Spain completes Group B with perfection

A much-changed Spain secured a 1-0 victory over Albania in the final group stage game in group B on Monday as the three-time winners finished top of their group with nine points after three wins from three group stage games.

Spain faced a hopeful Albania, which was looking to win its first victory in the campaign after an impressive 2-2 draw against Croatia. It was difficult but not impossible; an Albania victory could’ve been enough to see them progress to the next round.

However, despite the number of tweaks to La Roja, Albania could not stop the Spaniards from securing all three points when Ferran Torres got on the end of a sweet team move to score the opening and only goal within the first 10 minutes of the game.

Spain had initially defeated Croatia 3-0 and Italy 1-0, while Albania lost their opening fixture 2-1 to Italy before the draw to Croatia. Spain has now finished top of group B with 9 points from 3 games and five goals called, with none conceded, while Italy progresses to the next round ahead of Croatia after a late goal secured a point to put them second on four points.

The results ensured that England, France, and the Netherlands all go through to the last 16 without playing, with all three teams guaranteed at least the third spot in their groups as they have four points.

Meanwhile, while Spain will wait to find out their opponents as they will face a third-placed finisher on Sunday in Cologne, Italy already knows their last 16 opponents with a game against Switzerland in Berlin on Saturday.

Albania has been totally knocked out, but Croatia still has a mathematical chance to be one of the best third-place teams. Croatia will qualify only if all these four scenarios happen: England beats Slovenia by three or more goals, Denmark beats Serbia, Turkey defeats the Czech Republic, and Portugal beats Georgia.