SHOWDOWN!
Kiev (Ukraine), June 30: And so they meet again at Euro 2012. This time, however, Spain and Italy are playing for the European Championship and a place in the history books. The Mediterranean rivals meet on Sunday in Kiev’s Olympic Stadium, three weeks after they drew 1-1 in their opening match of the tournament’s group stage. As the defending champions and World Cup holders, Spain are bidding to win a third straight major title and to cement their place as one of the greatest national sides of all time. It would also match Germany’s record of winning three European Championship titles. Only the unpredictable Mario Balotelli and a surprising Italy team — orchestrated by Andrea Pirlo — stand between Spain and what many see as their destiny. Italy’s preparations for the tournament having been clouded by the Calcioscommesse match-fixing affair, the Azzurri could be poised to triumph in the face of adversity once again. Their World Cup successes in both 1982 and 2006 were prefaced by match-fixing scandals, but coach Cesare Prandelli has cooled talk of omens by insisting that his side will be the underdogs at Kiev’s Olympic Stadium. “At the moment, even if I open my eyes, I am still dreaming,” Prandelli said after his side’s 2-1 victory over Germany in the semifinals, where Balotelli scored both goals.
However, he added that “Spain remain favourites because of the years of hard work that they have put in. They have been dominant in every game they’ve played so far.” Spain haven’t lost in a European Championship game in eight years and have already matched West Germany as the only defending champion to return to the final after winning the World Cup. The West Germans managed it in 1976, but subsequently lost to Czechoslovakia following Antonin Panenka’s famous chip shot in a penalty shootout. This final brings together teams with players who are brazen enough to have successfully copied Panenka’s audacious spot-kick during their sides’ penalty shootouts in the knockout rounds. Spain defender Sergio Ramos used it in the semifinal win over Portugal, after Pirlo employed it against England in the quarterfinals.
It also features the tournament’s best defensive team against one of its most exciting attacking sides. Spain have not conceded since that opening draw with Italy and haven’t conceded a goal in nine elimination games at major tournaments. Balotelli, Antonio Cassano and Pirlo are meanwhile leading one of Italy’s most attack-minded teams in recent history.
“We always just tried to play, I think that is our strength,” said Prandelli, whose team is bidding to give Italy their second European title, the same number as Spain and France.
“When we started off at this tournament, we were convinced that by working in a certain way we could become a proper team — not just a quality team, but also a team with the right spirit.”
Though Balotelli’s selection had been in doubt due to troubles both on and off the pitch at Manchester City, the 21-year-old Italian of Ghanaian descent has now scored three times at Euro 2012.
“I waited a long time for this moment, especially because my mother came all the way here and I wanted to make her happy,” he said after the victory over Germany. “This is the greatest evening of my life, but I hope Sunday will be even better,” said the striker, who has a chance to finish as the tournament’s top scorer with one more goal.
“For the final my father is coming, too,” he added. “So I hope to score...”
Along with their players, the Azzurri also have an encouraging statistic on their side ahead of Sunday’s final. Spain haven’t beaten Italy in a competitive match that didn’t end in penalties since 1920.
Spain’s attack has featured a rotating cast of forwards, with attacking midfielder Cesc Fabregas usually being preferred to striker Fernando Torres. On Sunday, coach Vicente del Bosque is likely to repeat the 4-6-0 formation he first deployed against Italy on June 10. Also, substitutes Pedro Rodriguez and Jesus Navas have had impressive tournaments so far.
— Agencies