Spain midfielder, Cesc Fabregas, has blamed the pitch in Gdansk for his side’s stuttering performance in their disappointing 1-1 draw with Italy.
“It is lamentable that we have to play on a pitch like this. I don’t want to complain but we deserve much more”, the Barcelona man said, after the reigning World and European champions failed to make the most of their chances against the Azzurri.
Spain had initially gone behind to an Antonio Di Natale goal on 61 minutes, but Fabregas, netted his ninth goal for Spain, just three minutes later. “After going behind, it is not a bad result. We have shown character and played well. We are still dependent on ourselves”, the 25-year old said.
Spain now go on to face the Republic of Ireland, on Thursday, and Fabregas is confident that his side will prosper in their remaining two Group C games: “It has been a difficult match; the most difficult one we have in the group, against a very strong rival”, he said.
The Republic will be smarting after a comprehensive 3-1 defeat at the hands of Croatia, and they will know that failure to take anything from their game with La Roja will mean an early exit from the tournament.
Even with the famed Irish pride, however, it is difficult to imagine Giovanni Trapattoni’s men coming away from that meeting with anything more than a comfortable defeat. The most likely result is 2-0 Spain, according to the football betting from Bet Victor.
Italy, meanwhile, will face the Croats in their next fixture, and they know that things could have worked out very differently, had Fernando Torres taken one of the three late chances that he was presented with, having come off the bench as a substitute.
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