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Spain’s Glorious Dynasty Toppled by the Very Team It All Started With: Italy
Published: June 28, 2016
The clock had just ticked into added time when Emanuele Giaccherini broke with the ball directly from a Spain corner. Joined by Lorenzo Insigne, the Italy midfielder surged beyond halfway, seemingly headed for the corner flag, where dreams of late comebacks so often die. But suddenly, he had team-mates flying forward across the pitch, and the Spain defence wasn't really a defence at all: Juanfran, Pedro, Jordi Alba and Andres Iniesta.
So instead of heading for the corner, Insigne flashed the ball across the field to Matteo Darmian, who fed Graziano Pelle. From close range, he smashed it home. Together, they'd smashed through the defending champions with a wrecking ball, Spain's defence left in as many pieces as their dynasty—all because of Italy.
It had to be Italy.
Eight long years ago, this great Spanish era started with the Italians, and now it has ended with them, too. Spain had loathed the Azzurri for years, but more than anything, they'd feared them; feared them for their strength in identity, for their savvy, for their cunning and for their tournament know-how.
To scale the dizzying heights of their historic dynasty, Spain for a time conquered those fears, but here at the Stade de France, they all came rushing back, with La Roja savagely reminded what those fears look like, eight years on.
From Italy, this was vintage. Right from the opening whistle, their dominance over Vicente del Bosque's men was extreme. A tactical advantage was evident all over the pitch, but it was as if they owned a psychological one, too: They were stronger, faster and more intense; full of clarity and purpose, they left Spain looking lost, tired and broken.
At the back, Antonio Conte's three central defenders confounded the Spanish as many quietly suspected they might. The wing-backs created overloads everywhere. Their press...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football
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