SAINT-MARTIN-DE-RE, France (AP) – Spain is pledging to stick to its acclaimed passing game to try to break through Italy’s equally famous defense in the round of 16 of the European Championship on Monday.
Facing one of the best defenses at Euro 2016, Spain is vowing to stay patient and keep the ball for as long as needed to create scoring chances against its old rival in Monday’s match at Stade de France.
“It’s difficult to score and it’s difficult to create opportunities against them,” Spain midfielder Thiago Alcantara said. “It’s a team that is well set up. It scores few goals but also concedes few goals. It will be a tough game. It’s always complicated to play against Italy.”
The two-time defending champion is pledging not to fall into the trap of changing its style and forcing balls into the Italian defense if it becomes difficult to get near Gianluigi Buffon’s goal.
“We’ve been successful with this type of game. We’ve become used to it,” Alcantara said. “We may vary our style at times, sometimes using a striker up front, but we have always maintained our passing game.”