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Euro 2012 group stage

Spain 1 - Italy 1

Spain could only draw their opening group game against a better than expected Italy, who matched Del Bosque's side throughout the ninety minutes. The coach surprised everyone putting out a line up without an orthodox centre forward, and although Silva went close a couple of times early on, Casillas had to be at his best to keep out Pirlo, Cassano and Motta before the break. Spain came out strongly after the restart, Fàbregas testing Buffon and Xavi and Iniesta shooting just wide, but with an hour on the clock Pirlo put substitute Di Natale through for him to steer an angled shot past Casillas. Just four minutes later however Silva found Fàbregas for him to equalise, and Del Bosque turned to Jesús Navas and Fernando Torres to try and win the match. With Italian legs tiring, Torres got through twice only to waste the chances, and Casillas had to save the day when Marchisio cut his way through the Spanish defence in the final minutes. A fair result in the end, but the pressure is now on Spain to win their next match against Ireland on Thursday. (10.06.12)