Euro 2016: Tactic takes on technique as Italy seek redemption against Spain

For Italy, Euro 2016 has been a lengthy deja-vu. They faced Sweden in the group stages, a reminder of 2004 where a draw against the same opponents knocked them out in that tournament. They defeated Belgium and gained revenge over them for a loss against the same opponents in a friendly in November last year. And then there were the “Boys In Green” Ireland, who managed to inflict a 1-0 win over the Azzuri in their last group stage game.

Now, Spain awaits in the Round of 16, a tantalising re-run of the final four years ago in Kiev, Ukraine.

A night to forget

Those 90 minutes were a deep disappointment for Italy. In the semi-finals, Italy had sprung a major surprise against Germany, but Spain outwitted and outplayed the Squadra Azzurra by narrowing the midfield and pushing up their full-backs. The Spaniards made plenty of runs in behind the Italian defence. On the night, they finally blended possession with penetration. Spain’s first two goals were a perfect microcosm of advanced “tiki taka” football, David Silva’s opening goal the result of elaborate passing, Jordi Alba’s second goal courtesy of direct play.

Against that backdrop, the Italians will seek to redeem the form of their opening game, because much of their tournament so far has been a typical undulation of the excellent, the mediocre and the outright bad – a group phase so befitting of Italy. A run of three straightforward group game wins has somehow never interested Italy – at the last European Championship, they drew with both Spain and Croatia, and only then defeated Ireland. This time, they won twice and lost once.

The Irish snatched a late winner, but Italy were playing with a glorified reserve team, with the Juventus defensive axis omitted and plenty of other changes. The line-up was almost a betrayal of “Contismo”, a philosophy built around tactical perfection achieved by meticulous analysis and dissection of the opponent. Instead, coach Antonio Conte rotated, because the result no longer mattered – Italy had won the group anyway.

Their performance elicited a lot of scrutiny – could Italy not simply play three games wholeheartedly? Conte was right though to alter his team – to rest some players and protect those on a yellow card and, as such, allow Italy to prepare in the best possible circumstances for their second-round game.

In a tournament of permutations, there is much irony to a Spain-Italy fixture so early on. Belgium won their pre-quarters game against Hungary on Sunday and sit on the easier side of the draw, with Hungary, Wales and possibly Portugal separating the Red Devils from the final on July 10. In contrast, Italy will need to overcome Spain, then possibly Germany and hosts France if they fancy an ultimate rematch with the Belgians.

Classically Italian

But it’s precisely that opening victory over Belgium that has provided Italy with a blueprint for success – a tactical masterclass, not cynical or brutal but measured. The Italians coupled aptitude with attitude. Leonardo Bonucci excelled, so easily containing the muscular Romelu Lukaku, so brilliant in liberating Emanuele Giaccherini with a caressed long ball.

Belgium had 55% of the possession and 18 goal-scoring attempts, of which only two were on target. In trademark style, Italy happily conceded the ball, but they were more clinical, more lethal when moving forward, aided by quicksilver transitioning.

Above all, it was a classic Italian performance, with real defenders defending in the time-tested manner of their patented “Cataneccio” style. They committed professional faults when required, they hoofed it long when defensively in doubt. That same application will be key against Spain.

Spain's main weapon

Alvaro Morata, once a shy understudy at Real Madrid, blossomed into a full-blown striker at Italian giants Juventus. There, he soaked up the advice from talismanic players such as Gianluigi Buffon and Andrea Pirlo. He steadily improved in a physical league and incrementally understood what it took to beat defenders of the calibre of Giorgio Chiellini.

Morata is Spain’s weapon to unpick the Italian rearguard. His understanding of defensive intricacy can unsettle and destabilise the Juventus trio of Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci.

However, Morata will need the supply of Andres Iniesta from further down the field. The Barcelona captain’s group phase was brilliant, with the notable exception of an underwhelming game against Croatia. If he can drift between the lines and distribute possession, Morata will not be isolated and danger will ensue.

Italy must ensure they break up that link. It will be Italy’s defence that has to come in between Morata and Iniesta as tactic takes on technique, with a quarter-final place and the exorcism of a Kiev night at stake.