SAINT-DENIS: Giorgio Chiellini and Graziano Pelle scored as Italy broke a 22-year hoodoo to end Spain’s bid for a record third successive European title with a deserved 2-0 win over familiar foes in an absorbing last-16 clash between the two heavyweights at Euro 2016 on Monday.

Italy deserved their victory and were impressive from the start at Stade de France, stifling Spain’s attacking intent and creating several scoring opportunities with their slick interplay.

The landmark victory set up an epic Italy-Germany quarter final on Saturday in Bordeaux in another battle between a couple of powerhouses in European football.

That side of the draw also includes France and Iceland — the latter the surprise team of the tournament following their shock 2-1 victory over England on Monday.

“It was definitely a great performance,” Italy coach Antonio Conte said. “They did something fantastic tonight. They are great men and wonderful footballers.”

The Italians, who had not won a competitive match against Spain since the 1994 World Cup and were humiliated 4-0 by their old rivals in the Euro 2012 final in Kiev, were the better side on a damp evening, especially in the first half.

“There were several games we needed to take revenge for,” said Chiellini, one of four Italians who lost to Spain the last two times. “But we also wanted and deserved this victory.”

Italy, better organised and more aggressive before the break, had wasted several chances when Chiellini, a member of Italy’s resilient defence, put them ahead after 33 minutes, following up to tap in from close range after goalkeeper David de Gea could only parry Eder’s fiercely struck free-kick.

In the second half, Spain showed more menace and came close to equalizing on a couple of occasions.

Sergio Ramos nearly scored with a header from close range in the team’s first clear chance of the game, and Buffon had to make a difficult save on a powerful shot by Andres Iniesta in the 76th minute.

Buffon also made another impressive save in the 90th minute when he managed to get down and save Gerard Pique’s close-range strike.

“We waited too long before killing the game off,” Chiellini said. “We deserved to finish it earlier, and we suffered in the last 15 minutes.”

As Spain swept forward in search of the elusive equaliser, Italy counterattacked to put the match beyond doubt when striker Pelle connected with a deflected Matteo Darmian cross to volley home from close range, in injury time.

“The players have something important inside them, out of the ordinary”, said Conte, who was in the starting lineup when Italy beat Spain 2-1 in a fiery quarter-final at the 1994 World Cup.

“We have proved that Italy is not just catenaccio”, Conte added, using the Italian word to describe the team’s traditional, defensive-minded playing style.

The outgoing Italian manager Conte danced along the Stade de France touchline to celebrate while his players credited his tactics for the win.

“Conte is so important as a coach because he can implement a gameplan and he becomes more important with every match,” said defender Leonardo Bonucci. “This process which started two years ago has been essential.”

Spain’s defeat marked the end of an era for a side who had established themselves as the dominant force in Europe by winning the European Championship in 2008, after knocking out Italy in the quarter-finals, and repeated the success in 2012.

The Spaniards, who struggled to impose their trademark, quick passing game on a slippery pitch, had already suggested they were a fading force when they lost their world crown with a shock group-stage exit from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Their incredible success had made Spain the first national team to win three major tournaments in the modern era.

“We accept the defeat,” said Spain coach Vicente del Bosque, who added that he will meet the country’s football officials to discuss his immediate future.

“They were probably better,” he added. “They don’t play great football but they are strong in the air, very physical and they were dangerous.”

Playmaker Iniesta added: “We have to accept the disappointment. They were more clinical than us when it mattered and got the better of us.”

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2016