Ventura: 'Anxious' Italy could have won

Vitolo pounced on a rare Gigi Buffon howler to open the scoring before Daniele De Rossi converted a penalty in the World Cup qualifier in Turin.

“We paid the price for a little tension, as every time we won back possession in the first half, we’d give it back two seconds later. We shook off the anxiety, started to push, go one on one and had the chances to win the game,” the coach told Rai Sport.

“We knew Spain would keep possession, but it’s equally true the goal was a fluke and Buffon didn’t have to make a real save.

“I think it’s a good result, considering Spain’s condition and our many injury issues. It was a great game from Andrea Belotti and Ciro Immobile off the bench.

“I have already said there are 48 hours to the next match and it’ll be difficult to recover completely, so it was about measuring out the playing time rather than leaving anyone out.

“Spain have always been considered favourites, but this match told us something else. We realised that if we want to, we can. If we push hard, much harder than we did tonight, then we can be protagonists.

“I am glad that this draw will force many to reflect on the situation.”

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