What a difference five minutes can make in modern football, especially at a Euro finals that has seen an abundance of late goals and shocks.
With just five minutes remaining in Wednesday's Group D clash between Spain and Croatia, Spain were sitting pretty with a useful 1-1 draw that would have left them top of the group and heading for the easier half of the knockout bracket against one of the third-placed teams as their round of 16 opponents.
Instead, La Roja allowed Croatia an unlikely late winner and in consequence Spain must now face Group E winners Italy.
Monday's match in Saint-Denis is a repeat of the 2012 final which Spain won 4-0. The sides also met at Euro 2008, with Spain winning the quarter-final on penalties en route to the title.
"We know that Italy are going to be difficult opponents, they always are," said midfield anchorman Sergio Busquets.
"They will be keen to take revenge on us. We are sure of that ... but we think that we have the resources to be able to deal with them."
Midfielder Koke named the chances of progressing 50-50 because "there is no favourite in a match with two such big teams. It will be a hard-fought match and we must play really well to advance".
According to media reports, Koke could make the starting 11 for the first time at the tournament as coach Vicente del Bosque is considering changes, with Thiago and Aritz Aduriz also tipped to be brought in.
Del Bosque has been quick to defend keeper David de Gea after his shaky display against Croatia, and is sure to opt for him again Monday instead of going back to veteran Iker Casillas.
"I don't think we lost because of De Gea. We lost for many reasons. We are all to blame.
"Italy have a lot of virtues and we will need to show them a lot of respect. They are very dangerous and efficient in both penalty areas."
Monday's game could be Del Bosque's swansong on the Spain bench, given that he has said many times that he intends to retire after the tournament.
The Azzurri also lost their last match, 1-0 against Ireland with several reserves as they had already won the group.
Antonio Candreva is set to return to the line-up, and Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini expects details to make the difference even though "Spain appear unbeatable" on paper.
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