Spain captain Andres Iniesta has admitted that facing Italy earlier thanplanned in the round-of-16 complicates their Euro 2016 title defence, but reminded teammates that "we are Spain."Italy topped Group E despite losing 1-0 to Ireland, but Spain's 2-1 loss to Croatia on Tuesday left the defending champions in second place in Group D. That sets up a meeting between the two giants in the second round -- a rematch of the2012 European Championship final, which Spain won 4-0 in Kiev.The round-of-16 match will be played at the Stade de France in Paris on Monday.
"They're a powerful rival, a difficult rival, and [it will be] a good game,"Iniesta told Gazzetta dello Sport."It's a game that will be useful to us ifwe are to keep developing and takingsteps in these Euros. Aside from the final four years ago, all of our games have been very closely fought. Italy have excellent players and a great defensive block we've known about for a long time."Iniesta admitted that Spain fell short of the goal of winning the group, which would have seen them face Portugal in the round of 16 and enterwhat is deemed to be the easier side of the draw."Contrary to what people are saying, they have also improved a great dealin terms of possession and ball-handling," Iniesta said of Italy."They really stepped up, which makesthe game on Monday even more complex and our aspirations even more difficult."This is how things went, we lost andnow we've got to deal with Italy. We must face this situation with the appropriate confidence, because I believe that if we play at our level then we have some good chances ofpassing [into the next round].
"It hasn't gone well, but we must continue, nothing has happened," Iniesta said of the defeat by Croatia."We're on the more complicated side [of the bracket] in theory but we are Spain and we have to remain confident."
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