What they said - Italy 2-0 Spain

Sport360 staff 23:12 27/06/2016
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  • Andres Iniesta was at a lost for words following elimination

    Giorgio Chiellini and Graziano Pelle scored the goals as Italy exacted revenge for their Euro 2012 final hammering by dumping Spain out of Euro 2016 with a deserved 2-0 last 16 win in Paris on Monday.

    Gianluigi Buffon saved from Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique late on to set up a mouthwatering quarter-final clash with Germany on Saturday in Bordeaux.

    Sport360 rounds-up the best of the reaction from both sides.

    Leonardo Bonucci, Italy man of the match

    “I am very proud. We are proud of what we produced on the pitch. We knew that only by running lots, having the will to win and working hard could we beat one of the best teams in the world. Now we need to think about the last-eight, which will be more demanding against the world champions.”

    “So we’ll enjoy this win tonight, but from tomorrow we’ll be focused and gathering strength because it will be another battle. I think that today we put in a great performance in all respects: moving the ball about, working for the team, in defence and attack. We created a lot of chances and offered very little to Spain.”

    Andres Iniesta, Spain

    “Well, I’m lost for words. We have to deal with our disappointment. They were more efficient when it was needed, they were superior. We were waiting too much for what they were going to do. Sometimes, these situations can come back to hurt you.”

    “During the second half, we fought more and the match was different. Of course, you can still end up on the losing side. Hopes were very high, but we have to deal with our disappointment. There’s nothing else to it: let’s think about the future.”

    Vincente Del Bosque, Spain head coach

    “Italy were the better team, and I wish them the best. We were a little shy in the first half. We improved a bit but we couldn’t get a goal because Italy were clearly superior”

    “I admit Italy were superior to us but to say they gave us a drubbing is excessive. You can’t doubt our good intentions, we had the desire to go for the game, but sometimes the opponents are better.”

    “I don’t think an era has ended, there are plenty of good players, the youth structure is strong, as are the clubs.”

    Antonio Conte, Italy head coach

    “It’s not the best era for Italian football so we can’t rely on great players, I’ve had a battle to make people realise this. Spanish football is in rude health so we should be extra proud of beating them.”

    “We’re going to need something super-extraordinary for that game, not just extraordinary. From tomorrow we’ll start to think of Germany. Like I say, for me Germany are on a higher level to everybody.”

    “We now face the best side at the European Championship next Saturday. It’s going to be very, very hard in all aspects. We’ve got to do well to recover and prepare it the best way we can. We are without Thiago Motta and that’s a big blow, also because De Rossi took a knock to his hip. But we know that in adversity, we give that little bit more.”

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