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Giorgio Chiellini celebrates his opener. Antonio Calanni/AP/Press Association Images
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Italy v Spain, Euro 2016

Can the Azzuri gain revenge for their heavy defeat in the Euro 2012 final?

Hello and welcome to today’s Euro 2016 coverage. Yes, sadly the tournament does go on even without the Green Army to keep us interested.

As it happens, we couldn’t ask for a better hangover (of the football, not alcohol) cure than what is the biggest clash of the last 16 as champions Spain take on Italy.

Of course, these two met in the final four years ago and the Italians will be hoping today goes slightly better.

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Not sure these two will still be buddies come the end of 90 minutes.

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In other news… that lads are back in Dublin

Just a couple of minutes to kick off now. Where’s your money?


Poll Results:

Italy (242)
Spain (151)

Fratelli d’Italia… L’Italia s’è desta

Sorry we got caught up in the anthem there but we’re just about ready to go with the game. Let’s hope it’s a good one.

And Spain get the game under way. Still not a big fan of the one man in the centre circle kick-off but I am old.

Decent opening for Italy as the escape down the left wing but the cross finds nobody except David De Gea in the Spanish goal and he deals with it comfortably.

With their next attack, Pellè can’t take advantage of a Spanish slip and his header is easily saved.

Italy certainly the more lively in the opening stages and the sudden downpour won’t bother them in the slightest. It is very heavy mind and the fans in the lower sections are trying to make their way to shelter.

Chance - Decent again from Italy as they fashion the best chance of the game so far but Eder is off balance as he shoots and De Gea makes the save.

GREAT CHANCE – What a save from De Gea again. An Italian free kick from the left side of the area is pin-point accurate and Pellé’s header looks destined to find the back of the net but the Manchester United keeper comes to his side’s rescue

GREAT CHANCE - Another brilliant save from De Gea but he need not have bothered as Giaccherini’s overhead effort is ruled to be dangerous play.

It is all Italy so far.

Not sure I ever thought I’d write this but someone in white (that’s Spain for those of you not actually watching the game and just following it here) really needs to put their foot on the ball and take some of the sting out of the Italian’s constant pressure.

It really has been one-way traffic so far.

Decent chance for Spain but Fabregas’ effort is easily blocked at the edge of the area.

Sergio Ramos is bundled over in the box but the referee, Cüneyt Cakir of Turkey, was having none of it.

Yellow card - De Sciglio picks up the game’s first booking for a tug on the jersey. He’s not one of the Italians on a yellow card coming into the game.

Better from Spain without really doing a whole lot with it but they’re not being overrun the way they were in the early stages of the game.

In other news, the sun has come out and everyone has returned to their seats.

CLOSE -  Ramos almost sends the ball into his own net there trying to clear a nothing cross from Italy. Very lucky not to concede there.

It does mean a lot to him alright.

GOAL! Italy 1-0 Spain

De Gea makes a hames of the Eder free kick after a needless foul by Ramos on Pellé and Chiellini gets to the ball before any Spainish defender to score the game’s opening goal.

You can’t say it’s not deserved.

Yellow Card - Nolito is the first Spaniard in the book for a naughty late foot on De Rossi.

Better from Spain but this artist’s impression of the task ahead of them shows you the scale of the challenge ahead for the defending champions.

Chance - Yet another great save from De Gea as Giaccherini’s shot looks like it’s destined for the top right corner before the United stopper gets his fingertips to it.

Half-time – Italy 1-0 Spain

That was seriously impressive from Italy and, though he was at fault for the goal, were it not for De Gea Spain could be two or three goals down.

Are the champions about to be dumped out? We’ll find out after the half-time oranges.

And the Italians get the second period under way.

CLOSE - Italy have been excellent to start this half too but Spain have the first real chance with a free kick out wide. De Rossi deals with it comfortably and puts it behind for a corner.

The ball comes in and Morata directs a free header straight at Buffon from six yards as the Italian defenders just stopped playing.

This pretty much sums up the Spanish performance so far.

Yellow card - Pellé picks up his first booking of the tournament while we have the game’s first substitute as De Rossi goes off and he’s replaced by Motta.

CLOSE - Eder one on one with De Gea and again the Spanish keeper comes to his side’s rescue but the Inter Milan man really needed to finish that.

Chance - Juan Fran tees up a cross for Aduriz who can’t place his header and goes down heavily in the attempt.

Pique very lucky not to pick up a booking there. The stamp was accidental but the body check beforehand was a blatant foul.

CLOSE - While there’s no doubt he’s keeping Spain in the game, De Gea makes another handling error and Italy are unlucky not to find themselves 2-0 up.

Morata is off with Lucas Vázquez coming on for Spain.

Chance - Lucas Vázquez hits the post when one-on-one with Buffon but the play is called back for offside anyway so would not have counted.

Chance - Iniesta hits a perfect volley from the edge of the area but Buffon deals with it and does so again with Pique’s follow up effort. Spain finally waking up here.

The substitute is substituted off as Pedro comes on for the injured Aduriz while for Italy Manchester United’s Matteo Darmian replaces Florenzi who has been outstanding today.

Insigne’s long-range effort is straight at De Gea, can Spain save themselves?

The winners of this match take on Germany on Saturday night but Thiago Motta will miss that match through suspension after picking up a yellow card.

Pique sticks a leg out from a Spain free-kick,but the quick reflexes of Buffon denies the Barcelona defender.

Goal! Italy 2-0 Spain (Pelle ’90)

The holders are out! Italy will meet Germany in the quarter-finals and they full deserve their place. Graziano Pelle smashes in a volley from close range from a Darmian cross.

FT: Italy 2-0 Spain

Spain who have been Kings of Europe for the last eight years are deservedly beaten by Antonio Conte’s Italy, who now take on Germany on Saturday night in Bordeaux in another mouth-watering tie.

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