Both sides had identical group stage campaigns, collecting 11 points from six games to secure top spots in their respective tables.
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Two of the heavyweights in European football, Spain and Italy are set to face each other in the semi-final of the UEFA Nations League in Enschede on Thursday evening. Both sides had identical group stage campaigns, collecting 11 points from six games to secure top spots in their respective tables. Meanwhile, the last outings for these two sides was back in March in the Euro 2024 qualifiers, with La Roja suffering a 2-0 defeat away to Scotland, while Italy got the better of Malta 2-0.
🚨 ¡¡𝗛𝗢𝗬 𝗝𝗨𝗚𝗔𝗠𝗢𝗦 𝗨𝗡 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗭𝗢!!
⚽ ESPAÑA – Italia
🏆 Semifinales #NationsLeague
🕘 20.45h.
🏟 @fctwente Stadion
📍 Enschede (Países Bajos)
📺 @La1_tve
✍️🏻 PREVIA: https://t.co/svjF093blN
#⃣ #VamosEspaña pic.twitter.com/Gaw59qZGGt— Selección Española de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) June 15, 2023
After suffering a heart-breaking World Cup exit against Morocco in the last-16 stage in Qatar, Spain returned to action in March, taking three points from two games against Norway and Scotland in the Euro qualifiers. The three-time European champions began their quest for a place in Euro 2024 in Germany by putting three goals past Norway without reply thanks to Dani Olmo’s 13th-minute opener and a second-half brace from Joselu on March 25. However, Three days later, Luis de la Fuente’s men lost to Scotland at Hampden Park courtesy of Scott McTominay’s brace. With just one win coming from their last four outings, while losing three times in the process, the 2010 World Cup winners are going through a difficult period.
Italy, on the other hand, surprisingly failed to qualify for the World cup for the second time in a row, following a narrow 1-0 defeat to North Macedonia in the playoff semifinal . After that, Roberto Mancini’s men restored some pride by finishing on top of League A Group 3 of the Nations League, ahead of Germany and England. Azzurri secured a 2-0 win their final group-match to move to 11 points, just a solitary point ahead of second-placed Magyars. Meanwhile, the two time European champions began their quest for a place in next years Euro’s with a 2-1 defeat to England, but quickly got their acts together to secure all three points against Malta thanks to two unanswered goals from Mateo Retegui and Mateo Pessina.
Spain probable starting lineup: Simon, Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Alba, Rodri, Zubimendi, Ruiz; Asensio, Morata, Gavi
Italy probable starting lineup: Donnarumma, Di Lorenzo, Toloi, Acerbi, Spinazzola, Barella, Jorginho, Verratti, Chiesa, Retegui, Pellegrini
Spain
| Opponents | Score |
| Scotland | 0-2 (L) |
| Norway | 3-0 (W) |
| Morocco | 0(3)-(0)0 (L) |
| Japan | 2-1 (L) |
| Germany | 1-1 (D) |
Italy
| Opponents | Score |
| Malta | 0-2 (W) |
| England | 1-2 (L) |
| Austria | 2-0 (L) |
| Albania | 1-3 (W) |
| Hungary | 0-2 (W) |
| Last 5 match-results | Score |
| Spain beat Italy | 1-2 |
| Italy beat Spain | 2-1 |
| Spain beat Italy | 3-0 |
| Italy draw Spain | 1-1 |
| Italy beat Spain | 2-0 |
The Nations League semi-final fixture between Spain and Italy will take place at De Grolsch Veste on Friday at 12:15 am IST.
| Spain vs Italy | Key Details |
| Date | June 15 (Netherlands) |
| Venue | De Grolsch Veste, Netherlands |
| Kickoff time in Spain | 8:45 pm (Thursday) |
| Kickoff time in Italy | 8:45 pm (Thursday) |
| Kickoff time in India | 12:15 am (Friday) |
The live telecast of the Nations League matches in India will be available on Sony Sports network. Besides, football fans in India can also live stream through Jio TV. Meanwhile, those in Spain can catch the live action via TVE La 1, Fubo TV Espana and RTVE.es, while fans in Italy can watch the match on NOW TV, Sky Go Italia, Sky Sport Summer, RAI 1 and Sky Sport Football.
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