A historic clash for top spot in the group

The last three points at stake in Group B will decide which team goes through to the quarter-finals as group winners and as runners-up. The duel: an Italy-Spain match, one that nevertheless fails to set the pulse racing. The Spanish National Team, already qualified, come into the match with a two-point advantage over the 'Azzurre'. The Italians, with four points, occupy second position and have not yet sealed their passage through to the next round.

There are plenty of reasons for today's match not to be seen as just another game between these two teams. Furthermore, there is a lot of history between them, results of all kinds and a lot of tight tussles, almost always seeing results in favour of the Spanish. 18 games, 5 victories, 5 draws and 4 defeats, with 18 goals scored and 14 conceded. These are the figures of the historical head-to-head between two giants of the game. But tonight's match at the Stadion Wankdorf in Bern is different. It's at the Euros and there's a lot at stake.

A few months ago, on October 29 last year, Italy and Spain met in a friendly match at the Romeo Menti Stadium in Vicenza. The match ended with both teams level on the scoreboard, with goals from Alba Redondo and Beccari, both scored in the final moments of the match. Beyond other precedents in other competitions, that is history now; the two teams arrive into this third and final group stage match with different sensations. "Italy is motivated to play against Spain and they are a team that has evolved. We have an idea of what they have planned for us and we have prepared our strategy to be competitive and play as Spain do," the coach affirmed yesterday in the pre-match press conference.

Montse Tomé's team, who have scored 11 goals in two matches, arrive with their attacking forces in great form and with the good vibes in the squad after convincing victories against Portugal and Belgium. For their part, after the initial 1-0 win against Belgium, Italy could not achieve more than a one-all draw against Portugal. They let the victory slip away in the last gasps of the match, so they arrive in Bern with that bittersweet feeling of being so close to having secured qualification and the need to win to advance to the next round.

The Italian team, thirteenth in the FIFA rankings, led by Andrea Soncin, will undoubtedly be demanding   top spot and seal a brilliant group stage with a perfect record of victories opponents against whom Spain will have to be solid in defence to consolidate their