We won’t fear group leaders Spain, says Italy defender Elisabetta Oliviero
Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox
Italy's Elisabetta Oliviero has said that her side will not fear Spain in their Euro 2025 clash on Friday.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
ST GALLEN – Italy go into their clash against Spain at Women’s Euro 2025 on July 11 with no fear of the Group B leaders, defender Elisabetta Oliviero said, despite her side needing at least a draw to ensure they progress alongside the Spaniards.
The Italians looked set to join Spain in the last eight, but they conceded a late equaliser in their previous game which gave Portugal a 1-1 draw and leaves Italy with some work to do.
They will be sure of reaching the quarter-finals if they avoid defeat by Spain, or if Portugal do not beat Belgium.
“It’s not a joke – I’m telling you, we don’t have any (fear) because it’s not a matter of fear,” Oliviero said.
“Tomorrow we play our game with a lot of respect, but I repeat, we will play for (against) Spain like any other nation we will meet, or any other situation.
“Spain has weak points like everyone, and we will definitely study them. Football is a special sport, and that’s the beauty of it. We will see many things on the pitch.”
Spain’s embarrassment of attacking riches has seen them score a staggering 11 goals in two games so far, thrashing Portugal 5-0 in their opener, and following that with a 6-2 drubbing of Belgium, to book their place in the last eight.
Spain’s Alexia Putellas and Esther Gonzalez have both scored three times so far in the tournament and the goalkeeper tasked with stopping them in training is not surprised at their form.
“When they score those goals in matches, I’m not surprised because they do exactly the same thing in training,” Spain’s Adriana Nanclares told reporters on July 9.
“In the end, it’s a luxury to have them.
“It speaks a lot about the individual ambition of each of them.”
The two sides meet at Bern’s Wankdorf Stadium on July 11.
Meanwhile, Lauren James made sure England avoided a major scare with a brace in the 4-0 thumping of the Netherlands in Zurich on July 9 which kick-started the Lionesses’ title defence.
Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone scored the other goals as England swept the Dutch aside and moved second in Group D, level on points with the Dutch, and three points behind leaders France who thrashed Wales 4-1 in St Gallen.
“I enjoyed it a lot. The goals say it all,” James said to the BBC.
“We bounced back from our previous game (2-1 loss to France) and today we showed we’re more than capable of showing the world what we can do.
“I just try to do my best each game.” REUTERS, AFP
