Italy vs. Spain: Italian Knocks off World Champion Spain

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: August 10, 2011

commentComment        

Italy and Spain have both experienced the thrill of winning a World Cup recently as they are the last two nations to hoist the trophy. Italy was on top of the world in 2006 when they ousted France on penalty kicks in Germany, but the 2006 world champs have gone in the exact opposite direction as the 2010 world champions Spain.

No. 1 ranked Spain has risen to the top while Italy has fallen off following a disappointing 2010 World Cup in which the Azzurri failed to make it out of the group stage for the first time in history.

In a rebuilding stage, Italy is looking to reclaim the glory of 2006 and have a good showing at next summer’s European Championship, mixing youth with experience. Facing tough opposition from Spain, Wednesday’s friendly between both teams was a tremendous matchup during the international friendly period.

The world champions came to Bari, Italy with many of their starters including players like David Villa, David Silva, Iker Casillas and Fernando Torres, expecting to face stiff competition from an Italian side with the likes of Antonio Cassano, Andrea Pirlo, Giorgio Chiellini and Giuseppe Rossi. Italy proved to be too much for Spain in the end as the Azzurri came away victorious on this day.

Cesare Prandelli’s men started off strong after Domenico Criscito’s through-ball found Ricardo Montolivo, who elegantly chipped Casillas to put Italy ahead in the 11th minute.

The Azzurri dominated most of the first half but Spain equalized just before halftime on a questionable penalty called on Chiellini. Fernando Llorente and Chiellini got tangled up in the box as the German referee pointed to the penalty spot. Xabi Alonso converted and put his team right back in the game.

Spain was forced to substitute Fernando Torres and Gerard Pique due to injury and their replacements found it difficult marking the speed of Rossi and Cassano. The Spaniards had chances of their ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

Latest News


Comments

Comments are closed.

Sponsors

Bruins Tickets The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.

Red Wings Tickets The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League.

Penguins Tickets The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.

New York Rangers Tickets play their home games at Madison Square Garden, they are one of the oldest teams in the NHL, having joined in 1926 as an expansion franchise, and are part of the group of teams referred to as the Original Six.

San Jose Sharks Tickets The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States.

Toronto Maple Leafs Tickets The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.

New Jersey Devils Tickets The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.

Washington Capitals Tickets The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C.

Buffalo Sabres Tickets The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League. Get the Sabres and all of your NHL Tickets here.

NASCAR season is on of the most attended sports in the world. NASCAR Tickets to the best tracks is a must every year. Some of these tracks are: Talladega Tickets, Lowes Motor Speedway Tickets, Pocono Raceway Tickets, located in Ridgeway Virginia you have Martinsville Speedway Tickets and southern US you have two of the most popular Atlanta Motor Speedway Tickets and Texas Motor Speedway Tickets. Don't miss all the racing events this year!

Boston Red Sox Tickets The Boston Red Sox are a member of the Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Since 1912, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park. This is one of the hottest MLB Tickets sales of any team in the major league.

New York Yankees Tickets The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division. Get tickets to one of the hottest games of the season Yankees Red Sox Tickets.

Chicago Cubs Tickets The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League.

Phillies Tickets The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883.

Orioles Tickets The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland.

Do you love wrestling? Get your WWE Tickets and WWE Survivor Series Tickets today!