful to play against Spain due to hamstring injury. Barzagli, Bonucci, Buffon, Chiellini, De Rossi, Éder, Insigne, Motta, Sirigu and Zaza to miss quarterfinals if they get receive a yellow card.
Spain: No injuries in the squad but Ramos to skip quarterfinals if he receives a yellow card.
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