In a tournament that has, for the most part, been swayed be defensive football, Italy’s Juventus borrowed ‘back four’ of Buffon, Chiellini, Bonucci and Barzagli have looked the toughest nut to crack.
With three of the four rested for the Ireland match to be at their freshest for the test of Spain, Antonio Conte’s side can be expected to put up a fierce resistance to the Iberian’s dream of a Euro ‘three-peat’.
Both nations come into this game off the back of defeats but there was more to be concerned about in Spain being downed by Croatia then Italy’s surrender to Ireland. In a re-match of the 2012 Euro Final, the key for Italy will clearly be to frustrate the Spanish for longer than the 14 minutes it took David Silva to breach the Italy goal in Kiev four years ago.
#BestBets – Italy vs Spain = ITALY +0.5 ON ASIAN HANDICAP
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