SPAIN will rekindle their rivalry with Italy in the UEFA Nations League as the teams have been drawn to clash in the semi-finals of the competition.
According to the draw held today, the other semi-final is between Croatia and The Netherlands.
The semi-finals, third-place match and final of the competition will be played in June in The Netherlands.
Spain and Italy are regular foes, having met 39 times overall, the former winning 12 to the latter’s 11 and 16 of the encounters ending in draws.
The two teams have won three of the last four European Championships between them, Spain claiming the titles in 2008 and 2012, while Italy won the last edition in 2021.
Spain defeated Italy on penalties in the quarter-finals on their way to winning the trophy in 2008.
The two sides then met twice in the 2012 Euros, drawing in the group stages before Spain crushed Italy 4-0 in the final to retain the trophy.
Italy took revenge in 2016 and 2021. The Azzurri defeated Spain 2-0 in the round of 16 in 2016 and then won on penalties in the semi-finals five years later on their way to their second Euros title.
On their own part, Qatar 2022 bronze medallists Croatia and quarter-finalists The Netherlands do not have such a rivalry.
The two have met only once before, with Croatia claiming the victory.
According to the UEFA Nations League Finals schedule, The Netherlands will battle Croatia in Rotterdam on June 14, with Spain meeting Italy the day after in Enschede.
The third-place match is set for June 18 in Enschede and the final on the same day in Rotterdam.
