As Spain walked down the tunnel, the reality of the tournament set in.
They had beaten Italy.
But there were bigger battles ahead.
The next match would decide everything.
And for Izan, one thing was clearâ
He wasnât finished yet.
.....
The football world had been watching Spain closely. A squad full of young stars, bursting with talent, but with questions lingering about whether they could truly challenge the established favorites.
But against Italy, those questions were answered.
Spain didnât just winâthey won in fashion.
From the very first whistle, La Roja played with intensity, precision, and confidence.
Izan, the youngest player on the pitch, danced through Italyâs defense, playing with a maturity beyond his years.
Nico Williams was electric on the left, stretching the defense and creating space. Lamine Yamal, barely 17, weaved through challenges with a veteranâs composure.
And in midfield, Pedri controlled the tempo like a seasoned maestro.
Italy had moments, but David Raya stood firm, denying them any lifeline. Rodri and Laporte marshaled the defense, keeping things organized while allowing the attack to flourish.
It was a performance that sent a message across EuropeâSpain werenât here just to compete. They were here to win.
...âŠ.
Inside the BBC studio, Gary Lineker shook his head, a smile creeping onto his face.
"Well, if there was any doubt about Spain before this match, I think we can put that to bed now. That was a statement performance."
Cesc FĂ bregas, nodding in agreement, leaned forward. "Itâs not just the result, Gary. Itâs the way they played.
They controlled this match. Italy are no pushovers, but Spain made them look like one."
Rio Ferdinand interjected, grinning. "And thatâs because of players like Izan, Nico Williams, and Lamine Yamal.
They just ran Italy ragged. Every time they got the ball, you could see Italyâs defenders panic. They had no clue how to deal with them."
Zabaleta, ever the tactician, pointed at the replay screen. "But it wasnât just the attack.
Look at this momentâRodri stepping in, intercepting the pass, and immediately setting the tempo. Thatâs why Spain looked so dominant. He gives the attack freedom."
Alex Scott chimed in, nodding. "And letâs not forget David Raya. He had some huge moments in goal.
People were wondering if Unai SimĂłn being dropped would affect Spain, but Raya showed tonight that heâs more than capable."
Lineker laughed. "So, Cesc, let me ask youâhow far can this Spain team go?"
FĂ bregas didnât hesitate. "If they keep playing like this? They can win the whole thing."
...
Meanwhile, in Italy, the mood was grim. Alessandro Del Piero sat in the Sky Italia studio, arms crossed.
"This was tough to watch," he admitted. "Spain were just⊠better. Everywhere. I thought after Chiesaâs goal, we might be able to spur back to life.
They had more energy, more ideas, and more quality in the final third."
Fabio Capello, always brutally honest, sighed. "We were outplayed. Completely. Izan? Magnificent. Lamine Yamal? Unstoppable.
Nico Williams? Dangerous all night. And then Pedri, just orchestrating everything in midfield. Spain made us chase shadows."
Del Piero gestured at the screen. "Look at how Spainâs attack moves together. Izan drops deep, Pedri slides into space, and Lamine pulls defenders awayâitâs all so fluid.
Compare that to Italy, where we struggled to string five passes together in the final third. Itâs the difference between a team that knows exactly what they want to do⊠and a team that doesnât."
Capello nodded. "Spain are a machine right now. And if they keep playing like this, I donât see many teams stopping them."
...âŠ.
Over in the CBS studio, Thierry Henry couldnât hide his admiration. "Izan stole the headlines, and rightfully so. But this wasnât just about him. This was about a team."
Guillem BalaguĂ©, ever the tactician, jumped in. "Exactly, Thierry. Everyone played their part. Lamine Yamalâso smooth in possession, always making things happen.
Nico Williamsâelectric, direct, fearless. Pedriâdictating the tempo, keeping Spain ticking. And letâs talk about David Raya. He made some huge saves."
Henry pointed at the screen. "And letâs not forget the defense. Rodri was immense. Heâs the glue that holds it all together.
He gives Izan, Pedri, and Lamine the freedom to attack without worrying about whatâs behind them. Thatâs why Spain looks so balanced."
BalaguĂ© nodded. "And thatâs what makes them scary. They donât rely on one star. They have multiple players who can hurt you."
With six points from two games, Spain had secured their place in the Round of 16 with a match to spare.
That gave them a valuable advantage: the ability to rotate and rest key players before the knockout rounds.
Alex Scott, back in the BBC studio, analyzed the situation. "Spain are already through, and thatâs huge.
Now they can manage their squad, give some players a break, and make sure theyâre fresh for the knockout rounds.
Thatâs something the other big teams might not have the luxury of doing."
Zabaleta nodded. "And itâs not just about restâitâs about keeping everyone involved.
Maybe we see Dani Olmo get more minutes, or Ferran Torres. Spain have depth, and that could be crucial later in the tournament."
Gary Lineker smiled. "Spain have arrived, havenât they?"
Cesc FĂ bregas leaned back, confidence in his voice. "Oh, theyâve more than arrived, Gary. Theyâre here to win."
But this wasnât just about Izanâit was about a squad full of players hitting their stride at the right time.
Lamine Yamal. Nico Williams. Pedri. Rodri. Raya. The list of standouts was long.
And thatâs what made Spain so frightening.
They didnât just have one superstar.
They had a team.
A team that looked ready to go all the way.
...
The bus ride back to Spainâs training camp was lively, the energy still buzzing from the night before.
Players leaned back in their seats, scrolling through their phones, reading reactions, and watching highlights of their dominant win over Italy.
The younger onesâLamine Yamal, Nico Williams, and Izanâlaughed at memes circulating on social media.
"Look at this one," Nico grinned, turning his phone toward Izan. It was a still image of him sprinting past an Italian defender, captioned: Check your mirrors, Nico Williams is coming.
Izan smirked, but his focus was elsewhere. He glanced at the comments under his postâa flood of praise, shock, and excitement. His name was everywhere.
Some called him the breakout star of the tournament. Others compared his performance to past legends.
He locked his phone and leaned his head against the window. Spain had made a statement that day, but there was still a long way to go.
.....
When the team bus pulled into their training complex, the mood was relaxed but upbeat.
Some players stretched their legs as they stepped off, others slung their bags over their shoulders, already thinking about recovery sessions.
The crisp night air greeted them as they made their way inside.
Just as they were about to split off, Luis de la Fuente gathered them in the common area.
"Listen up, everyone." His voice carried over the quiet murmurs. "Morning training is canceled."
A few eyebrows raised. Normally, even after a match, there was a light sessionârecovery work, tactics, and video analysis.
"Youâve earned a morning off," De la Fuente continued a small smile on his face. "Do what you wantârest, explore, get a massage, whatever helps you recharge. Just be back for the team lunch at three."
A murmur of approval spread through the squad. Some players immediately started discussing plans.
"Golf?" Rodri suggested, turning to Laporte and FabiĂĄn Ruiz.
"Iâm in," Laporte nodded.
"I might check out the lake," Pedri mused, already picturing a quiet morning.
"Spa," Morata said firmly, stretching his back. "Definitely the spa."
Nico Williams nudged Lamine Yamal. "Letâs go check out the basketball court."
Izan stood quietly for a moment, considering his options. He had expected another intense day of training.
Now, with a free morning ahead, he had time to breathe.
Time to think.
As his teammates dispersed, he made his way toward his room. He had an idea of how he wanted to spend his next morning.
And it didnât involve staying inside.
....
Izanâs eyes flickered open to the faint hum of the early morning. No alarms, no urgent knocks at his doorâjust a quiet stillness that felt almost unnatural after days of rigid schedules.
He exhaled, staring at the ceiling for a moment before sitting up, the ache in his legs a reminder of last nightâs battle.
The floor was cool as he stood, rolling his neck to shake off the last traces of sleep. His phone sat face down on the bedside table, buzzing occasionally with notifications, but he ignored it.
He already knew what theyâd say. Instead, he walked to the sink, splashing cold water on his face, the shock jolting him fully awake.
Within minutes, he was dressedâlight tracksuit, sneakers laced tight.
He grabbed his headphones and tossed them into his bag. He wasnât staying inside. He had a different kind of morning in mind.
A/n: Have this dear readers. I know Iâm milking it but we canât jump right to the final boss right.
But the next few matches will be fast, especially with Albania and the round of 16 match too so we can get this over with.
IRL, Spain won by 1-0 so sorry to the Italian readers. Love yâall