PARIS: Holders Spain were knocked out of Euro 2016 in a 2-0 defeat by Italy on Monday after goals by Giorgio Chiellini and Graziano Pelle set up a quarter-final with world champions Germany.

Chiellini opened the scoring after 33 minutes while Pelle wrapped up the victory in stoppage time to end Spain’s reign as European champions which covered the 2008 and 2012 tournaments.

Spain’s best chances in the last 16 tie came late in the game when goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon parried strikes by Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2016