The End of reign for Spain! Italy has offered the scalp of defending champions double by winning 2-0 Monday in the fourth round of Euro 2016 with goals from Giorgio Chiellini and Pelle Graziano, taking a brilliant revenge four years after his humiliation in the final in 2012.
The golden age of the Spaniards was completed on the stadium of France, two years after the fiasco of elimination in the first round of the World 2014. And neither the brilliant inspirations of Andres Iniesta, nor the splendid parades David de Gea have halted the decline.
Italy was better in the first period, scoring by Giorgio Chiellini (33th ) on one of the few balloons released by De Gea. And has vigorously defended when Spain awoke late in the game, just like his keeper Gianluigi Buffon, decisive. Graziano Pelle then finished the job against attack (90th +1).
"I do not have the words. It is a disappointment that we must accept, "said Iniesta. "They were more efficient and they beat us."
The "Azzurri" have the dubious honor of facing world champions Germany in the quarterfinals Saturday at Bordeaux, when the "Roja" will see on TV choppers matches she was accustomed to play in recent years.
The end of a golden generation
It is perhaps not a sign of disintegration for Spanish football, always interdenominational in club competitions including three coronations over the last three seasons in the Champions League.
But this is probably the end of a golden generation, that of Iker Casillas and his family, who dominated the world with their game licked assists, scoring an unprecedented treble Euro-World Cup-Euro between 2008 and 2012.
Four years later, Spain has no more crown. The credit goes to Italy which, unlike the nightmare experienced during the 2012 finals (4-0 loss), has this time held his game perfectly, ultra-intense and ultra-efficient.
Solidarity to the cleaners, disciplined in the fold, uninhibited attack, Antonio Conte's men took Spain to the throat and managed to contain the adverse talents.
For Spaniards used to control them for years, he was not aware that their best player at the break is the goalkeeper. But De Gea, maybe have they been carried out more widely to rest.
We saw an incredible reflex parry out on a head Pelle (8th ), then interpose again a chisel Emanuele Giaccherini (11th ), action finally canceled for dangerous play. The doorman of Manchester United has also released a splendid tap opposite hand on a tumbled from Giaccherini (45 e ) to keep his team in the match, before winning her face-to-face with Eder launched towards its goal (55th ).
The sharper Italy
On the first goal, however, De Gea had not been able to do: after a free kick conceded by Sergio Ramos, the doorman pushed the powerful Eder shot but Chiellini was followed (33th ). Nice revenge for the Italian defender, out through injury in the final in 2012.
This goal was awarded an unexpected domination deserved for Italy, and sharper. And sanctioned the first period of Spain, blundering in the image of its captain Ramos, very awkward. The latter even almost scored against his camp on a unscrewed clearance (29th ).
Offensively, the 'Roja' has found that rare firing positions within the robust defense. Only Iniesta, with a shot shy, moderated the discussion (28th ), but the Spanish maestro was out of sorts, in the image of this little bridge suffered before Daniele De Rossi (45 th ).
Although after the break, Spain woke up with the entry of a second center forward Aritz Aduriz, she found her on the excellent road Buffon (49th , 77th , 89th ).
"We made a lot of sacrifice, beating us on every ball, Buffon attackers", welcomed the Italian defender Leonardo Bonucci, man of the match. "We deserve to get through this round, now we must recharge the batteries to face Germany."
And even the revolt of Spanish executives, as this masterful fly Iniesta (76 th ), was not enough to extend the gesture of this team, extraordinary for years before being brutally brought back to earth Monday.
Spain custody of the reserve for the future, with several sacred promising talent in youth categories. But the result could be written without the coach Vicente del Bosque (65), who left guessing about his future.
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