Euro 2012 Final: Spain vs Italy

July 09, 2012 | 145 views
| in Sports

Spain are the Euro 2012 Champions. It took the European football world 31 games to decide this, but most people had Spain as red hot favorites before the tournament started to add the 2012 title to their 2008 Euro title and 2012 World title. Not all the games Spain played can be classed as brilliant to watch, but in the final against Italy they pulled out all the stops and apart from 15 minute sion the first half Italy were ab-so-lutely nowhere to be seen. They looked like the team everyone said they were before Euro 2012 started. Old, tired, no creative spark and bad at creating scoring opportunities. However, Italy surprised a lot of people with their fresh approach during their games and they played Germany of the pitch in their semi-final. Alas, Spain were simply too good for the Italians and romped home with a very comfortable 4-0 victory. We hope you liked our Euro 2012 coverage, we’ll try to do the same for the Olympics. [67 photos total]

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Spain's soccer team players stand on the pitch before their Euro 2012 final soccer match against Italy at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev (KAI PFAFFENBACH/REUTERS) #
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Italy's Balotelli and his team mates inspect pitch before Euro 2012 final soccer match against Spain aat Olympic Stadium in Kiev (MICHAEL DALDER/REUTERS) #
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Spanish soccer fans cheers before the Euro 2012 final soccer match between Spain and Italy at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev (DARREN STAPLES/REUTERS) #
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Fan of Italy is pictured before the start of their Euro 2012 final soccer match against Spain at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (ALESSANDRO BIANCHI/REUTERS) #
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Soccer fans poke heads through banner depicting life-size image of Italy's Balotelli before Euro 2012 final against Spain in Kiev (ALESSANDRO BIANCHI/REUTERS) #
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Spain's and Italy's players stand during the national anthem ceremony before their Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (MICHAEL DALDER/REUTERS) #
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Euro 2012 soccer trophy is pictured before final between Italy and Spain in Kiev (TONY GENTILE/REUTERS) #
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Spain's players pose for a team photo before the start of their Euro 2012 final soccer match against Italy at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (MICHAEL DALDER/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Fabregas is challenged by Italy's Pirlo during their Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (EDDIE KEOGH/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Pique looks on as his team mate Ramos battles for ball with Italy's Balotelli during their Euro 2012 final soccer match at Olympic Stadium in Kiev (MICHAEL DALDER/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Hernandez is challenged by Italy's De Sanctis during their Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (EDDIE KEOGH/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Silva scores a first goal against Italy during their Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev (MICHAEL DALDER/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Silva and Fabregas celebrate goal against Italy during Euro 2012 final soccer match in Kiev (EDDIE KEOGH/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Silva and Fabregas celebrate a first goal against Italy during their Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev (MICHAEL DALDER/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Silva celebrates after scoring a goal against Italy during their Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (EDDIE KEOGH/REUTERS) #
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Italy's Balotelli is pictured during Euro 2012 final against Spain in Kiev (ALESSANDRO BIANCHI/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Fabregas challenges Italy's Bonucci during their Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (TONY GENTILE/REUTERS) #
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Referee Proenca of Portugal reacts during the Euro 2012 final soccer match between Spain and Italy at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (KAI PFAFFENBACH/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Alba scores goal during their Euro 2012 final soccer match against Italy at Olympic Stadium in Kiev (MICHAEL DALDER/REUTERS) #
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Italy's goalkeeper Buffon reacts as Spain's Alba celebrates his goal during their Euro 2012 final soccer match against Italy at Olympic Stadium in Kiev (MICHAEL DALDER/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Alba celebrates his goal during their Euro 2012 final soccer match against Italy at Olympic Stadium in Kiev (MICHAEL DALDER/REUTERS) #
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Italy's Buffon reacts during their Euro 2012 final soccer match against Spain at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev (KAI PFAFFENBACH/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Alba celebrates with team mates after scoring the second goal against Italy during their Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev (KAI PFAFFENBACH/REUTERS) #
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A Spain soccer fan reacts while watching a public screening of the Euro 2012 final soccer match between Spain and Italy in Madrid (JAVIER BARBANCHO/REUTERS) #
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Italy's coach Prandelli instructs goalkeeper Buffon during the halftime of their Euro 2012 final soccer match against Spain at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev (MICHAEL DALDER/REUTERS) #
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Italy's Buffon saves an attack from Spain's Fabregas during their Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev (KAI PFAFFENBACH/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Pique challenges Italy's Cassano during their Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (JUAN MEDINA/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Hernandez challenges Italy's Balzaretti during their Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (DARREN STAPLES/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Silva challenges Italy's Balzaretti during their Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (EDDIE KEOGH/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Torres scores a goal past Italy's Bonucci during their Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev (KAI PFAFFENBACH/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Torres scores his team's third goal against Italy during their Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev (MICHAEL DALDER/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Torres celebrates his goal during their Euro 2012 final soccer match against Italy at Olympic Stadium in Kiev (MICHAEL DALDER/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Casillas speaks to Italy's Bonucci as lies on gound during Euro 2012 final soccer match in Kiev (TONY GENTILE/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Iniesta challenges Italy's Barzagli during their Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (KAI PFAFFENBACH/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Mata scores a goal against Italy during their Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev (CHARLES PLATIAU/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Mata reacts after scoring against Italy during their Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (KAI PFAFFENBACH/REUTERS) #
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Italy's Bonucci reacts as Torres and Mata celebrate a goal during their Euro 2012 final soccer match at Olympic Stadium in Kiev (MICHAEL DALDER/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Casillas celebrates after goal scored against Italy during Euro 2012 final soccer match in Kiev (TONY GENTILE/REUTERS) #
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Spain's players celebrate victory against Italy after their Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev (CHARLES PLATIAU/REUTERS) #
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Italy's Motta reacts on a stretcher as being carried out during their Euro 2012 final soccer match against Spain at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (KAI PFAFFENBACH/REUTERS) #
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Spain's team players celebrate after winning against Italy in their Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev (KAI PFAFFENBACH/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Ramos celebrates the goal of Mata against Italy during their Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (EDDIE KEOGH/REUTERS) #
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Italy's goalkeeper Buffon walks past Spain's players, as they celebrate their fourth goal during their Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (ALESSANDRO BIANCHI/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Torres celebrates with Hernandez after scoring a goal against Italy during their Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (EDDIE KEOGH/REUTERS) #
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Italy's Balotelli reacts after their lost the Euro 2012 final soccer match against Spain at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (JUAN MEDINA/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Torres celebrates victory against Italy with his daughter Nora after their Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (DARREN STAPLES/REUTERS) #
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Italy's goalkeeper Buffon congratulates Spain's Ramos at the end of their Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (EDDIE KEOGH/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Arbeloa celebrates victory against Italy with his daughter Alba after their Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (DARREN STAPLES/REUTERS) #
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Italy's coach Prandelli comforts Montolivo after their lost Euro 2012 final soccer match against Spain at Olympic Stadium in Kiev (CHARLES PLATIAU/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Torres celebrates victory against Italy with his son Leo and daughter Nora after their Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (DARREN STAPLES/REUTERS) #
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Italy's players react after their lost Euro 2012 final soccer match against Spain at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (KAI PFAFFENBACH/REUTERS) #
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Spain's national soccer players celebrate with trophy after defeating Italy to win Euro 2012 final in Kiev (EDDIE KEOGH/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Casillas lifts up the trophy after defeating Italy to win the Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (KAI PFAFFENBACH/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Torres lifts up the trophy after defeating Italy to win the Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (DARREN STAPLES/REUTERS) #
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Spain's team players celebrate after defeating Italy to win the Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (DARREN STAPLES/REUTERS) #
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Spain's team players celebrate after defeating Italy to win the Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (DARREN STAPLES/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Navas and Ramos kiss the trophy after defeating Italy to win the Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (DARREN STAPLES/REUTERS) #
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Spain's team with trophy pose for media after defeating Italy to win Euro 2012 final soccer match at Olympic stadium in Kiev (MICHAEL DALDER/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Fabregas lifts up the trophy after defeating Italy to win the Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (EDDIE KEOGH/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Torres celebrates with children after defeating Italy to win the Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (KAI PFAFFENBACH/REUTERS) #
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Child of Spain's team player plays on pitch after Spain'steam defeating Italy to win Euro 2012 final soccer match at Olympic stadium in Kiev (CHARLES PLATIAU/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Rodriguez and Cazorla pose for a family photo after defeating Italy to win the Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (TONY GENTILE/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Pique walks with the trophy and a net he cut after defeating Italy to win the Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (KAI PFAFFENBACH/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Torres celebrates victory against Italy with his son Leo and daughter Nora after their Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (KAI PFAFFENBACH/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Pique walks with a net he cut after defeating Italy to win the Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (JUAN MEDINA/REUTERS) #
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Spain's players celebrate after defeating Italy to win the Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (EDDIE KEOGH/REUTERS) #
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Spain's Alonso celebrates with trophy after defeating Italy to win the Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev (ALESSANDRO BIANCHI/REUTERS) #

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