Spain’s footballers cracked the Italian bulwark at the U21 European Championship and move into the KO round as group winners.
In the duel of the two possible German quarter-final opponents, the record European champion separated 1: 1 (0: 0) from the Azzurri, who had not previously conceded a goal in the tournament.
The Spaniards thus conclude group A in front of the also unbeaten Italians. Host Slovakia won 2: 1 (1: 0) against Romania, but had previously left.
The German U21 national team will play on Wednesday (9:00 p.m./SAT.1) against England for victory in Group B. If the team of coach Antonio di Salvo does not lose, the co-phase against Italy will start, otherwise Spain is waiting.
For the German scouts, the game in Trnava gave little information about the upcoming opponent, both coaches rotated and made ten changes in the starting eleven.
Jesus Rodriguez, who is already an integral part of the Spanish Conference League finalist Betis Sevilla at the age of 19, took the lead in the 53rd minute. Then Niccolo Pisilli from AS Rome (59.) equalized.