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4 vs 0
Played
July 1, 2012 7:45 PM BST
NSK Olimpijs'kyj — Kyiv (Kiev)
Referee:‬ Pedro Proença‎
Attendance:‬ 63170‎
 
14′ David Silva
 
41′ Jordi Alba
 
84′ Fernando Torres
 
88′ Juan Mata
 

Spain - Italy Preview: La Roja looking to make history in Euro 2012 finale

European glory beckons at Kiev's Olympic Stadium on Sunday night as the reigning champions go head-to-head with the Azzurri

By Karthick Arvinth

More On :  Italy, Spain, Spain vs Italy
  PROBABLE LINE-UPS

SPAIN

Casillas
Arbeloa, Pique, Ramos, Alba
Xavi, Busquets, Alonso
Silva, Fabregas, Iniesta
ITALY

Buffon
Abate, Barzagli, Chiellini, Balzaretti
Marchisio, Pirlo, De Rossi
Montolivo
Balotelli, Cassano

Spain boss Vicente del Bosque is expected to have a fully-fit squad for the Euro 2012 final showdown with Italy.

The 61-year-old's biggest selection dilemma is likely to be over whether to field a recognised striker after Alvaro Negredo's anonymous performance in the semi-final win over Portugal.

With Fernando Torres seemingly out of favour, and with Fernando Llorente yet to make an appearance at the tournament, Cesc Fabregas could be restored to a 'false nine' role up front alongside Andres Iniesta and David Silva.

Italy defender Ignazio Abate, who missed the semi-final win over Germany with a muscle injury, is likely to return to fitness in time for the final, while fellow full-back Christian Maggio is also available after serving a one-match ban.

Coach Cesare Prandelli may persist with the same formation that served him well against the Germans rather than revert to the unorthodox 3-5-2 line-up used in the opening match against Spain.

AC Milan-bound Riccardo Montolivo is likely to keep his place in the team ahead of Thiago Motta after an assured performance in the semi-final.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Spain are bidding to become the first team in history to win three successive major tournaments (Euro 2008, World Cup 2010 and Euro 2012) and the first to retain the Henri Delaunay trophy.
  • La Roja are contesting their fourth European Championship final (1964, 1984, 2008 and 2012). They have lost just one (1984).
  • Vicente del Bosque's side are 19 competitive games without defeat and have won their last nine knockout matches at major tournaments without conceding a goal.
  • However, the Iberian outfit have not registered a competitive win over Italy in nearly a century (with their penalty shoot-out success in the quarter-final of Euro 2008 classed as a draw). Their record in 11 previous meetings is W1, D5, L5, with the sole victory coming in the sides' first ever encounter at the 1920 Olympic games.
  • Italy are competing in their third European Championship final (1968, 2000, 2012). They have won just one (1968).
  • The Azzurri are facing Spain for the 31st time, with their record in prior encounters reading W10, D12, L8. The sides' most recent meeting was in their opening match in this tournament, which finished as a 1-1 draw.
  • Italy have won just two of their last eight matches in regulation time, but are yet to lose a competitive fixture under Cesare Prandelli.
  • With his double against Germany, Mario Balotelli (pictured right) became the first Italian to score three goals at a single European Championship.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Spain 1-2 Italy
    22.86 %
  • Spain 2-1 Italy
    14.54 %
  • Spain 0-1 Italy
    11.12 %
Head to Head
Euro 2012 ‎(EC)‎ Jul 1, 2012 Spain 4 - Italy 0
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Euro 2012 ‎(EC)‎ Jun 10, 2012 Spain 1 - Italy 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
International Friendlies ‎(FR)‎ Aug 10, 2011 Italy 2 - Spain 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
UEFA European Championship ‎(EC)‎ Jun 22, 2008 Spain 4 - Italy 2
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
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International Friendlies ‎(FR)‎ Mar 26, 2008 Spain 1 - Italy 0
  • Player Ratings
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Last Five Matches
Spain
Jun 16, 2013Spain 2 - Uruguay 1FCC
Jun 12, 2013Spain 2 - Ireland 0FR
Jun 8, 2013Spain 2 - Haiti 1FR
Mar 26, 2013France 0 - Spain 1WCQ
Mar 22, 2013Spain 1 - Finland 1WCQ
Italy
Jun 19, 2013Italy 4 - Japan 3FCC
Jun 16, 2013Mexico 1 - Italy 2FCC
Jun 11, 2013Italy 2 - Haiti 2FR
Jun 7, 2013Czech Rep. 0 - Italy 0WCQ
May 31, 2013Italy 4 - San Marino 0FR
Odds
Returns: Spain £22.00 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Returns: Draw £340.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Italy £610.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Team News
Available Squads
1Iker CasillasGoalkeeper
3PiquéDefender
15Sergio RamosDefender
17ArbeloaDefender
18Jordi AlbaDefender
6Andrés Iniesta LujánMidfielder
8XaviMidfielder
10Cesc FàbregasMidfielder
-Xabi Alonso
16BusquetsMidfielder
21David SilvaMidfielder
12Víctor ValdésGoalkeeper
23José Reina PaezGoalkeeper
2Raúl Albiol TortajadaDefender
4Javi MartínezMidfielder
-Juanfran
20Santi CazorlaMidfielder
22Jesús Navas GonzálezMidfielder
11PedroStriker
9Fernando TorresStriker
-Negredo
13Juan MataStriker
-Fernando Llorente
1Gianluigi BuffonGoalkeeper
3Giorgio ChielliniDefender
20Ignazio AbateDefender
15Andrea BarzagliDefender
19Leonardo BonucciDefender
8Claudio MarchisioMidfielder
16Daniele De RossiMidfielder
18Riccardo MontolivoMidfielder
21Andrea PirloMidfielder
9Mario BalotelliStriker
-Antonio Cassano
12Salvatore SiriguGoalkeeper
-Morgan De Sanctis
-Angelo Obinze Ogbonna
-Federico Balzaretti
2Christian MaggioMidfielder
-Thiago Motta
22Emanuele GiaccheriniMidfielder
10Sebastian GiovincoStriker
-Antonio Nocerino
-Antonio Di Natale
17Fabio BoriniStriker
23Alessandro DiamantiMidfielder
Players to Watch
Cesc Fàbregas
Cesc Fàbregas
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 10
Games Goals YC RC
6 2 0 0
Del Bosque's insistence on packing his side with as many playmakers as possible has rendered Spain slow and predictable in possession, with not enough width to stretch the opposition. The 61-year-old could compensate for this by ordering Fabregas to make runs behind the Italian backline as often as possible to drag defenders out of position, thus creating space for Iniesta and Silva to run into.
Andrea Pirlo
Andrea Pirlo
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 21
Games Goals YC RC
6 1 0 0
Italy's outstanding player in the tournament will look to repeat his majestic performance in the opening group match, where he carved open the Spanish defence on multiple occasions only for the forwards to fluff their lines. When a Spanish attack breaks down, Pirlo will look to release the ball quickly, possibly even over the top, and strike before the Spaniards can regroup.
Prediction
So tired did Spain look in the semi-final that it is tempting to declare that this is the perfect time to play them. This is a side that is used to obliterating everything in its way, and they have been reduced to grinding out results, almost as if they were, ironically, an old-fashioned Italian team. The Azzurri may have defied the odds to come this far, but they have all the weapons they need to hurt their opponents on the counter.
Editor's Prediction
Spain 0
Italy 1
Results
Final
Times In BST
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Match News
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Fernando Torres Fernando Torres
Striker
Chelsea 		3 0
Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker
Real Madrid 		3 0
Mario Gomez Mario Gomez
Striker
Bayern 		3 0
Mario Balotelli Mario Balotelli
Striker
Milan 		3 0
Mario Mandzukic Mario Mandzukic
Striker
Bayern 		3 0

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