Spain v Italy LIVE: Result and reaction as Nico Williams skill forces own goal winner in Euro 2024 clash

Elsewhere in Group B: Croatia 2-2 Albania

Klaus Gjasula struck five minutes into stoppage time to rescue a 2-2 draw for Albania against Croatia in a thriller in Hamburg and keep alive their hopes of reaching the Euro 2024 knockout stages.

The 2022 World Cup semi-finalists looked to have secured a fine comeback win after Andrej Kramaric scored in the 74th minute to cancel out Qazim Laci’s early goal for Albania, then midfielder Gjasula inadvertently turned the ball past his own goalkeeper two minutes later.

But with time almost up, Albania attacked down the left and the ball was crossed to Gjasula who fired left footed into the corner to stun Croatia and set up a tense finale to Group B. After both sides lost their opening matches of the tournament, only final-game victories over Spain and Italy will likely be enough to see either qualify.

Meanwhile, a win for either Spain or Italy would secure their place in the last-16.

Last time out: Italy 2-1 Albania

Italy were wobbling, their crown teetering on the edge as the Westfalenstadion exploded and the drums pounded in their ears. Albania stunned Italy with the fastest goal in Euros history, coming after just 23 seconds, as Federico Dimarco left his throw-in short, Alessandro Bastoni melted into the ground, and then, before anyone could understand what was happening, Nedim Bajrami thumped a strike inside Gianluigi Donnarumma’s near post. Bajrami raced away, falling into the embrace of a stadium losing its head.

Italy trudged back to halfway and in that moment it seemed the latest twist in the cycle of turmoil that has followed the Azzurri since they defeated England on penalties to win the Euros.

But what followed was a different story, one not of Albania resistance, but of Italy discovering themselves again.

Report from Dortmund

Last time out: Spain 3-0 Croatia

A new Spain, in more ways than one. As Lamine Yamal, who was not even a year old when they won Euro 2008, became first the youngest footballer to play in a European Championships and then, before half-time, the youngest to set up a goal in one, Luis de la Fuente’s side made a break with the past.

With less possession and more potency, Spain looked like a team trying to cast off the influence of their champion sides. They had 47 per cent of the ball but scored three goals. After going out of successive World Cups in knockout games where they attempted over 1,000 passes each, but seemed to show precious little interest in scoring, this was Spain, but not as we knew them.

Richard Jolly’s report from Berlin

As Luciano Spalletti prepares for the biggest challenge of his first year in charge of Italy, the 65-year-old is relishing the occasion of facing the highest exponents of his philosophy in Spain. The grandest rivalry in European Championship history will take a new twist at Euro 2024, as Gelsenkirchen stages the first heavyweight clash of a tournament that has so far been defined by the unfancied nations seizing their opportunity. Spalletti knows his Italy side remain a work in progress if they are to reach the levels of possession once set by Spain, who themselves represent something different from what has come before.

Preview ahead of Spain vs Italy

Luis de la Fuente’s impressive Spain side will take on competition holders Italy in the first meeting of two continental giants at Euro 2024. The match is a replay of the Euro 2020 semi-final, in which the Azzurri won 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

La Roja produced a brilliant display to dismantle Croatia on their way to a 3-0 win in their opening group game. 16-year-old Lamine Yamal grabbed the headlines, with Alvaro Morata and Fabian Ruiz also on the scoresheet to give Spain the lead in Group B.

Italy recovered from conceding the quickest goal in European Championship history against Albania, with Alessandro Bastoni and Nicolo Barella completing a rapid turnaround to give Luciano Spalletti’s side an unconvincing 2-1 win. Those results have set up a crunch match at the top of Group B, with either side likely to top the group if they can find a winner in Gelsenkirchen on Thursday.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the Group B fixture:

Predicted line-ups

Spain: Simon; Carvajal, Nacho, Le Normand, Cucurella; Pedri, Rodri, Ruiz; Yamal, Morata, Williams.

Italy: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori, Dimarco; Frattesi, Jorginho, Barella; Chiesa, Scamacca, Pellegrini.

Early Italy team news

The Azzurri have no fresh injuries either, and a lack of depth means it is likely that Luciano Spalletti will start the same eleven that narrowly beat Albania.

The Italian defence seems set in stone, and there is little alternative to the quality of Barella and Jorginho in midfield. Italy were pedestrian at times in attack against Albania, though Federico Chiesa was impressive and will surely keep his place on the wing. Gianluca Scamacca remains the biggest goal threat, with none of the five subs making a notable impact last week.

Early Spain team news

There are no new injury concerns for Spain, despite both Rodri and Morata coming off in the win against Croatia. Given how the team performed, it is unlikely that Luis de la Fuente will opt for any changes to the starting eleven.

Substitutes including Olmo, Oyarzabal and Torres did not produce enough during their cameos to suggest they earned a place in the starting line-up. If there was one area to experiment in, it may be the defence, with Bundesliga-winner Alejandro Grimaldo a viable, more attacking option in place of Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella at left-back. Both Nico Williams and Alvaro Morata did enough to keep their places in the eleven, though Oyarzabal and Joselu will be lurking.

When is Spain v Italy?

The match will kick off at 8pm BST on Thursday 20 June at the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen.

What TV channel is it on?

Spain vs Italy will be shown live on ITV and ITVX, with coverage starting at 7.15pm. You can find a full list of which channel is showing each match here.

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Good afternoon and welcome to the Independent’s live build up, team news and coverage of the late Euro 2024 kick off between Spain and Italy.

Spain comfortably won their Euro 2024 opener against Croatia, while Italy had to come from behind to beat Albania.