### Spain Surges to Victory Against Italy
In a closely contested match, Spain triumphed over Italy with a 1-0 win, propelled by an own goal from Riccardo Calafiori in the 55th minute. Spain's dominance was evident throughout the game as they maintained nearly 60% possession and tallied an impressive 20 shots. Italy, conversely, struggled to create opportunities, managing only four attempts on goal.
Gianluigi Donnarumma played a crucial role for Italy, making eight key saves to keep his team in contention. However, the decisive moment came when Nico Williams delivered a sharp cross to Alvaro Morata, leading to the fateful own goal by Calafiori. This victory ensured Spain's advancement with a game to spare, solidifying their status as strong contenders for the tournament.
Spain, however, will face the challenge of playing their Group B finale against Albania without their key midfielder, Rodri, who is suspended. Despite this setback, Spain's commanding performance has marked them as tournament favorites.
### England's Stalemate with Denmark
England managed to hold on to the top spot in Group C after a 1-1 draw with Denmark. Harry Kane gave England an early lead, but Morten Hjulmand’s equalizer ensured that the points were shared. The match highlighted some vulnerabilities in England’s game, particularly their tendency toward sloppy play and turnovers.
After Kane's early goal, England opted for deep defensive play, which eventually allowed Denmark to capitalize on a turnover from a throw-in. Hjulmand's low strike rebounded off the post and found its way into the net. England was unable to recover their momentum for the remainder of the match.
Substitutes brought on by England failed to lift the team’s performance, and defensive errors continued to plague them, providing Denmark with multiple chances. For England, this tie underscores the need to improve and reassure their fans that they are on a trajectory to win the tournament. As one observer noted, "There is work to do for England to convince a skeptical public back home that they are on a tournament-winning trajectory."
### Serbia's Last-Gasp Effort Against Slovenia
Serbia managed to keep their tournament hopes alive with a last-minute header from Luka Jovic, resulting in a 1-1 draw with Slovenia. Zan Karnicnik had given Slovenia the lead in the 69th minute, but Jovic’s late goal secured a valuable point for Serbia.
Before Jovic's dramatic equalizer, Aleksandar Mitrovic rattled the crossbar, highlighting Serbia’s persistent efforts to break through. Jovic's header, set up by Ivan Ilic's corner, finally sealed the draw as he outmaneuvered Jan Oblak in goal. This critical goal saved Serbia from potential elimination and set the stage for their final group game.
### Other Notable Matches
Germany advanced to the last 16 with a solid 2-0 victory over Hungary. Meanwhile, Switzerland and Scotland played to a 1-1 draw, leaving Switzerland in a strong position to advance, while Scotland and Hungary are likely to compete for third place.
Croatia and Albania also ended their match in a draw, sharing their first points of the tournament. In a dramatic turn of events, Gjasula scored an own goal and then managed to equalize in the 96th minute, ensuring his team earned a point.
### Upcoming Fixtures
Looking ahead to Friday, there are several enticing matchups on the schedule:
- Slovakia vs. Ukraine at 9 a.m. (Eastern)
- Poland vs. Austria at 12 p.m. (Eastern)
- Netherlands vs. France at 3 p.m. (Eastern)
### Key Quotes
Here are some key quotes extracted from match analyses and reports:
"Rodri will miss their Group B finale against Albania on Monday."
"This time the Three Lions' clean sheet was sullied."
"It's just not a particularly shrewd tactic when you are one shot away from a problem."
"England never roused themselves from that setback."
"There is work to do for England to convince a skeptical public back home that they are on a tournament-winning trajectory."
"Jovic's 96th-minute strike saved Serbia from potential elimination before their final group game."
Stay tuned for more updates as the tournament progresses, with excitement building for each upcoming match.