SPAIN have won ALL three of their Euro 2024 group by beating Albania 1-0 tonight.
La Furia Roja sealed qualification after beating reigning champions Italy 1-0 in their second group fixture.
And Ferran Torres’ tidy finish fired La Roja to a flawless campaign who now await their opponents in the knockouts.
- RESULT: Albania 0-1 Spain
- Live stream: BBC iPlayer
- TV channel: BBC Two
- Albania XI: Strakhosa; Balliu, Djimisti, Ajeti, Mitaj; Laci, Ramadani, Asllani; Asani, Manaj, Bajrami
- Spain XI: Raya; Navas, Vivian, Laporte, Grimaldo; Zubimendi, Merino; Torres, Olmo, Oyarzabal; Joselu
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Streets ahead
Match report from our man, Martin Lipton.
Sadly for Sylvinho, he was right.
The Albania boss had suggested Spain’s second team are good enough to win Euro 2024.
But what will really worry the rest is that the first choice 11 is a street ahead of the reserves.
And they are the ones who will play the rest of the tournament.
In Dusseldorf, Luis de la Fuente’s shadow side clipped the Eagles’ wings to send Albanian home and make it three wins out of three.
Read the full report HERE
Spain have won three out of three at Euro 2024Credit: GETTY The greatest
Spain match-winner Ferran Torres, who has now scored 20 in 44 appearances, said: “We wanted to make it nine points out of nine to send out a message and that’s what we did.
“I have always said I want to be among the greatest scorers in Spain history and I’m not going to stop until I have achieved it.
“I talked to Olmo about giving me those balls into space and when I saw that he gave it to me I didn’t hesitate.”
Almost a goal a game for Ferran TorresCredit: GETTY Who else is through?
England, France and the Netherlands have all gone through to the last 16 tonight without playing tonight.
They join Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Italy, who have already progressed.
In terms of the best third-placed side, they will have to clinch three points and a goal difference better than -3 to head to the knockout phase.
Credit: GETTY
Where do we stand?
We have our first confirmed last 16 match. And it’s… Switzerland vs Italy!
That contest will take place on Saturday June 29 at 5pm in Berlin.
Big interest in that one given the winner would play the winner of England’s group and a third-placed team in the quarter-finals.
Credit due
Euro 2016 winner with Portugal Jose Fonte thinks Albania deserve a good amount of credit for their performances in this tournament.
He said: “Albania gave it a really good go, they were positive and tried to make something happen for them which is something we have to give them credit for.”
Group B
This is how Group B has finished tonight.
Italy are into the last 16 as runners-up, and Croatia are very likely to go out after Mattia Zaccagni’s 98th-minute equaliser. I should say that’s it’s still possible for Croatia to advance depending on other results – but extremely, extremely unlikely having failed to win any of their three games and a -3 goal difference.
Spain top the group and Albania are definitely out of the competition.
Credit: UEFA Dominant Spain
Spain win then. Three from three. Five goals scored, none conceded and every single outfield player has featured already. They’ll be many people’s favourites now, surely?
I suppose the only thing you could criticise is the lack of ruthlessness in the last two games?
Would you believe it?!
Oh my… Italy have just scored with virtually the last kick of the game against Croatia. It’s now 1-1 with seconds left on the clock.
The Croatian substitutes were all on their feet ready to run onto the pitch but Mattia Zaccagni has just scored for Italy in the 98th minute!
Scenes. Absolute scenes.
ALBANIA 0-1 SPAIN
FT: And that’s that. Spain, who were already winners of Group B, finish with a flourish and win all three of their group matches.
The last time they did that, they won the whole darn thing.
As for Albania, they’ve contributed a lot to the enjoyment of this competition and their fastest ever goal at the Euros will live long in the memory.
Spain through, Albania out.
Sylvinho’s side are out of Euro 2024Credit: GETTY
ALBANIA 0-1 SPAIN
92: And that’s likely to be Albania’s last shot on target at the 2024 Euros. Armando Broja prods a loose ball towards goal and David Raya flies to catch it.
ALBANIA 0-1 SPAIN
90: Four minutes of added time.
ALBANIA 0-1 SPAIN
88: Some anxious Albanians in the crowd. Not entirely sure why. They are heading out and it’s not really looking like that’ll change in these final stages. They win a free-kick near the left touchline and load the box with only four players?! Don’t understand it myself. The ball goes out of play.
Berisha is booked for a high arm. Play is also suspended while a fan runs onto the pitch to try and grab a selfie with someone. Jermaine Jenas on commentary suggests getting the stewards some studs…
Cheers JJ.
Credit: GETTY ALBANIA 0-1 SPAIN
85: Alex Baena replaces Dani Olmo. Most assists in LaLiga last season with 14 for Baena. You’ve been warned.
ALBANIA 0-1 SPAIN
83: Oh behave, Lamine Yamal. The 16-year-old brings the ball down from the sky and skips past two Albanian defenders in the same motion. Shame about the next bit but you’ll be seeing that in YouTube highlights packages for years to come.
ALBANIA 0-1 SPAIN
80: Kristjan Asllani sees another half-chance blocked from the edge of the penalty area. That’s his fifth shot of the night! Morata then heads a Spain corner over.
ALBANIA 0-1 SPAIN
78: It’s got a bit of Hungary vs Scotland about it now, albeit Spain have far more control. Albania are finally committing more bodies forward with Kristjan Asllani firing just wide of the target. Does feel like we’ll see at least one more goal here.
Lamine Yamal of SpainCredit: GETTY ALBANIA 0-1 SPAIN
75: Just 15 minutes of normal time remaining. Still no sign of a miracle.
ALBANIA 0-1 SPAIN
73: Where’s this Albania been all night? Kristjan Asllani drills a speculative one from distance that David Raya simply falls on.
Manager Luis de la Fuente looks to remedy the situation by throwing on Lamine Yamal and Alvaro Morata. Not a bad bench to turn to, eh?
Laci and Bajrami are off for Hoxha and Muci for Albania.
ALBANIA 0-1 SPAIN
70: Oh this doesn’t look good. Substitute Armando Broja takes a bang on the knee from fellow substitute Robin Le Normand and hits the deck. Fortunately the Chelsea striker is up and about a little while after.
Credit: GETTY ALBANIA 0-1 SPAIN
68: And now a corner for Albania. There’s way too much on it and it bounces near the opposite corner flag. Signs of life here folks. Signs of life.
Too many signs of life from Nedim Bajrami, who tries to buy a free-kick near the penalty area. He’s booked.
ALBANIA 0-1 SPAIN
65: I suppose it’s all well and good your fans urging you to go forward, but this is just so difficult for these Albanian players. It’s hard enough for them to wrestle the ball back let alone go on and score twice.
Armando Broja shuts me up immediately with a fierce strike from distance that David Raya palms away. Albania have to build on that.
Credit: GETTY
ALBANIA 0-1 SPAIN
63: Chelsea’s Armando Broja replaces Rey Manaj. Sylvinho had to do something because Spain are knocking it around for fun. Fermin Lopez comes on for Mikel Oyarzabal, who was my disastrous tip for Spain top scorer at 12/1. Never again.
ALBANIA 0-1 SPAIN
60: The Albania supporters have caught wind of that Croatia goal. They cheer and celebrate because if they win, Italy will be dumped out of the competition.
So as things stand Croatia are through in second place behind Spain and Italy have to hope three points is enough to take them through as one of the best third-placed teams.
ALBANIA 0-1 SPAIN
57: Folks, I have news from the Croatia vs Italy game.
Croatia have themselves a penalty after the ball struck Davide Frattesi’s arm. After all the usual VAR stuff, Luka Modric sees his penalty saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma.
But hold on… seconds later Modric makes amends when thumping home from close distance. That certainly puts the cats amongst the pigeons.
Modric boshCredit: GETTY ALBANIA 0-1 SPAIN
54: Oh we’ve got a booking. And it’s for… Albania manager Sylvinho. The Brazilian tactician barely takes notice and continues his anger towards the fourth official. Not entirely sure what he’s mad about in all honesty.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
