The last time Italy and Spain faced each other in the European Championships, the latter strolled to victory in the Euro 2012 final. This time around, there will be no summit clash between the two European giants, with Spain facing off against Italy as early as the last 16 of Euro 2016.
Spain are to blame for setting up what could have easily been the Euro 2016 final, after they conceded late against Croatia in their final group match. That loss meant Spain only finished second in their group, and with Italy topping theirs, the two champion teams were, unfortunately, drawn in the pre-quarterfinals.
Get the goals and highlights of the Italy vs Spain match HERE
While Spain are seen as the favourites to get past Italy, despite that defeat to Croatia, Italy manager Antonio Conte was in a fighting mood when talking to reporters on the eve of this match.
"We have a great deal of respect for Spain -- they are one of the best teams in the world and among the favourites to win UEFA Euro 2016," Conte said. "Even so, we've worked and prepared, and it's a last 16 game which will have no tomorrow for one of us. We must not have any regrets.
"I don't want to go home, the lads don't want to go home. We're not going to be sacrificial lambs -- it is up to Spain to prove they are better than us."
Spain definitely proved that in 2012, but then, this time, while having a lot of the same players, things are a little different. That aura of invincibility has gone after the Word Cup debacle in Brazil, and Spain are now considered just among a few of the elite European teams capable of winning the title.
Italy came into this tournament as a side not too many fancied to win, before rousing everyone's interest with an impeccable performance against Belgium. They followed that up with a really gutsy win over Sweden, before a much-changed unit fell 1-0 to the Republic of Ireland.
Defence, as always, will be the key and with Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci knowing Spain's centre-forward inside out, it will be interesting to see how Alvaro Morata copes against his Juventus teammates.
"Alvaro is still a lad and sometimes even he does not realise how good he is," another of Morata's Juventus teammates Gianluigi Buffon told UEFA's official website. "He has a quality which only great players have, which is in the big games and big occasions, he always tends to score.
"Certainly Spain are not only Morata, but certainly he is their main attacker for what he is doing in front of goal. He's the number one threat."
Indeed, Spain have continued to stay reliant on those wonderfully gifted playmakers, with Andres Iniesta having a wonderful first game, while David Silva and Cesc Fabregas have shown they are still far from a spent force. Nolito has added another dimension to their attacks, and Italy really will need to be at their defensive best to stop Spain from scoring.
"Italy have repeatedly shown that they are a very competitive team, they never give up easily, at the club level or at the national team level, that's why they have won so many World Cups," Spain manager Vicente Del Bosque said.
"I think we've got a good idea about how we want to play in relation to the players we've called up, and now it's about putting it into practice."
Where to Watch Live
Italy vs Spain -- Euro 2016 round of 16 match -- is scheduled for a 6 p.m. local time (9.30 p.m. IST, 5 p.m. BST, 12 p.m. ET) start. The TV and live streaming information is below.
India: TV: Sony Six/HD and ESPN/HD. Live Streaming: Sonyliv and ESPN.in.
Italy: TV: Rai Uno and Sky Sport Italia 1. Live Streaming: Sky Italia Go.
Spain: TV: TeleCinco Espana.
UK and Ireland: TV: BBC One. Live Streaming: BBC iPlayer. Radio: BBC Radio 5 Live.
France: TV: Bein Sports. Live Streaming: Bein Sports Connect.
USA: TV: ESPN and ESPN 3. Live Streaming: Watch ESPN.
Canada: TV: TSN and RDS. Live Streaming: TSN TV.
Australia: TV: Bein Sports and SBS One. Live Streaming: Bein Sports Connect.
Middle East and North Africa: TV: Bein Max 2 and Bein Max 3. Live Streaming: Bein SportsConnect.
South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa: TV: SuperSport 3. Live Streaming: SuperSport
Singapore: TV: Eleven Singapore, ABS-CBN and Singtel. Live Streaming: Singtel Go.
Malaysia: TV: Astro.
China and Hong Kong: TV: CCTV and LeTV.
Thailand: TV: Channel 3 and CTH.
Latin America: TV: DirecTV.
