Europe's aristocrats poised to clash in tasty Kiev finale
Source: Agencies |
July 1, 2012, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
SOCCER'S aristocrats will compete for the continent's crown tonight when Spain seeks to extend its domination of Europe against a revitalized Italy which threatens to end its reign.
Between them Spain and Italy have produced 25 European champions at club level but this will be the first time their national teams have met for the European Championship.
Few would question their places in the final have been earned. "The winners will be deserving champions," said Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas. "I think we've been the two most consistent teams at the tournament."
Italy is a four-time World Cup winner, most recently in 2006, while Spain is aiming for a unique achievement of three consecutive major titles following its wins at Euro 2008 and the World Cup two years ago.
While Vicente del Bosque's success with Spain has been built on a water-tight defense and impressive possession football, Italy has reached the final thanks to positive, dynamic play and a potent attack led by the temperamental talent of Mario Balotelli which saw it upset Germany in the semifinals.
Spain's, short passing 'Tiki Taka' method has brought remarkable results - no European team since West Germany in the early 1970's has reached the final of three major tournaments in a row.
But the 'Spanish era' will in many ways be defined by how it copes with a surprisingly exciting Italian team tonight.
An unprecedented third title, with powerhouses Germany and the Netherlands having already been dispatched in finals, would secure Spain's place among the greatest teams of all time.
But a loss, at the end of a tournament in which it has rarely managed to raise the pulses of fans, would lead to a more modest evaluation of La Rojas' place in the game's hierarchy.
The teams arrived in the Ukrainian capital Kiev in differing moods.
While Spain scraped into the final via a penalty shootout win over Portugal following a 0-0 draw after extra-time, Italy is on a high after its surprise 2-1 victory over a highly-fancied Germany.
Following its European and World Cup successes, Spain has more experience at this level and more quality on paper but it has looked a little jaded and del Bosque acknowledged fatigue was an issue.
"The players are tired. We're at breaking point. But they are used to this all season and I hope they get in shape for the final," he said.
After an energetic display against Germany, Italy has some recovery of its own to do, with one day less rest than Spain but its mood is one of exhilaration after Balotelli's double earned the Azzurri a place in the final that few predicted.
The Italians came into the tournament with few expectations after their dreadful early exit from the World Cup in South Africa and some patchy pre-tournament displays.
But coach Cesare Prandelli has managed to do what every national team coach hopes for in the short time-frame of tournament football - develop a club team spirit.
The two teams met in the group stage with the game ending 1-1 after Fabregas canceled out Antonio di Natale's opener.
"We haven't to be afraid of them," said Prandelli noting his team was stronger than it was for the opener in Gdansk. "We have improved, both physically and psychologically".
While Spain's superb passing ability frequently leads to games where it dominates possession, Portugal showed in the semifinal that hard pressing can knock it off its rhythm.
Italy did exactly that against Germany and is unlikely to sit back and let the Spaniards dictate the tempo.
The final also provides an interesting contrast in tactical approaches with Spain frequently playing without a recognized striker while Italy has a classic center-forward in the form of Balotelli supported by the impish Antonio Cassano.
Between them Spain and Italy have produced 25 European champions at club level but this will be the first time their national teams have met for the European Championship.
Few would question their places in the final have been earned. "The winners will be deserving champions," said Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas. "I think we've been the two most consistent teams at the tournament."
Italy is a four-time World Cup winner, most recently in 2006, while Spain is aiming for a unique achievement of three consecutive major titles following its wins at Euro 2008 and the World Cup two years ago.
While Vicente del Bosque's success with Spain has been built on a water-tight defense and impressive possession football, Italy has reached the final thanks to positive, dynamic play and a potent attack led by the temperamental talent of Mario Balotelli which saw it upset Germany in the semifinals.
Spain's, short passing 'Tiki Taka' method has brought remarkable results - no European team since West Germany in the early 1970's has reached the final of three major tournaments in a row.
But the 'Spanish era' will in many ways be defined by how it copes with a surprisingly exciting Italian team tonight.
An unprecedented third title, with powerhouses Germany and the Netherlands having already been dispatched in finals, would secure Spain's place among the greatest teams of all time.
But a loss, at the end of a tournament in which it has rarely managed to raise the pulses of fans, would lead to a more modest evaluation of La Rojas' place in the game's hierarchy.
The teams arrived in the Ukrainian capital Kiev in differing moods.
While Spain scraped into the final via a penalty shootout win over Portugal following a 0-0 draw after extra-time, Italy is on a high after its surprise 2-1 victory over a highly-fancied Germany.
Following its European and World Cup successes, Spain has more experience at this level and more quality on paper but it has looked a little jaded and del Bosque acknowledged fatigue was an issue.
"The players are tired. We're at breaking point. But they are used to this all season and I hope they get in shape for the final," he said.
After an energetic display against Germany, Italy has some recovery of its own to do, with one day less rest than Spain but its mood is one of exhilaration after Balotelli's double earned the Azzurri a place in the final that few predicted.
The Italians came into the tournament with few expectations after their dreadful early exit from the World Cup in South Africa and some patchy pre-tournament displays.
But coach Cesare Prandelli has managed to do what every national team coach hopes for in the short time-frame of tournament football - develop a club team spirit.
The two teams met in the group stage with the game ending 1-1 after Fabregas canceled out Antonio di Natale's opener.
"We haven't to be afraid of them," said Prandelli noting his team was stronger than it was for the opener in Gdansk. "We have improved, both physically and psychologically".
While Spain's superb passing ability frequently leads to games where it dominates possession, Portugal showed in the semifinal that hard pressing can knock it off its rhythm.
Italy did exactly that against Germany and is unlikely to sit back and let the Spaniards dictate the tempo.
The final also provides an interesting contrast in tactical approaches with Spain frequently playing without a recognized striker while Italy has a classic center-forward in the form of Balotelli supported by the impish Antonio Cassano.
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