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Quarter-final 4: Spain v Italy

by Obi-Akpere | June 21, 2008 at 07:25 am

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Spain coach Luis Aragones is likely to revert to his first-choice XI having fielded his reserves in the 2-1 win over Greece.

Spain and Italy have played each other on 27 previous occasions. Spain have won eight, Italy nine and there have been 10 draws.

In competitive matches, Spain have been less successful winning just one out of nine. Italy have won five times and there have been three draws. Spain's sole competitive victory was in the very first match between the two, a 2-0 win at the 1920 Olympic Games.

The two teams have played each other twice at European Championships, drawing 0-0 in a group phase match in 1980 and Italy winning another group match 1-0 in 1988. Italy head coach Roberto Donadoni played in the latter of those games.

Spain have not lost to Italy in their last four encounters since a 2-1 defeat in the 1994 World Cup quarter-finals. Donadoni also played in that match

Aragones gave a strong indication to what his starting line-up might be when he played the XI in the first two games against the substitutes on Friday.

Italy midfielders Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo are suspended.

Alberto Aquilani and Massimo Ambrosini will probably come in while Daniele De Rossi and Simone Perrotta may start.

"Alberto Aquilani and I can co-exist quite well," Ambrosini said