| Mauro Camoranesi hit the bar and Luca Toni's goal was controversially disallowed, but Italy fell 1-0 in Spain to a stunning David Villa volley. It is their first defeat since a 3-1 friendly in Hungary on August 22, 2007. This was one of only two international friendlies that the Azzurri have prepared ahead of Euro 2008 and Roberto Donadoni seems to have chosen his 23-man squad. Marco Materazzi started in central defence despite poor form, while Mauro Camoranesi returned from injury to support Luca Toni in the habitual 4-2-3-1 system. Spain left Raul at home, but had Liverpool hitman Fernando Torres fit again. They were unbeaten in 13 games, which included 11 wins. It was extremely windy in Elche and Xavi flashed a weak effort across the face of goal, but Iker Casillas had to come flying out to clear off the feet of Antonio Di Natale. Italy hit the back of the net with Toni on 13 minutes, but it was disallowed. He got his glancing header to an Andrea Pirlo free kick from the left channel, but the referee blew the whistle for a dubious Fabio Cannavaro push at the back post. Casillas got down quickly to beat a Pirlo cross away from Toni's feet. Spain lost Carles Puyol to injury early on, making way for Albiol, but they passed the ball around well and Xavi drilled past the near post from the edge of the area. Marco Materazzi was sent off at Anfield in the Champions League for two fouls on Torres and he was booked here too for tripping the pacey Liverpool player. From that free kick Senna curled well over. Casillas was almost caught out by a Di Natale lob from distance and Senna blasted over from 30 metres. Toni opted to head a Di Natale cross towards Simone Perrotta rather than go for glory and it was intercepted. Torres dispossessed Pirlo on the edge of the box, but Cannavaro smartly blocked his path. There was chaos on 37 minutes and Spain should have scored, but Gigi Buffon parried both a Torres effort and Cesc Fabregas follow-up from point-blank range. Carlos Marchena prodded a Fabio Grosso cross out of Toni's path at the back post and on the counter Christian Panucci held off Silva at the byeline. In first half stoppages Arsenal star Fabregas unleashed a sudden daisy-cutter from 25 metres, forcing Buffon into a fantastic fingertip save at full stretch. Roberto Donadoni made three changes at the break, introducing Andrea Barzagli, Gennaro Gattuso and Marco Borriello for Materazzi, Pirlo and Toni. David Villa replaced Torres. It livened them up and Italy went closer than anyone to an opener on 51 minutes when Grosso's cross found a splendid left-foot Camoranesi volley that smashed against the underside of the crossbar. On the rebound Borriello's effort was charged down. Villa was booked for simulation on Barzagli, then Borriello held the ball up for another Camoranesi shot. Daniele De Rossi's free kick found Roma teammate Panucci at the back post to nod over. Alberto Aquilani came on for Perrotta, but a Sergio Ramos cross flashed across the entire face of goal with nobody from either team able to get a touch. Italy lost the ball on the edge of their own area, but Buffon did brilliantly to parry a fierce Fabregas shot from point-blank range. Barcelona full-back Gianluca Zambrotta took over from Panucci on the right channel. Gennaro Gattuso was fortunate not to give away a penalty for his clumsy challenge on Luis Garcia, but the referee was very close by and waved play on. Vincenzo Iaquinta replaced former Udinese teammate Di Natale and took on his wide left position. Camoranesi dribbled through the Spanish defence and was clear on goal, forcing an unorthodox save out of Casillas. However, Spain took the lead with a goal out of nowhere. Villa unleashed a rocket of a left-foot volley from the edge of the box on Cannavaro's weak clearance that flew under the bar, leaving Buffon with no chance. It was a fantastic finish.
Xabi Alonso's searching crossfield pass found Villa and Buffon smothered his chance for a brace. Italy had chances to equalise, but Borriello was charged down.
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