Euro 2024: Spain and Italy kick off with contrasting wins

Spain beat Italy 1-0 in a tight Group B clash

Both sides won their opening Euro 2024 games albeit in very different manners

Spain and Italy kicked off their Euro 2024 campaigns with contrasting wins on Thursday, as Spain edged out Italy 1-0 in a tight Group B clash. Alvaro Morata scored the only goal of the game in the 80th minute, to give Spain a hard-fought victory.

Italy, who were the Euro 2020 champions, had the better of the chances in the first half, but Spain grew into the game after the break and deserved their win. The victory puts Spain top of Group B, while Italy are second.

In the other Group B game, Croatia and Albania drew 2-2. Croatia took the lead twice, but Albania fought back both times to earn a point. The result leaves Croatia third in the group, while Albania are bottom.

The next round of matches in Group B will take place on Sunday, when Spain face Albania and Italy play Croatia.