Xavi lays the ball back to Alonso and a trademark effort from the Spaniard fizzes just wide.
90' +1
Three additional minutes to this second half. Torres in the mix again, this time his cross is cut out and Italy move up field.
90'
A. Nocerino enters the game and replaces Thiago Motta.
Alonso strikes the long range free kick that is high and wide of Buffon's goal.
89'
C. Maggio gets yellow.
Maggio gets a yellow card for tripping Iniesta.
88'
Navas from the edge of the 18-yard box that Buffon collects with ease. Marchisio at the other end has a chance that Casillas collects.
86'
Final five minutes here and still the chances coming thick and fast.
85'
Torres once more clean through and his attempted lob is just over Buffon's bar.
84'
Arbeloa gets yellow.
Fernando Torres gets yellow.
Arbeloa gets a yellow card for a challenge off the ball, Torres also gets penciled in with an elbow.
83'
Torres runs at the Italian defense once more but a lazy ball this time is cut out and Italy clear up field.
Minute
Description
82'
Up to that Fàbregas goal Italy did not concede a single second half goal in the qualifiers – the only side not to do so.
81'
Last ten minutes plus stoppage time, who can muster up the winner?
80'
Xavi takes a pop but the Italian defense stands firm and the danger is cleared.
79'
G. Chiellini gets yellow.
Iniesta goes down on the edge of the Italian 18-yard box. Dangerous position here. Chiellini earns a yellow for his efforts there.
77'
Giovinco picks out Di Natale inside the Spanish box and his volley is just wide of Casillas post.
76'
Going into today Italy have a poor record at these championships, they have only won two of their last nine games at European Championship final tournaments.
75'
Torres almost through on goal, his first touch is too heavy though and Buffon just about gets the clearance in. Almost fairytale stuff there.
74'
Fernando Torres enters the game and replaces Fàbregas.
Fàbregas makes way for Torres as we are almost at the last 15 minute mark.
73'
Fernando Torres is warming up on the bench, Del Bosque barking orders at the Chelsea man, could this be his moment?
72'
Pretty even at this juncture as both countries are still willing to press forward for the victory.
70'
Jesús Navas attempted cross is deflected out for a Spanish corner. Once again taken deep and Piqué heads back into the danger area where two players collide, free kick to Italy.
69'
A promising attack from Italy ends with a disappointing chip into the box from Pirlo that Casillas collects.
68'
Challenges coming thick and fast now but the Italians must hold their discipline if they are going to get anything out of this game.
66'
L. Bonucci gets yellow.
Jordi Alba gets yellow.
Bonucci receives a yellow card for a high challenge on Iniesta.
65'
Jesús Navas enters the game and replaces David Silva.
S. Giovinco enters the game and replaces A. Cassano.
64'
Fàbregas has scored a goal for Spain! Assist by David Silva.
Goal Spain. Typical Spanish play. Silva with a delightful ball into the of Fàbregas and he smashes the ball past Buffon. Game on!
63'
Italy out in front and this should open up the game quite considerably.
62'
Spain and Italy have met six times previously in major international tournaments, with Spain’s only win coming on penalties in Euro 2008. Italy have won three, including a replay at the 1934 World Cup, and drawn two of the others.
60'
A. Di Natale has scored a goal for Italy! Assist by A. Pirlo.
Goal Italy. Piro slides the ball through to substitute Di Natale and he beats an advancing Casillas with aplomb.
58'
Busquets loses possession and pulls back Cassano. Lucky to escape a card there.
57'
Opened in 2011, the PGE Arena was previously called the Baltic Arena and has a capacity of 43,615 and is home to Lechia Gdańsk.
56'
A. Di Natale enters the game and replaces M. Balotelli.
Balotelli is substituted, that should give him time to sit down and think about that miss.
54'
That moment could come back to haunt Balotelli, should have scored there the Manchester City man.
53'
Balotelli steals the ball away from Ramos and runs at goal, he takes an age to set up his shot and a last ditched challenge saves the day for Spain.
52'
Corner comes to nothing as replays show that Iniesta's effort was oh so close.
51'
Xavi has an effort this time that is well wide of Buffon's right post. Fàbregas slides a ball to Iniesta and his shot races across the Italian goal. Buffon gets the slightest touch and it will be a corner kick.
50'
Fàbregas with an effort on the edge of the 18-yard box that Buffon parries out for a corner. The corner kick is taken short and Italy are able to clear the danger.
48'
A deep ball over the top of the Spanish defense doesn't fool Casillas as the big man comes and collects.
47'
Chiellini brings down his opponent and Spain earn a free kick in the Italian half. Taken short and the attack comes to nothing.
46'
Italy get the second half underway.
45' +1
Half time whistle blows and that Motta effort was the last action of the half. Teams go in level at 0-0.
45'
Italy almost break through. Cassano whips in a ball and a point blank header from Motta is saved by Casillas.
44'
Xavi picks out Iniesta and his lob is over Buffon's bar. A decent chance there for the Spanish.
43'
Silva causes concern in the Italian 18-yard box and Fàbregas' effort is out for a corner. The corner is deep again and Italy once more clear.
42'
Busquets with a late sliding challenge on Chiellini that earns the Italians a free kick in their own half.
41'
These two countries did meet four years ago at the quarter final stages of the 2008 European Championships. The teams were level 0-0 after extra time, Spain eventually progressed after a penalty shoot-out.
39'
Intricate passing from Spain almost creates an opening, Bonucci stifles out the danger and Italy clear.
38'
Game getting a little scrappy as we enter the 39th minute.
37'
M. Balotelli gets yellow.
Balotelli receives his first yellow of the tournament for a challenge on Chiellini!
36'
Cassano with a cross to the top of the 18-yard box and a Marchisio volley stings the hands of Casillas.
34'
Cassano shot takes an awkward bounce in front of Casillas and Balotelli can't get to the rebound. He thumps the ground in frustration and the referee has a little diplomatic word with him.
33'
Not much surprise in the score at this juncture but an open entertaining game to watch.
32'
Casillas dribbles with the ball insde his 18-yard box and Cassano almost chases him down but trips the Spanish keeper.
31'
Free kick to Spain taken square and Xavi tries to get something going but once again the Italian defense are up to the task.
30'
Corner taken deep and once again Italy clear up field with ease.
29'
Italy breaking up the majority of Spanish attacks so far but Spain do continue to press forward. Iniesta's cross is headed out for a corner by Chiellini.
28'
The free kick is blocked and a wasteful effort from Silva is collected by Buffon.
27'
Spain build again and Chiellini is a little unlucky to give away a free kick 30-yards out.
25'
Iniesta slips through the Italian defense and his effort is charged down. At the other end Cassano is adjudged off side as the Italians break.
24'
Del Bosque looking concerned on the sideline as Italy continue to find gaps in the Spanish defense.
23'
Cassano runs onto a delightful through ball and his shot across Casillas is just wide of the post.
22'
The form book says low scoring but this game is open with both countries willing to get forward and attack.
20'
Pirlo with a classic pass that almost gets Cassano in, Casillas comes out to collect.
19'
Almost at the twenty minute mark and Italy are raising a few eyebrows here, good stuff from the Italians.
18'
Arbeloa with a high challenge on Thiago Motta, the trainers are on and the game is halted briefly. No free kick though.
17'
Spain are without defensive talisman Carles Puyol and David Villa, who both failed to recover from injury to make the trip to Poland and Ukraine.
15'
Italy with a reasonable start to this encounter, Spain also with plenty of possession though. A Silva effort charged down by De Rossi.
13'
Wall lined up and a Pirlo effort beats the wall and Casillas makes a fine save low down to his right.
12'
Free kick to Italy on the edge of the Spanish box.
11'
Pirlo's corner is to the near post but is met by a solid Spanish defensive header. Spain break up field and another Silva effort is somewhat scuffed and Buffon collects.
10'
Balotelli at the other end has an effort that is deflected out for an Italy corner.
9'
Corner once more is floated in, Silva has an effort from distance that is way over Buffon's bar.
8'
Silva almost wriggles free inside the Italian 18-yard box before being smothered by Italian defenders. Corner to Spain.
7'
Pirlo with Italy's first corner of the afternoon which is taken short and Spain close ranks and snuffle out the attack.
6'
Jordi Alba with a meaty challenge on Maggio earns Italy a free kick. The set piece comes in and Spain clear their lines.
5'
We are into the 5th minute, not much in goal mouth action so far, Spain with plenty of possession.
4'
Spain begin their quest to become the first country to win back-to-back European titles today.
2'
First minute gone and almost exclusively Spain's possession. Spain win an early corner kick which is wasted and Italy are able to clear up field.
1'
Spain get the first half underway with the crowd in good voice.
Welcome to the magnificent PGE Arena in Gdańsk Poland for this Group C heavyweight clash between defending European champions Spain and Italy. We have Hungarian officials for this match; your referee will be Viktor Kassai and his linesmen Gábor Erős and Gyorgy Ring. The fourth official is William Collum from Scotland.
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