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Spain veteran Andres Iniesta has admitted that facing Italy earlier than planned 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 the 2012 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 if we are to keep developing and taking steps 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 enter what is deemed to be the easier side of the draw. "Contrary to what people are saying, they have also improved a great deal in terms of possession and ball-handling," Iniesta said of Italy. "They really stepped up, which makes the game on Monday even more complex and our aspirations even more difficult. "This is how things went, we lost and now 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 of passing [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." Meanwhile, Spain coach Vicente del Bosque cautioned reporters against making assumptions. "Football is not like tennis," he told AS. "Are you sure that Germany and Slovakia are going to win? Nothing is a given." He outlined the changes Italy has gone through since 2012 when Spain thrashed them in the European Championship final. "They are very good defensively, but Italy also have attacking players," he said. "They have great wingers, two strikers and is true that they have a defensive quartet with three centre-backs and [Daniele] De Rossi which are irreplaceable, but they don't have to be a defensive team. They have changed the midfield and maybe will be more direct towards goal than 2012." He also said it was unfair to draw comparisons to the previous European Championship. "I don't see their team as absolutely defensive even if they hold that badge. The centre-backs play fantastic, they know each other very well. "In 2012, we played without forwards and with more midfielders," he said. "There are changes that happen in four years, new players get called up, that's how life is. There is no need to invent something new all the time. [David] Silva is a great player, Cesc [Fabregas] is another great player and both have been many years with us... If they are fit to play, why wouldn't they?" Finally, Del Bosque said that if there were penalty kicks against Italy, he would not change his plan. "I always let the players decide. It's a symptom of strength, they are the main protagonist in the field," he said. "There is nothing better than to see the players be comfortable with the football system of play you choose. I will never impose my will. "If there is a penalty against Italy, it will be the same. A penalty is not an action that is trained. If I pick a ball now and shoot, it will be with the most incredible sense of security because no one is watching me. If there is tension then it's completely different. That is untrainable."
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