Spain v Italy, Final, build up and match thread

[The Special Juan]

Spain v Italy? Who will triumph? They met in the group and drew 1-1, with Pirlo making Xavi and Iniesta redundant at times.

I say Spain to win 1-0 playing with no striker!!

Tune into Sky Sports News after the final for reaction to England's quarter final loss to Italy.

"Klinsmann: Spain win over Italy would make them team of century"

Yes, I'd say they have been the best team of the past 12 years.

[Duty281]

Italy 2-0, they need to arrange a match-fixing scandal before every tournament!

[Guest]

I'm leaning towards Italy as well, 1-0.

But if Spain do win this tournament then even their knockers will have to pay homage to one of the greatest teams to ever play the game. Three consecutive major competition wins will probably never be repeated.

[GSC]

If Italy win, I win 19 quid for betting on them pre tournament.

Might stick a few quid on Spain to cover though

[Guest]

Let it ride Graeme! Spain are around 1/2 to win by any means so it aint really worth it buddy.

[Postie]

Spain are close to evens with the bookies at 6/5, with Italy at 11/4.
But yes Freekshow is right on the eventual winner, as they have Spain at 8/15 on.

I still think Spain need to play with a forward though.

[Guest]

Spain are close to evens with the bookies at 6/5, with Italy at 11/4.
But yes Freekshow is right on the eventual winner, as they have Spain at 8/15 on.

I still think Spain need to play a forward though....

Italy scream out value to me.

[Postie]

At near 3/1, I would agree.

Am actually a bit surprised at the odds, as I think it will be a pretty close game, with the odd goal deciding it.Although personally I still think Spain will shade it.

[LivinginItaly]

I hope that Italy win, but I think it all depends on the side that spain send out. They really look to be missing a proper forward (David Villa, or a fit in form Torres). For me playing Fabregas or another midfielder up front is ood for possession, but they lack a cutting edge. If they start with Torres they will win, otherwise Italy will win.

[Ent]

Spain will suffocate the game and win- again.

[drsambo1928]

Could go either way. I think Italy's tough resolve will see them through, aswell as that, they have got the best result off Spain in this years tornument.

[tunes666]

As an Italy fan I may have a blinkered view, but for me, other than the Thrashing of Ireland Spain have not looked great and Italy arguably were better than them in the first game and have since become stronger.

So I am confident Italy can do it. However, Spain have looked so tight at the back and tactical they can always nick it.

I think Portugal should have gone through but Spain were solid and done what was needed.. I don't think I can cope with another shoot out so if we loose I hope we simply get beaten by the better team and thats thats, I don't want no "what ifs" and "its a cruel game" stuff at the end.

I will go for a heart inspired 2-1 to Italy after extra time.

[The Special Juan]

I think Pirlo is key in this match. He's outplayed the Spanish midfield once but Spain will actually do something to combat this unlike Germany + England. If they don't he will pull them apart. For me, Di Natale has to start although I do appreciate Cassano and Balotelli work well together; however Cassano doesn't do much.

[GG]

I'm thinking 0-0 at full time with Di Natale to grab a goal in ET.

[Duty281]

On Sportsguru (not just the 606v2 group) the predictions have gone like this:

49.86% say Spain
50.14% say Italy

It is VERY close.

[Josiah Maiestas]

Spain are unentertaining , play almost every game this tournament without a striker, football is meant to be entertaining and they don't provide it. How long until every country are playing 4-6-0 formation?

[The Special Juan]

Scotland came up with the concept first; don't forget that!!

[The Special Juan]

And I'm 3rd in the Euro 2012 SportGuru Pool.

[Leff]

Spain 1-0.

[Josiah Maiestas]

Scotland came up with the concept first; don't forget that!!

]
Scotlands 6 were full of cloggers though.

[Leff]

Spain's coach doesn't seem to have much confidence in Torres. I hope they will start with Pedro or Navas and get a goal in the first half; then, their midfield style can help them hold the score 1-0.

The battle among Pirlo, Xavi, Xabi Alonso, and Iniesta will be fascinating.

[Crimey]

I think Pirlo is key in this match. He's outplayed the Spanish midfield once but Spain will actually do something to combat this unlike Germany + England. If they don't he will pull them apart. For me, Di Natale has to start although I do appreciate Cassano and Balotelli work well together; however Cassano doesn't do much.

I think Pirlo can grab this game by the scruff of the neck, Xavi has looked off-colour in the knockout stages and with Iniesta pushed forward, Busquets offering very little, I think De Rossi can take Alonso out of the game leaving Pirlo to weave his magic. The only problem is the fact that Spain will inevitably hold possession for so long, it might be hard for Pirlo to ever really get on the ball. I can see a 0-0 then penalties.

I saw a very interesting fact today...Andrea Pirlo hasn't been on the losing side since December 2010 in a competitive match which is crazy.

I would start Balotelli and Cassano, as much as I like Di Natale that partnership is on form and crucially Cassano is more likely to drop into the midfield and help out than Di Natale is. If anybody gets dropped for Di Natale it would be Balotelli but after his game against Germany, you really can't drop him.

[tunes666]

I think Pirlo is key in this match. He's outplayed the Spanish midfield once but Spain will actually do something to combat this unlike Germany + England. If they don't he will pull them apart. For me, Di Natale has to start although I do appreciate Cassano and Balotelli work well together; however Cassano doesn't do much.

Pirlo is great but if you focus on him Italy also have Di Rossi and Montolivo who are no cowboys.. I think they do not get enough credit as I think teams do try to silence Pirlo but end up giving him space as they realize there are others also pulling the strings, and I hope its the case tonight as well!

[Duty281]

Spain are playing 4-6-0, come on Italy!

[Crimey]

Is anybody else confused as to all the praise coming in for Balotelli. He played well against Germany, but before that he was pretty poor. A good goal against Ireland, but he was hardly in the game against Spain and I thought fluffed his lines against England.

[Jennifer1984]

Spain have not been brilliant in this competition, but then again, they haven't had to be. They've done enough to get to the final without losing any players to injury or suspension. They've got there in cruise control.

Italy have found their form. They've had the players who can put in the mercurial performances when needed. Pirlo and Balotelli have grabbed the headlines. The defeat of Germany was clinical.

So... we have a final worthy of what has been a superb tournament.

I'm not going to predict a winner because it is too close to call. The popular winner would be Italy but nobody would be surprised if Spain's class, teamwork and control prevailed.

Let's just hope the game is free of controversy and the wrong sort of 'incident'. Hopefully we will be entertained. Hopefully, the best team on the night, whoever that may be, wins, preferably without the lottery of penalties.

Bring it on.

.

[Jennifer1984]

Spain have not been brilliant in this competition, but then again, they haven't had to be. They've done enough to get to the final without losing any players to injury or suspension. They've got there in cruise control.

Italy have found their form. They've had the players who can put in the mercurial performances when needed. Pirlo and Balotelli have grabbed the headlines. The defeat of Germany was clinical.

So... we have a final worthy of what has been a superb tournament.

I'm not going to predict a winner because it is too close to call. The popular winner would be Italy but nobody would be surprised if Spain's class, teamwork and control prevailed.

Let's just hope the game is free of controversy and the wrong sort of 'incident'. Hopefully we will be entertained. Hopefully the best team on the night, whoever that may be, wins..... and preferably without the lottery of penalties.

Bring it on.

.

[Leff]

Spain: Casillas, Arbeloa, Pique, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Xavi, Busquets, Alonso, Silva, Fabregas, Iniesta.
Subs: Valdes, Albiol, Javi Martinez, Juanfran, Pedro, Torres, Negredo, Mata, Llorente, Santi Cazorla, Jesus Navas, Reina.

Italy: Buffon, Abate, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini, Pirlo, Marchisio, Montolivo, De Rossi, Balotelli, Cassano.
Subs: Sirigu, Maggio, Ogbonna, Thiago Motta, Balzaretti, Di Natale, Giaccherini, Borini, Giovinco, Diamanti, Nocerino, De Sanctis.

Spain continues its strategy of starting without proper forwards.

[Crimey]

Why couldn't Spain play like this for the rest of the tournament.

Fast, penetrative, attacking. Too often they just sat back and passed the ball without any real direction to it.

[Leff]

Lovely cross from Fabregas to Silva to goal.Spain 1-0

Fabregas, Xavi, and Iniesta have looked quite dangerous so far. That Xavi kick minutes prior to the goal barely missed the top bar. Spain on the attack and it's about time they showed that aspect of their game.

[Guest]

Brilliant football, again.

[Leff]

Is that pass by Xavi to Alba the pass of the decade or what? And, a beautiful finish by Alba too.

Spectacular football by Spain.

[Duty281]

Spain saving their best till last and playing like Champions. The final is over, 2-0 in 40 minutes. Enjoy the trophy Spain.

[LivinginItaly]

But of course spain play boring football

[GSC]

The way Italy lined up suited Spain so far

[Jennifer1984]

Half time 2-0 to Spain and we're being treated to a masterclass.

The Spaniards are showing us all how it's done. The curmudgeons can call it boring, but if this is dull, I'd take it if only England could do it.

The Italian manager is going to have to come up with something special if his players are to turn this around in the second half.

[lorus59]

So Spain is boring? I hope we see lots more of this "boring" football. I would loved to be bored to death by this.

[Leff]

Last time Spain had the lead and lost was in 2006, that was 61 matches ago to NIR!

Italy will try its best to be aggressive in the second half. With aggression come defensive mistakes. So, 3-1 is a possibility.

We are watching one of the greatest performances ever. Let's enjoy the Spanish magic.

[Crimey]

But of course spain play boring football

So Spain is boring? I hope we see lots more of this "boring" football. I would loved to be bored to death by this.

These two comments confuse me.

Spain have not played anything like this at any other point in the tournament bar possibly Ireland who were easily cut through. This is obviously not boring, the way they played at the World Cup and throughout the rest of this tournament has been.

[LivinginItaly]

crimey I wasn't saying that they hadn't played boring football before, I was saying that I am shocked by how they are playing tonight, as they have actually been much more attacking. Maybe they have been stung by the criticism they have received with the "boring" tag.

[Crimey]

crimey I wasn't saying that they hadn't played boring football before, I was saying that I am shocked by how they are playing tonight, as they have actually been much more attacking. Maybe they have been stung by the criticism they have received with the "boring" tag.

Sorry, there's just a lot of people on the BBC live feed criticising those who say Spain play boring football because of this game...the logic doesn't follow. I do think they've been pushed on by the criticisms.

Really unfortunate for Italy, I just can't see there being anyway back for them now with ten men. Balotelli to get sent off soon?

[LivinginItaly]

no worries mate, I also can see Balotelli seeing red soon as he appears frustrated at times.

The frustrating thing about spain is that they are capable of being so entertaining when they play with more attacking intent like tonight.

[Crimey]

I think Wenger was right when he said that Spain have warped their style into a negative way in which they keep the ball so as to not concede rather than to score.

I think that Iniesta looks a better player with Spain, almost as if he's let off his leash. He has a lot more flair with Spain than he does with Barcelona, less restrictions.

[Leff]

Italy looked a big dangerous for about ten minutes or so after Di Natali walked in. Other than that brief period, it's been Spain all the way. Total domination.

European team of the century? Possibly. Maybe probably.

[Leff]

Spain 3-0. The other team must feel bad when even Torres has scored.

Last time a team won 3-0 in a Euro final was West Germany over USSR in 1972.

We are watching a historical moment.

[Guest]

Three of the four goals scored by players plying their trade in England. Something for the Premier League nuthuggers to cling on to I suppose!

[GSC]

10 of the starting 11 will play for Madrid/Barca next season.

Sums up La Liga tbh

[Leff]

4-0, just a few minutes of walk about for Mata to have the opportunity.

I don't this even a die-hard Spanish fan would have predicted this.

Biggest rout ever in a Euro final.

[Duty281]

Okay it's 4-0. Shame for Italy but the just weren't in Spain's class whether they had 10 or 11 men.

[HERSH]

Well, that was dull.

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