SPAIN starting XI (4-2-3-1): Unai Simon, Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella, Rodri, Fabian Ruiz (subbed for Merino, Yamal (subbed for Ferran Torres), Pedri (subbed for Alex Baena), Nico Williams (subbed for Perez), Morata (subbed for Oyarzabal)

Bench: Raya, Remiro, Nacho, Vivian, Joselu, Olmo, Grimaldo, Zubimendi, Jesus Navas, Fermin Lopez

Goals: Calafiori 55’ (OG)

ITALY starting XI (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma, Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori, Dimarco, Barella, Jorginho (subbed for Cristante), Chiesa (subbed for Zaccagni), Frattesi (subbed for Cambiaso), Pellegrini (subbed for Raspadori, Scamacca (subbed for Retegui)

Bench: Vicario, Meret, Buongiorno, Gatti, Darmian, Bellanova, Mancini, Fagioli, El Shaarawy, Folorunsho

The three-time European champions advanced to the round of 16 at Euro 2024 after a 1-0 win against holders Italy on Friday morning (AEST).

The 55th-minute own goal by Riccardo Calafiori didn’t begin to tell the story of a statement performance from Spain, who surely now are one of the favourites to win a record-extending fourth European Championship.

“I think it was the best Spain performance I have taken charge of,” coach Luis de la Fuente said. “I don’t see a ceiling on this team. The sky is the limit.”

Spain totally dominated defending champions Italy, with 16-year-old winger Lamine Yamal further enhancing his reputation as one of football’s most exciting young stars.

Player-of-the-match Nico Williams also tormented Italy’s defenders and was the width of the crossbar away from scoring in the second half.

It took Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to keep the score down with a string of fine saves until inadvertently pushing the ball into the legs of Calafiori, who couldn’t prevent it from ricocheting into his own goal.

“They deserved to win, and we were never in the game,” Italy coach Luciano Spalletti said.

“There was too much of a gulf. We were constantly stretched; we were never able to squeeze the gaps between the various units and they were able to cause us problems.

“They caused us more problems than the scoreline suggests, let’s not beat around the bush.”

Spain produced a throwback performance that brought to mind the years when they ruled international football when winning back-to-back Euros and the World Cup from 2008 through 2012.

Having failed to dominate possession for the first time in 136 competitive games in their opening 3-0 win over Croatia, Spain were back to their old ways in starving Italy of the ball and dictating play in a largely lopsided game.

Chances came thick and fast in the first half with Donnarumma pulling off a string of saves to keep the score goalless.

For all of Spain’s superiority, it took Calafiori’s own goal to break the deadlock after halftime.

Williams was then millimetres away from extending the lead with a curling shot that hit the crossbar.

“We dominated across the board,” Williams said. “Italy are an excellent side, but we played very well and deserved to win.”