This Sunday sees defending champions Spain take on Italy in the Euro 2012 final. These European Championships have been exciting as well as being somewhat unpredictable as the likes of Holland and Russia along with co-hosts Poland and Ukraine fell at the first hurdle. It was Portugal who progressed from the groups ahead of the unimpressive Dutch who finished on 0 points and the Portuguese reached the semi-finals following a 1-0 with over the Czech Republic. In the second quarter final Greece dared to surprise everyone again before losing 4-2 to Germany. Spain easily beat a lacklustre France 2-0 in their quarter final match before edging out Portugal in the semis on penalties following a goalless 120 minutes. England briefly defied the odds as they topped Group D before coming face to face with penalties again ending in defeat to the Italians, this set up last night’s second semi-final between the Germans and the Italians where Mario Balotelli stole the show in the Azzurri's 2-1 win to ensure their unbeaten run over Germany in competitive football, 4 wins 4 draws 0 defeats, and ensure that the Germans didn't conquer Eastern Europe again.
It's fair
to say that these two teams deserve to be in the final as both have played
attractive football and produced when it has mattered most. The Italians have
had their critics especially early on but manager Cesare Prandelli has
introduced an attacking mentality to the side that not many Italy teams have
possessed in years gone by. In last night's win over Germany, Andrea Pirlo
stole the show again but his supporting cast of De Rossi, Montolivo and
Marchisio played their part as the 4 midfielders outclassed the likes of
Schweinsteiger and Ozil. They defended like many great past Italian sides in
the second half but still looked dangerous on the break and should have
finished the game off during the closing stages.
Italy
have eased their way in to the tournament as they got through their group with
1-1 draws against Spain and Croatia with the final group match ending in a 2-0
victory over the Republic of Ireland. It was in that game against Ireland where
we first saw Balotelli's brilliance but that was briefly, last night Super
Mario was fantastic. His first goal was a well taken header whereas the second
was arguably goal of the tournament as following great movement he broke
through the German defence before smashing home from 20 yards. The Italians
slow improvement as the Euros have reached the latter stages has been vintage
stuff from them and their class has been clear for everyone to see following
their performances against England and Germany in the knockouts. The Azzurri has
a habit of either bowing out of competitions early or reaching the business end
of it. In 11 World Cups after progressing from the groups they have won 4 out
of the 6 finals they've reached meaning they have finished as runners up twice.
The other 5 times have seen them finish 3rd place in 1990, 4th in 1978 with the
other 3 ending in one quarter final defeat and two round of 16 defeats. They
have only won the Euros once previously which was back in 1968, the World Cup
before that in 66' saw them out in the groups which also happened in 2010 and
now they are 2012 finalists so omens are with the Italians along with their
great pedigree in tournament football for this Sunday's final.
The
Spanish, like the Italians, have slowly eased their way in to the tournament as
the matches have gone on. They finished top of Group C with 7 out of 9 points,
scoring 6 goals. They drew against Italy 1-1 in their opening game before
destroying Ireland 4-0 and edging out Croatia 1-0. The performance over France
was impressive as well as dominant but Thursday's game saw them endure some
nervy moments against Portugal before their triumph on penalties. The manner in
which they won the game may have been cruel as Fabregas' penalty hit the inside
of the post before beating Rui Patricio but great sides win tough matches and
this Spanish side is beyond great as they look to become the first
international team to win three straight major tournaments in a row. If they
achieve this then they are arguably and quite possible the greatest
international football side ever.
The
Spanish's tiki-taka style of football is breath-taking to watch and since the
teams victory in Euro 2012 they had the world observing in awe, further success
continued at the 2010 World Cup but some people are beginning to brand the
football as boring. It consists of mainly keeping hold of possession where the
whole team, mainly midfielders, base the teams play on movement and roaming
with quick, sharp one or two touch passing. One of its main focuses is also
moving the ball in intricate patterns with positional interchange. The Spanish
may not have the great footballing history that the Italian's possess but this
particular style of play has captured the imagination of football and
revolutionised football as teams look to find a way of recreating the
"Spanish way" or finding a way to counter tiki-taka and with their
current crop of extraordinary talented players nobody would be shocked if Spain
were to make history this Sunday by beating Italy, especially as Del Bosque has
won 50 matches out of the 60 he has took charge Spain's manager.
One thing
is for sure, Sunday's match should be entertaining for all football fans around
the world. The Italians are the only team to score against Spain so far in the
Euro's when Antonio Di Natale put Italy 1-0 up before Cesc Fabregas equalised
in the team’s 1-1 draw. Italy don't quite equal the Spanish in terms of class
but they are well organised, they have lots of heart and the likes of Pirlo and
Balotelli can turn the game in any given moment. Spain have a whole team full
of match winners but without a main focal point up front Del Bosque has a big
decision to make this Sunday in regards to if Torres should start or if he
sticks with the 6 midfielders. The match will have its nervy spells but with
both teams encouraging attractive football it should surely deliver in being a
great ending to this year’s European Championships and don't be surprised if the Italians reign supreme in Kiev.
Skye's prediction: Italy to win, in a game of this magnitude it could easily come down to extra time or penalties but I fancy the Azzurri to triumph.
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| Can Super Mario flex his muscles again when it matters most |
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