Spain Vs. Italy, Euro 2012 Final: La Roja Are The Champions Of Europe

'Respect For Italy!' Spain's Iker Casillas Asked Ref To End Game Early

The Passgoal And The 'Punch': Two Moments Which Define Spain 2012

Spain are brilliant, but not lovable.

Follow @SBNationSoccer

Euro 2012 Power Rankings: Spain Reign Supreme, Duh

31 matches in three weeks told us one thing -- Spain are really good. It also told us a bunch of other things about 15 other teams too so for one last time, let's rank the Euro 2012 teams.

Follow @SBNationSoccer

Euro 2012 Field Stormer Joins The Celebration

Fernando Torres' Daughter Knows Nothing But Spain Winning, Is Adorable

Spain Vs. Italy, Euro 2012: Final Score, La Roja Champions Again With 4-0 Victory

Italy were always fighting an uphill battle in the Euro 2012 final against Spain, but La Roja were allowed to coast to their third consecutive major title with a 4-0 victory over the Azzurri. Third and final Italy substitute Thiago Motta picked up a very bad leg injury in the 60th minute of the match, sending Italy down to 10 men when they trailed by two goals, effectively ending the game. It wasn't the way anyone wanted to see Spain win their record-setting third consecutive major championship, but they were the much better side for the opening 60 minutes of the match and their victory is well-deserved.

Spain got off to a brilliant start, and their pretty passing was rewarded with an opening goal in the 14th minute. They had been doing a fair bit of just keeping the ball in the middle of the pitch up until that point, but they cut open the Azzurri defense with a brilliant Andres Iniesta through ball. Cesc Fabregas ran onto it and cut the ball back for David Silva, who headed into the back of the net.

The Italians picked up the pace when they went down a goal and looked very good for most of the first half, but their defense was taken apart just before halftime. Xavi provided the assist on Jordi Alba's brilliant 41st minute goal, with Andrea Barzagli aiding the goal with some poor defending. He failed to make a decision to either attempt to catch Alba offside or back up, instead standing still as Alba blew by him on Xavi's through ball, then finished off the move to give his side a 2-0 lead heading into halftime.

Italy were forced to make a change due to injury in the first half with Federico Balzaretti replacing Giorgio Chiellini shortly after the Silva goal. Cesare Prandelli made another substitution at halftime, bringing on Antonio Di Natale for a very tired Antonio Cassano. That move paid off immediately in the 46th minute, when Di Natale headed a cross just over the bar. Five minutes later, he forced Iker Casillas into an excellent save.

In between those two shots, Leonardo Bonucci got away with a handball in the box that kept Italy's hopes of coming back alive, if only briefly. The ball bounced up into his raised hand following a free kick, and the Azzurri were lucky that a penalty was not granted.

It didn't take long at all for their luck to run out completely. In the 56th minute, Prandelli made his fourth and final substitution by bringing on Thiago Motta for Riccardo Montolivo. Four minutes later, Motta went down in a heap on a run forward with the ball, appearing to tear his hamstring. He was obviously unable to continue, forcing Italy, while 2-0 down, to finish the last 30 minutes of the match with 10 men. This was essentially the end of the game and completely took away any chance of an Italy comeback.

Spain did a lot of passing the ball in circles, showing a bit of mercy and understanding for their opponents' situation, but they still managed to get a goal for their much-maligned former superstar. Fernando Torres came on as a substitute and bagged a goal in the 84th minute, finishing calmly off of a brilliant through ball by Xavi. Juan Mata also came on as a substitute and was set up for a goal by Torres, his club teammate, who gifted him a tap-in with a great pass.

The finish was an anti-climactic one and Italy were robbed of a chance to fight their way back into the match by a freak injury, but there's no taking anything away from Spain. They were well on top for the entire match, and it would have been very surprising if the Azzurri managed to fight their way back into the game. Vicente del Bosque's side were fantastic on Sunday night and have cemented their place as one of the greatest international sides of all time.

You can find all of our previous coverage of the match in our Spain vs. Italy, Euro 2012 StoryStream. For more on Euro 2012 and the entire world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.

Spain Vs. Italy, Euro 2012 Final: Spain's Chelsea Contingent Notch 3rd And 4th Goals

Fernando Torres has now scored in back-to-back European Championship finals, which is not something I was expecting to have to write ever. The Chelsea striker came on for Cesc Fabregas a little while ago, and his movement looked positive but rather pointless in a match which Spain had basically already won. But Xavi decided to take advantage of it anyway, threading in a through ball through a flat Italy defence. Torres might have been expected to do nothing at all with the pass, but instead he opened up his body and slotted expertly past Gianluigi Buffon to make it 3-0.

Poor Italy -- that's a really painful scoreline and they're being blown off the pitch with ten men in the second half. Spain are so secure that Juan Mata's been allowed to make a cameo, his first minutes of the tournament. And still there's no Fernando Llorente.

Oh, and then Torres sets up Mata for the fourth goal. This is fair.

(This is not fair.)

We have live coverage of the match in our Spain vs. Italy, Euro 2012 StoryStream. For more on Euro 2012 and the entire world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.

Spain Vs. Italy, Euro 2012 Final: Pedro Makes Things More Spain-Like

It's the European Championship final. Spain are up 2-0, rather than 1-0, and have played some absolutely lovely football at times. Pedro was apparently worried that that wasn't quite Spain-y enough. This was his solution:

Doesn't get any more Spain-y, does it? Anyway, the actual match has been done for a while. It's so done, in fact, that Fernando Torres is now on the pitch. Nothing to see here. Go about your business, citizens of Earth.

We have live coverage of the match in our Spain vs. Italy, Euro 2012 StoryStream. For more on Euro 2012 and the entire world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.

Spain Vs. Italy, Euro 2012 Final: Thiago Motta Injury Forces Italy Down To 10

We're an hour into the Euro 2012 final, where Spain are cruising 2-0 against Italy. The Azzurri have used all of their substitutes, and Vicente del Bosque feels like he's being left out of the party. Off comes goalscorer David Silva, in goes Pedro, who's been pretty good so far this tournament. There's probably not a good tactical reason for the switch -- Pedro's more prone to defending, but there won't be that much more to do here.

And ... oh dear. Thiago Motta is being stretchered off the pitch with what looks awfully like a torn hamstring. He'd just come on for Riccardo Montolivo as Italy's third substitute. That means Italy are down to ten men against a team that was ripping them apart with eleven. This match is done. Poor Italy.

We have live coverage of the match in our Spain vs. Italy, Euro 2012 StoryStream. For more on Euro 2012 and the entire world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.

Spain Vs. Italy, Euro 2012 Final: Casillas Denies Di Natale

Spain have gone 450 minutes plus without conceding in Euro 2012 and well over 900 without conceding in the knockout rounds of major tournaments, but they really ought to have had their lead reduced here. Some clever attacking player from Italy exploited Jordi Alba's inattention on defence, and Antonio di Natale was on hand near the edge of the six yard box. The Udinese hitman should have scored, but Iker Casillas came out with a flying save to deny the only man to have beaten him this tournament.

Italy have looked significantly more threatening since di Natale's come on, at least -- that's two great chances to get themselves back into the game. In an attempt to switch things up, Cesare Prandelli deploys his third and final substitute: Thiago Motta for Riccardo Montolivo. Too little, too late.

We have live coverage of the match in our Spain vs. Italy, Euro 2012 StoryStream. For more on Euro 2012 and the entire world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.

Spain Vs. Italy, Euro 2012 Final: Spain Denied Penalty After Bonucci Handball

Italy have made a halftime substitution, pulling off Antonio Cassano for Udinese forward Antonio di Natale. "Toto" remains the only man to have scored against Spain in this tournament, and he nearly made an immediate impact in the final. Riccardo Montolivo and Ignazio Abate combined well down the left to set up a cross, and di Natale found himself with a free header in the centre of the cross, putting the ball just over the crossbar.

At the other end of the pitch, Spain have chances too, with Cesc Fabregas dragging a shot just wide. The next time they get the ball he managed to dance past both Federico Balzaretti and Leonardo Bonucci before Gianluigi Buffon made a scrambling save. Spain won a free kick shortly thereafter, and Sergio Ramos wanted a handball called on Bonucci after the defender blocked his header. With his arm.

So yeah, that should have been a penalty, but whatever. It's 2-0. Spain are winning this anyway.

We have live coverage of the match in our Spain vs. Italy, Euro 2012 StoryStream. For more on Euro 2012 and the entire world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.

Spain Vs. Italy, Euro 2012 Final: Halftime Score, La Roja Comfortably In Front 2-0

Update: Spain 4-0 Italy, Final Score

Italy held their own for most of the first 45 minutes of the Euro 2012 final against Spain, but the half belonged to La Roja. The reigning European champions scored a quick opener and reverted to a slow possession game, but they turned on the style with some quick counter-attacking at the end of the half. They're well in control at the moment with a 2-0 halftime lead.

On one particular early move, Spain looked like they might be content to just sit on the ball as per usual, and it might have lulled the Italians into a false sense of security. In the 10th minute, they ended what felt like a minute-long, 40-pass move with a shot by Xavi, which went screaming over the bar. Italy didn't close down at any point during the move, content to sit back and let Spain keep the ball away from the goal.

They also failed to close down Andres Iniesta four minutes later and they were made to pay for it. The Barcelona man started an attack with a brilliant through ball down the left flank for Cesc Fabregas, who beat Giorgio Chiellini to the byline and cut the ball back. David Silva made the perfect run into the box and headed the ball into the back of the net, giving Spain a 14th-minute lead.

Chiellini picked up an injury right around the time of that goal and eventually had to come out of the game. He was replaced by Federico Balzaretti, who is much more of a true left back.

Spain slowed down after their goal, looking like they were going to be content to hold onto a 1-0 lead. Italy started playing a more aggressive game, but never found a breakthrough. Iker Casillas was forced to make a punch on a cross in the 26th minute, then had to make a save on a shot by Antonio Cassano in the 29th minute. Cassano tested him again four minutes later, hitting a 25-yard rip that Casillas punched away.

With Italy playing aggressively and expecting methodical possession play from Spain, the champions struck with a fantastic quick counter. Xavi sprung left back Jordi Alba on an overlapping run and his soon-to-be Barcelona teammate torched the Azzurri defense, then finished past Gianluigi Buffon to double Spain's lead.

Italy played very well for a 25-minute spell in the first half, but their defense was cut up by spectacular Xavi and Iniesta through balls that bookended the period. This is the direct and fast Spain that the neutral viewing public has been waiting for, and their assertiveness has paid off with a two-goal lead.

We have live coverage of the match in our Spain vs. Italy, Euro 2012 StoryStream. For more on Euro 2012 and the entire world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.

Spain Vs. Italy, Euro 2012 Final: Jordi Alba Doubles Lead

Spain had been disappointing since David Silva's opener, but there's one player who doesn't really have a lower gear - Valencia (and soon to be Barcelona) left back Jordi Alba. He picks up possession deep in his own half and feeds Xavi before setting off on a hilariously direct run through the heart of the defence. Xavi picked him out perfectly with a through ball and Alba finished calmly past Gianluigi Buffon. While at full speed and having just run seventy yards down the pitch.

Tiki-taka it was not, but it was fun. Anyway, that's game over, in case you weren't aware. Spain haven't conceded a goal in knockout international games for almost ten and a half games worth of football, and they're not going to concede two here. Sorry, Italy; y'all are done. Andrea Barzagli is cranky about turn of events and takes out his anger on Andres Iniesta, picking up a booking for his troubles. Riccardo Montolivo, however, takes out his anger on the ball, but Iker Casillas is able to stop the midfielder's long-ranger.

We have live coverage of the match in our Spain vs. Italy, Euro 2012 StoryStream. For more on Euro 2012 and the entire world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.

Spain Vs. Italy, Euro 2012 Final: Spain Drop Down Several Gears

This is the Spainiest thing. They were absolutely dominant against Italy for the first fifteen minutes, scored a fantastic goal at high pace, showed the world that they can indeed play high-paced tiki-taka football when their opponents came after them... and since then they've down approximately nothing useful.

They're giving the ball away in midfield (and even defence), they're slowing things down on the attack, and they're generally looking nothing like the side that started the game. Spain get called boring sometimes, but maybe they're just exceptionally nice: Vicente del Bosque knows his team is so much better than everyone else it's unfair, so he makes sure they only do what's absolutely necessary to win and nothing more. He probably got angry when they scored twice against France.

We have live coverage of the match in our Spain vs. Italy, Euro 2012 StoryStream. For more on Euro 2012 and the entire world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.

Spain Vs. Italy, Euro 2012 Final: Italy Crank Up Pressure

Down 1-0 and one Giorgio Chiellini, Italy need to reply against Spain. They have. In the 26th minute, they nearly catch out Iker Casillas with a long cross which the goalkeeper touches away, but not far enough. The captain's relieved to see the ball crash off Jordi Alba rather than Mario Balotelli, and he's able to recover.

But Spain's play has dropped off since David Silva's goal and they're making some basic mistakes. Even Xavi Hernandez is being sloppy in possession, giving the ball away to Daniele de Rossi -- who's been absolutely sublime this tournament -- in the centre circle and eventually the Roma midfielder's able to ping the ball with to Antonio Cassano. He's able to drive towards the goal and nutmeg both Alvaro Arbeloa and Gerard Pique, but Casillas gets down to collect.

The Real Madrid goalkeeper is somewhat harder-pressed to keep out another effort a few minutes later from long range, but his punch avoids any blue shirts and Spain can escape.

We have live coverage of the match in our Spain vs. Italy, Euro 2012 StoryStream. For more on Euro 2012 and the entire world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.

Spain Vs. Italy, Euro 2012 Final: Giorgio Chiellini Injured

Italy are down 1-0 and there's worse news for the underdogs -- Giorgio Chiellini has gone down with a recurrance of the hamstring injury that kept him out earlier this tournament, and Cesare Prandelli has been forced to make a switch. Federico Balzaretti, who probably should have started anyway, comes in for the stricken defender. His first touch gives Spain a goal kick.

Chiellini's substitution is probably a good thing. He clearly wasn't one hundred percent and wasn't moving well whenever Spain attacked him. Nevertheless, this Italy defence suddenly feels far less secure. If Spain are in the mood to get more goals (which they're generally not, to be fair), this could be a very very bad day for Italy.

Meanwhile, Gerard Pique gets himself yellow carded for scything down Antonio Cassano. Silly boy. That was mean. All Cassano wants from life is to have sex and eat cake. He doesn't need flying tackles from giant lugs of defenders.

We have live coverage of the match in our Spain vs. Italy, Euro 2012 StoryStream. For more on Euro 2012 and the entire world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.

Spain Vs. Italy, Euro 2012 Final: David Silva Gives Spain Lead

Yeah, that was coming. Actually, scratch that. David Silva headed goals are never, ever coming. And yet, here one is. Andres Iniesta threads a pass in through the right channel for an onrushing Cesc Fabregas, and he blows past Giorgio Chiellini and cuts back for Silva, lurking on the edge of the six-yard box. The Manchester City midfielder pulls off a lovely flicked header, and Gianluigi Buffon can do absolutely nothing about it as it flies into the top corner to give the defending champions a 1-0 lead.

It's been a brilliant start from Spain, who are playing their best football of the tournament so far. Italy look at sixes and sevens -- if they want to get back into this match, they'll have to score against a team who haven't conceded in over 900 minutes of knockout football. Good luck with that.

We have live coverage of the match in our Spain vs. Italy, Euro 2012 StoryStream. For more on Euro 2012 and the entire world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.

So The Euro 2012 Final Pre-Game Was Trippy

Spain Vs. Italy, Euro 2012 Final: Xavi Shot Goes Just Over

Spain are stepping it up a gear, although they're obviously missing a centre forward. Jordi Alba, who's had a great tournament, is regularly rampaging down the left flank, with Andres Iniesta occupying Ignazio Abate's attention, but when Spain feed him the ball and he crosses, it's generally going un-attacked in the box.

Italy are working very hard on trying to restrict Cesc Fabregas, David Silva and Iniesta, but they're essentially ignoring Xavi, and it looks like the Barcelona man could make them pay. He plays a neat one-two with club teammate Fabregas before racing onto the edge of the box and blasting at Gianluigi Buffon's goal. It flies juuuuust over the crossbar.

Italy will need to improve the way they're picking up the Spanish runs soon or they're going to pay a pretty steep price.

We have live coverage of the match in our Spain vs. Italy, Euro 2012 StoryStream. For more on Euro 2012 and the entire world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.

Spain Vs. Italy, Euro 2012 Final: Italy Push, Spain Reply

Italy have been pressing forward more than expected in the early stages of the match, but confusion between Antonio Cassano and Riccardo Montolivo sees the striker tackle his own midfielder and lets Spain push up. David Silva goes on a merry romp through the defence before Claudio Marchisio can clean up an Andres Iniesta-bound pass. That was fairly dangerous. The Spain attack fizzles out, however, when Alvaro Arbeloa randomly elects to run straight into Giorgio Chiellini.

Shortly thereafter we get a Daniele di Rossi special. The Roma midfielder, not known for a calm temperament, wipes out Xavi in the middle of the pitch, giving Spain a reasonably dangerous free kick. Not that you'd have known that, considering Sergio Ramos' effort, which whizzed well over Gianluigi Buffon's crossbar. Still 0-0.

We have live coverage of the match in our Spain vs. Italy, Euro 2012 StoryStream. For more on Euro 2012 and the entire world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.

Spain Vs. Italy, Euro 2012 Final: Match Underway

There's on match of football left in Euro 2012. It's not going to go down as a classic unless something magical happens in this final, but hey, something magical could still happen in this final. Anyway, we're off and running in the Olympic Stadium, where Spain are taking on Italy. It's not the Spain-Germany final most were expecting, but it should still be plenty of fun*.

*If you reeeeally like short passing.

Spain kick us off, managing to hold the ball for fewer than twenty seconds before a loose forward pass gives Italy possession. The defence managed to recover, and they looked like breaking against Italy for a second if not for Andres Iniesta's flick being just a little bit off target. Italy eventually work it back, only for Andrea Pirlo to waste possession with a horribly shanked long-range shot. That's not like him.

We have live coverage of the match in our Spain vs. Italy, Euro 2012 StoryStream. For more on Euro 2012 and the entire world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.

Spain Vs. Italy, Euro 2012 Final: Lineup Analysis

After thousands of words worth of speculation from scribes worldwide, Vicente del Bosque has gone back to where he started. Cesc Fabregas will play as a 'striker', leading Spain's line with exactly the same starting eleven as faced Italy during their first match of the tournament. That's a contentious decision, but it's not necessarily a poor one - Italy's centre halves had trouble figuring out what to do in the opener, and this time Daniele di Rossi is in midfield and won't have quite as much time and space to distribute.

Spain need to answer questions about a cutting edge (or lack thereof) but it's worth pointing out that Fabregas was the one who scored the equaliser in that match. If that doesn't work, it's easy enough to introduce Fernando Torres, who caused Italy some problems with his movement when he came on against them last time out.

Italy have made one change - Federico Balzaretti has been dropped for the fit-again Ignazio Abate. It's an interesting decision on Cesare Prandelli's part, because Balzaretti had been the most in-form defender on the squad. Abate's the better call on paper, of course, but reintroducing him at a critical stage may have some adverse effects.

But it's more about the changes Prandelli didn't make. True to his word, Italy have not reverted to playing with a back three like they did in their first encounter with Spain - they're in a 4-3-1-2 this time out, which means they'll outnumber del Bosque's side in central midfield with a diamond. It's interesting that there's no place for Thiago Motta in the team, however, since Italy are going to need to work very hard chasing the ball, a task Motta is better suited for than Riccardo Montolivo, who remains in the lineup.

There's still a worrying lack of width in this Italy side. Antonio Cassano will rove down the wings, but that still leaves one flank vulnerable to a two on one overload (with Andres Iniesta and Jordi Alba or the less dangerous duo of Alvaro Arbeloa and David Silva) against one of Abate and Juventus centre back Giorgio Chiellini. Sure, they don't have the likes of Fernando Llorente in the centre to exploit their advantage out wide, but Spain have been pretty good at creating from the flanks in this tournament, and that's where Italy are going to be at their most vulnerable.

We'll have features, news updates and live coverage of the match in our Spain vs. Italy, Euro 2012 StoryStream. For more on Euro 2012 and the entire world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.

Spain Vs. Italy, Euro 2012 Final: Lineups

Italy has not reverted to three at the back as Cesare Prandelli promised, but he's not playing with a true left back either. The entire Juventus starting back three is intact even though the Azzurri are playing a back four. Ignazio Abate returns at right back while Giorgio Chiellini stays at left back. The rest of the Italy team is as expected. Spain have busted out no surprises, with Cesc Fabregas at center forward and the other 10 players unchanged.

Spain Lineup (4-3-3): Iker Casillas; Jordi Alba, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos, Alvaro Arbeloa; Sergio Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Xavi Hernandez; Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, David Silva

Italy Lineup (4-3-1-2): Gianluigi Buffon; Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, Ignazio Abate; Daniele De Rossi, Andrea Pirlo, Claudio Marchisio; Riccardo Montolivo; Antonio Cassano, Mario Balotelli

Kickoff is at 2:45 p.m. ET, 9:45 p.m. local time from the Olympic Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine. You can catch the game on ESPN in the United States, TSN in Canada or BBC One in the United Kingdom.

We'll have features, news updates and live coverage of the match in our Spain vs. Italy, Euro 2012 StoryStream. For more on Euro 2012 and the entire world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.

Balotellification: How Mario Balotelli (Might) Save Football

Mario Balotelli is on a mission: to simplify football. Tonight, he faces his biggest challenge.

Follow @SBNationSoccer

Spain Vs. Italy: How Will La Roja Counter Andrea Pirlo?

Spain are not used to having to mark a specific player on any team that they play against. It's rare that they aren't dominant throughout their matches, and it's even more rare that their opponents pass in any manner other than hopeful hoofing or safely backwards. One of those rare matches was their Group C encounter with Italy, who took what Spain gave them and exploited their weaknesses en route to a goal.

Andrea Pirlo, arguably the best player at Euro 2012, provided the assist for Antonio Di Natale on that goal. In one move, Italy took advantage of two Spanish tactics (or lack thereof) that granted them the ability to create scoring opportunities: Their unwillingness to man-mark Pirlo and their high defensive line.

Like he has throughout the tournament, Pirlo started an attacking move that led to a goal with a brilliant long ball, which he was allowed to play because he wasn't closed down quickly. None of Spain's three central midfield players can be classified as a runner or Raul Meireles-style "annoyer", so this could be a problem again. If Vicente del Bosque doesn't have some sort of plan for denying Pirlo time and space on the ball, he's probably going to get burned again.

Germany responded to this thread by man-marking Pirlo with Toni Kroos, which minimized Pirlo's impact to start the semifinal. However, Cesare Prandelli had a great answer for that tactic, swapping the positions of Pirlo and Riccardo Montolivo briefly. Montolivo was unmarked when he played the long ball from deep that led to Mario Balotelli's second goal because of that swap. He doesn't hit long balls with the consistency of Pirlo, but having two players who are elite passers from deep areas presents a difficult problem for any opponent.

Of course, Spain are the better side and could render all of this irrelevant if they play their best game going forward, but Italy aren't exactly massive underdogs, thanks to the matchup problems that their two registas present, as well as the tactical astuteness of their manager. If del Bosque can't figure out how to account for Pirlo while outsmarting Prandelli, an upset could be on the cards.

We'll have features, news updates and live coverage of the match in our Spain vs. Italy, Euro 2012 StoryStream. For more on Euro 2012 and the entire world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.

Spain Hope To Make History With Third Straight Major Win

If Italy, as expected, fail to beat Spain in the final of Euro 2012, Vicente del Bosque's side will have achieved a truly remarkable feat - winning three major tournaments in a row. No other side has ever managed it (unless we're counting the Olympics, which we're not). What's more, they'd have done so without ever really breaking a sweat.

Should Spain win at the Olympic Stadium, they'll probably win 1-0. It's their modus operandi, like Arsenal in the 1990s or Jose Mourinho's Chelsea. They don't score nearly as many as they could, of course, but that may well be besides the point. When push comes to shove, they don't concede either. Ever.

Since June 2006, Iker Casillas has seen his goal breached four times during the knockout rounds of the Euros and World Cup. All four goals came in penalty shootouts. Spain have played 900 minutes of football - ten matches' worth - and have yet to concede a real goal. Even if you wanted to be silly count the shootout goals, Spain's defensive record is equivalent to shipping 15 goals over a 38 game season.

Spain are built to win games, and win them in an absolutely soul-crushing manner. If they can claim their place in history by beating Italy, their victory will show the triumph of pragmatism over beauty.

We'll have features, news updates and live coverage of the match in our Spain vs. Italy, Euro 2012 StoryStream. For more on Euro 2012 and the entire world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.

Italy Vs. Spain, Euro 2012 Final: Giorgio Chiellini Isn't One Of The Best, But Azzurri Need Him To Be

Let's start with this: Giorgio Chiellini is not one of the best defenders in the world. He is the best defender that Italy has, which usually qualifies one for best defender in the world contention, and that he stars for Juventus does not hurt his case either. He is merely a very good defender. Chiellini has had some matches where he has looked fantastic, but he is not in the same category as Thiago Silva or Vincent Kompany, who make up the "Top Defenders in the World" class. In the Euro 2012 final against Spain, though, Italy will need Chiellini to play like the world's best.

Whether Spain plays with a striker or not, it will have runs coming from deep. Andrea Pirlo tracks runs like the 33-year-old that he is and Riccardo Montolivo isn't exactly a defensive mastermind. Those Spain runs will be coming in fast and furious, often diagonally and with minimal help from the midfield, and Italy's defense will be facing a tall task. Specifically, Chiellini will be facing a tall task.

The teams that do best against Spain are the ones who don't just defend in numbers, but get sensational matches from their top defender. Portugal got a magnificent effort from Pepe in the quarterfinals it they kept Spain scoreless for 120 minutes. When Croatia frustrated Spain in the group stage, it did it in large part thanks to Gordon Schildenfeld, who was tremendous.

Now it's Italy's turn to play Spain. They've done it once and managed a draw, but Spain got much better after that match. If Italy is going to do the same as it did in its first match, or even better and win, it will need Chiellini to be marvelous. He may not be one of the best defenders in the world, but he is capable of it. This time, a Euro trophy is dependent on it.

We'll have features, news updates and live coverage of the match in our Spain vs. Italy, Euro 2012 StoryStream. For more on Euro 2012 and the entire world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.

Spain Vs. Italy Outcome Has Different Meaning For The Two Managers

Vicente del Bosque and Cesare Prandelli may both be managing for the same trophy, but they each have vastly different stakes in the Euro 2012 final

Follow @SBNationSoccer

Italy's No-Winger, Minimal Width Formation Actually A Massive Step Forward

Italy stopped playing with wingers mid-way through Euro 2012 qualifying, and it was the smartest move that Cesare Prandell has made as Italy manager.

Follow @SBNationSoccer

Spain Vs. Italy, Euro 2012 Final: How Spain Got Here

And so we go back to where Euro 2012 began for Spain, with a match against Italy. Whoever predicted this? Very few, I'm sure.

But before there was the tournament, there was qualification, in which Spain was unrivaled, the only side to go through with a perfect record. Sure, Holland tried, but they had one loss, and look where that got them. Of course, Spain had to deal with mere mortals, easily dispensing with the likes of Lithuania and particularly Liechtenstein. Czech Republic and Scotland proved a little bit more difficult, but in the end they were pushed aside. Is it any wonder that la roja made it through with a +20 goal difference?

On to Poland / Ukraine, where life in Group C proved to be a bit more tricky. Spain took a strikerless formation into the opening game against Italy, prompting many of us to beg never to hear the phrase "false 9" again. It seemed it would be Cesare Prandelli's tactics that won out when Antonio Di Natale scored the opening goal in the 61st minute, but that cheeky false 9, Cesc Fabregas, answered with a goal of his own three minutes later, and that's how it ended, 1-1. But, Spain, you're going to actually need a win this time around.

The next match was easy as sin, as la roja showed its furia and took down Ireland, 4-0. And when it's Fernando Torres scoring a brace for your side, you know the gods were in your favor. On to Croatia, then, where Spain refused to do the honorable thing and set up a 2-2 draw to let the Croats go through to the quarterfinals. Instead it was an 88th minute shot from Jesus Navas that sealed the deal, sending Spain on to face France.

Perhaps if France had a competent coach or was able to play like a team rather than a bunch of individuals, the match wouldn't have been so one-sided. Instead les bleus were dispatched in such a boring manner that this author was actually relieved to get on a flight for 10 hours rather than watch the second half. Xabi Alonso put one away in the 19th minute, prompting 70 minutes of cat and mouse before he sunk a penalty in extra time, giving Spain the 2-0 win.

And then, Portugal, perhaps the most interesting match we've seen Spain play. Turns out they aren't so boring when the other team isn't so afraid of defeat. Portugal pressed la roja for the entirety of the game, with Spain really only truly threatening Rui Patrício's goal in the final minutes of added extra time. The Portuguese keeper was splendid, even saving the first penalty, from Xabi Alonso. Alas, Iker Casillas also saved his first, from Moutinho, and so with a Bruno Alves miss, Spain was on to the finals.

La roja might be champions of both the world and of Europe, but the past does not help them in their present. Like Portugal, Italy won't be fearful, sitting back and hoping for a chance goal. But, past aside, Spain remains the best team in Europe, and that's what makes the final theirs to lose.

We'll have features, news updates and live coverage of the match in our Spain vs. Italy, Euro 2012 StoryStream. For more on Euro 2012 and the entire world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.

Spain Vs. Italy, Euro 2012 Final: How Italy Got Here

We'd love to be all dramatic and say that this tournament is ending in the same way it started, with a match between Spain and Italy. But Euro 2012 actually began with Poland drawing with Greece, so let's face the facts and dial it back to when this really started: in South Africa in 2010, with Italy a laughingstock and Spain claiming all the glory.

Too far? OK, OK. Let's start with qualification for Euro 2012. Italy landed in Group C, with such heavyweights as the Faroe Islands and Northern Ireland. Its only serious competition was meant to be Serbia, but after the Serb supporters made such a ruckus in Genoa that the side had to forfeit, the group was Italy's for the taking. In the end, the azzurri claimed 26 points from a possible 30, its chance at perfection broken by draws with Serbia and (surprisingly), Northern Ireland.

So it was on to Poland and Ukraine, where Italy was grouped with Spain, Croatia and Republic of Ireland in Group B. The first challenge for the azzurri was those reigning reyes, the kings of Europe. To the surprise of many, Italy came away with a 1-1 draw against Spain, although Antonio Di Natale's goal was almost immediately neutralized by the equalizer from Cesc Fabregas.

Still, it was an unexpected point, and one that Italy needed, as Croatia turned out not to be the easy opponent they'd likely believed. Perhaps they hadn't watched Mario Mandžukić flatten Ireland? After Andrea Pirlo's stunning free kick sent the azzurri into the break with a 1-0 lead, they must've felt confident of all three points, as Croatia had barely a shot in the first 45. But a bit of tinkering at the half saw Luka Modrić suddenly burst to life, tormenting the Italians. The Croats chipped away at the Italian defense until Mandžukić sent Ivan Strinić's cross past Gianluigi Buffon for the 1-1 equalizer.

And then it was Ireland. Should've been simple stuff, really, but somehow Italy made a 2-0 win look difficult. Well, Mario Balotelli didn't, considering his superb goal in the 90th minute. But the match was not nearly as easy as it should have been -- no wonder fans of the country were worried as they went to face England in the quarterfinals.

But England, for some unfathomable reason, elected to sit back and play for penalties. Maybe it was the disappearance of Wayne Rooney's talent or their total fear of Pirlo that prompted them to believe that penalties were better than attacking in normal time, but whatever it was, the Three Lions gambled and lost. Balo's penalty was fierce, Pirlo's was a cheeky cucchiaio that will give Joe Hart nightmares for the rest of his life. Then Ashley Young missed and Grande Gigi saved Ashley Cole's shot, sending Italy through to the semifinals.

Where it met Germany -- the side that all those not betting on Spain chose to back. It was the Germans' year, we were all told, so what happened? Sloppy play at the back and a lack of willingness to change tactics on Germany's part. Unfortunately for the Germans, this was the match in which Balotelli decided to display his brilliance, opening the performance with a header and sealing the deal with a brilliant strike before the whistle blew for the half. Italy refused to hunker down and defend in the second, continuing to pour forth in search of goal. In the end, Germany pulled one back through a penalty converted by Mesut Özil, but, somewhat improbably, the azzurri were through to take on Spain.

And now for its biggest challenge -- showing the world that this wasn't all just a fluke. Or, even if it was, that the fluke can continue on through the final, and allow them to break down the side that has, thus far, proved to be unbreakable.

We'll have features, news updates and live coverage of the match in our Spain vs. Italy, Euro 2012 StoryStream. For more on Euro 2012 and the entire world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.

Can We Shut Up About David Villa, Please?

The reason Spain are boring is not because David Villa is injured. Stop being silly.

Can Italy Take A Page From Portugal's Book Against Spain?

Forget destroyers, passers and runners - Portugal have taught us that beating Spain needs midfield annoyers. Can Italy follow their lead?

Spain Vs. Italy, Euro 2012 Final: TV Schedule, Game Time, Streaming And Live Updates

Spain and Italy, the last two winners of the World Cup fight for European supremacy in the Euro 2012 Final in Kiev on Sunday evening.

Follow @SBNationSoccer

Fernando Llorente: The Lion King

Fernando Llorente can't get off the bench for reasons nobody can explain as the Spanish saga plays out like the Disney classic "The Lion King"

Follow @SBNationSoccer

Italy Vs. Spain, Euro 2012 Final: Players To Watch

Spain and Italy are good teams, and they're going to start 22 good players at the Euro 2012 final on Sunday. You may be surprised to learn that two teams who have made it to the final of a major competition undefeated are filled with very good players, but that's OK, because now you know. While watching these 22 good players, you might try to ascertain information about which ones are gooder than good, or at the very least, the most interesting. Here are four players you should keep an eye on throughout the match.

Andrea Pirlo

If Italy manage to take the final to extra time and Pirlo has a solid game, he's almost certainly going to win the player of the tournament award. Antonio Cassano and Riccardo Montolivo have helped to ease his creative burden a bit, but he's still Italy's best passer, and he starts moves that lead to goals.

Even when he's not creating goals, he's at least helping his team to keep the ball away from the other team in spots where average players would turn the ball over. He's absolutely brilliant at turning out of traffic and finding an open teammate to pass to. He's not terribly mobile anymore at 33 years old, but his touch and positioning are still exquisite.

Spain's striker

There isn't a name here because no one knows who Spain is going to start at striker. It will probably be Cesc Fabregas, but it could be Alvaro Negredo, it might possibly be Fernando Torres, and hey, maybe Vicente del Bosque will finally take his best striker off the bench and hand a shock start to Fernando Llorente.

Whoever starts up top for Spain is going to be an indicator of what del Bosque is trying to achieve and how he views Italy. If Fabregas starts, he thinks he needs to flood the midfield and keep possession. If Torres starts, he wants someone who is going to run at goal. If Negredo starts, he wants a true striker who will hold the ball up better than Torres.

In theory, at least. It wouldn't shock anyone if del Bosque was just drinking a fifth of scotch, saying 'F--- IT' and picking names out of a hat.

Giorgio Chiellini

Chiellini has recently recovered from a nagging injury to get fit, and he'll probably start for Italy no matter how they set up. Because Christian Maggio has returned from suspension and Ignazio Abate has returned to fitness, Federico Balzaretti will move back to left back and Chiellini will not start as a fullback.

The Juventus man has had a mixed tournament thus far. He was solid against Spain in the opening game of the tournament, but was at fault for Croatia's equalizer in the tournament's second game. He's probably more comfortable in a back three than in a back four, so he's especially worth keeping an eye on due to the recent formation shift. Prandelli has said he's not reverting to the back three.

Xavi

At 32 years old, Xavi Hernandez might be entering a downswing in his career, but he's still the best passer that Spain have and arguably the best passer in the world. He's playing higher up the pitch for Spain than he's used to playing for Barcelona and, even though he hasn't been his usual world-beating self in this tournament, he's handled the adjustment very well.

If Spain are going to create a goal from open play, it's probably going to come from Xavi passing forward. If it looks like almost all of his passes are going sideways or backward in the early going, prepare for a potential 45-minute Spanish keepaway session in the first half.

We'll have features, news updates and live coverage of the match in our Spain vs. Italy, Euro 2012 StoryStream. For more on Euro 2012 and the entire world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.

Italy Are Overrated

Played five. Won two. Drawn three. The mark of a great team? Hardly. Italy have made the Euro 2012 final, but it's far from clear that they've regained their status as footballing giants.

Spain Vs. Italy, Euro 2012 Final: Who Gained More From First Meeting?

Italy didn't gain any new information from Spain when the two teams met in Group C at Euro 2012, but that doesn't necessarily mean Spain gained anything positive either. In fact, they might have picked up some misinformation about their opponents, while Italy learned a lot about their own players.

Spain have rotated their forwards during this tournament, using three very different players at center forward, but their other 10 starters have remained the same. None of those starters was a surprise against Italy. Cesare Prandelli might not know what he's going to see up top from Spain, but he knows what he's going to see everywhere else on the pitch. It's the exact same team that they played in their Group C match, which was the team he and everyone else expected.

Prandelli's team was a different story. He played a strongly rumored, but still slightly surprising, 3-5-2 that featured defensive midfielder Daniele De Rossi as a sweeper, attacking midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini as a left wingback, and the surprisingly 100 percent fit Antonio Cassano as a second striker. Since then, he's shifted away from that formation, while also making changes at both fullback positions.

Vicente del Bosque probably has a good idea of what Prandelli's going to do with his team on Sunday, but the fact is, he doesn't know. He doesn't know for sure if he's going to see three or four at the back. He doesn't know who is going to play right back, or if Thiago Motta is going to play as a hard-working midfield annoyance, or who's going to start in defense.

From that Group C match, Italy gained the ability to hit Spain with something they don't see coming, while also learning that Federico Balzaretti and Ignazio Abate are better fullback options than Giaccherini and Christian Maggio. And Spain learned ... nothing. They knew that Jordi Alba was the answer at left back, that Alvaro Arbeloa is an average right back, and that Cesc Fabregas provides serious strengths and drawbacks as a center forward. None of this was new information.

Italy does not have the same kind of attacking and midfield talent at their disposal as Spain, but they can create an advantage for themselves from the start on Sunday for two reasons. They've learned who their best players are when they didn't know for sure coming into the tournament, and they could potentially use tactics that del Bosque hasn't planned for. Spain may be better than Italy, but they're also predictable.

We'll have features, news updates and live coverage of the match in our Spain vs. Italy, Euro 2012 StoryStream. For more on Euro 2012 and the entire world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.

Cesare Prandelli Says Italy Won't Revert To 3-5-2 In Euro 2012 Final

Cesare Prandelli might be playing mind games with Vicente del Bosque, or he might think that attempts at deception aren't even worth his time. Asked whether he's considering a move back to the 3-5-2 formation that he used against Spain when the teams met to open their Euro 2012 campaigns, Prandelli said it hasn't even been a consideration.

"In all honesty, no, I haven't considered it. We maintained a certain balance over the last few games, although we understood that during the match we can switch to a 3-5-2 if we want to. The team that opened the tournament had a different approach, but over time we found fitness and the balance we had been looking for, so rediscovered the certainty we had lost before the competition."

Depending on the personnel that Prandelli fields, he could have the option to start the game with a back four and shift to a 3-5-2 formation mid-match without making any substitutions. If Giorgio Chiellini starts at left central defense while two true fullbacks start the game, Prandelli could shift Daniele De Rossi back to defense while pushing the fullbacks up the pitch to make that adjustment in an instant.

We'll have features, news updates and live coverage of the match in our Spain vs. Italy, Euro 2012 StoryStream. For more on Euro 2012 and the entire world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.

Italy Vs. Spain, Euro 2012 Final: Wake Up And Forget The Narrative, Italy Are Fun

"Boring, boring Italy." That is usually how people describe the azzurri and Euro 2012 is no different. People have continued to call Italy boring all tournament. Correction: idiots have continued to call Italy boring all tournament.

Italy earned a reputation for defensive soccer over several decades and it was a deserved reputation. They never apologized for it, nor should they have. With four World Cup titles and a Euro title, they have no reason to apologize for however they play. It is clearly incredibly effective and while other countries parade around a style of play, Italy parade around trophies.

But the 2012 Italy team is nothing like the Italy teams of old. Cesare Prandelli changed the team and made them more attacking than they have in the past. He did so with good reason, too, leaning upon a slew of quality attacking players that should be given free reign to get forward and have with fantastic results.

Italy scored in each of their group stage matches, including those against Spain and Croatia so it wasn't a matter of beating down on inferior opponents at all. They created width in both matches, attacked quickly and did their fair share of entertaining. They have showed great tactical flexibility and even played with three at the back. They have been everything that a neutral would want.

The only goalless match of the tournament for the azzurri came against England in the quarterfinals and the Italians could hardly be blamed for that. Andrea Pirlo was marvelous, as was RIccardo Montolivo, and they created chances as they did their best to create goals, only to be held off by an England team dead set on defending.

Then again Germany in the semifinals, the chances and goals came again. Mario Balotelli scored twice, in part due to some tremendous play by Antonio Cassano and Montolivo. They had more chances to pad their lead late on, too, so it wasn't a two chance match by any means.

The Italians' goalscoring and attacking prowess goes back to Euro qualifying too, where they scored 20 goals in 20 matches. That is more than France, Croatia, Russia, England, Denmark, the Czech Republic and Ireland and they did it in a group with Serbia and Slovenia, two countries that qualified for the 2010 World Cup.

Italy earned their reputation as negative and sometimes boring, but they have not been that for two years now and they have not been that for all of Euro 2012. It's time to face reality -- Italy are fun now.

We'll have features, news updates and live coverage of the match in our Spain vs. Italy, Euro 2012 StoryStream. For more on Euro 2012 and the entire world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.

Spain Have A Xabi Alonso Problem

Vicente del Bosque has too many world-class midfielders, and he's accommodating the wrong one.

Follow @SBNationSoccer

Riccardo Montolivo: Finding His Place In Italy's Squad

Riccardo Montolivo has been a divisive figure in the Italy squad over the past two years. In Euro 2012, it seems the playmaker is finally fulfilling his potential.

Spain Vs. Italy, 2012 European Championships: Rematch Repeat Will Suit Azzurri

Don't expect a vastly different match from the first encounter between Spain and Italy when they contest the Euro 2012 Final on Sunday.

Follow @SBNationSoccer

Spain’s Forward Conundrum: Why Playing Alvaro Negredo Makes More Sense Than You Think

Álvaro Negredo might not seem like a logical fit for the Spanish national team, but his inclusion in the team could speak volumes to Vicente Del Bosque's thoughts about his team's strength.

Follow @SBNationSoccer

Spain Vs. Italy, Euro 2012 Final: Repeat Of Tactics From Group Stage Meeting Possible

Spain and Italy have already played each other, with the azzurri having the better of the play. He may not want to, but Vicente Del Bosque has to consider changes to counter Italy's tactics.

Follow @SBNationSoccer