Spain 3-0 Italy
No wonder the Bernabeu was bouncing!
For the first time in about four years, here was a sign of Spain returning to the vintage of which we’ve become so accustomed this millennium.
In fact, only a late offside flag prevented this from being a repeat of the one-sided Euro 2012 final.
It’s certainly advantage Spain sports betting fans and, based upon this showing, they could be serious contenders for next year’s World Cup.
For many more football games like this and the betting odds will shorten considerably on a second world title for the Spanish.
To put the result and performance into context, this was the Azurri’s first defeat in a qualifying match for more than a decade.
On the night veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon won his 170th cap, this Group G encounter was one to forget for anyone associated with the Italians.
Isco’s fine 14th minute free-kick set the hosts on their way before he doubled their lead five minutes before the break.
Again, another fine strike to rifle the ball past Buffon and give Spain breathing space on his home ground.
Italy huffed and puffed but failed to reduce the deficit to threaten a fightback and substitute Alvaro Morata fired the third past his former team-mate, moments after entering the fray.
So it’s Spain, surely, to Russia next summer and Italy, surely, to a play-off this autumn.
Simply scintillating!
Italy, hoping to win in Spain for the first time in 70 years, delivered the worst performance of Giampiero Ventura’s reign.
Viva Espana!
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