A month's worth of outstanding soccer in Poland and Ukraine will be capped today by the European Championship final between defending champion Spain and rejuvenated Italy (2:45pm, ESPN/ESPN3.com).
The two powers meet in a rematch of a group stage match that finished in a 1-1 draw. Plenty has changed since that opening match. Italy has watched Mario Balotelli emerge as a dangerous threat while Spain has found a new gear in imposing their dominant possession game.
There will be plenty of can't-miss match-ups, from Xavi vs. Daniele De Rossi, to Andrea Pirlo vs. the Spanish midfield tandem of Busquets and Xabi Alonso. Gerard Pique will also be looking to try and contain Balotelli, who will surely enter the final on a high after his two-goal virtuoso performance in Italy's 2-1 victory vs. Germany in the semifinals.
If you will be watching today's final, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action.
And what a play by Spain! Italy simply could not match up. Spain was playing brilliant from the start.
Cheers to Spain!
Yeah Torres made some good passes and especially one goal was scored because of his passing. He did deserve to be a golden boot. Secondly, Italians were looking like amateur players. Even when the Italians were “throwing in” the ball was somehow finding the Spanish boots. They were simply outplayed by Spain
Paul Gardner is a tired old hack who writes about absolutely everything with the same dull cynicism. How could he call it a fluke when they’ve won three tournaments in a row?
cut Gomez and put in the Croatian striker that just signed with Bayern whose name I can’t spell, Mansukizc…
Did anyone expect that Torres would be the golden boot? Haha.
So Team of the Tournament is?
for strikers I imagine it’s Gomez, Balotelli and Torres
Paul Gardner needs to retire. Spain won it emphatically. It wasn’t a fluke. They played beautifully. They just do what they want. Greatest National Team ever.
I meant assist
Torres wins the GOLDEN BOOT.
3 goals, 1 assist in just 5 matches. 2 starts and 3 as a sub.
Technically he has another sub if you count his blocked shot in the Ireland game in which Silva scored
If Spain wins the 2014 WC, they will be the greatest team ever.
It’s certaintly possible. I doubt Xavi will be there but you never know.
Certaintly Fabregas, Iniesta, Navas, Mata, Silva will be there.
Can Torres regain his form to be there? Llorente should be there. But can Villa be with the team?
If they win in South America they could be best ever, but 2 years is along ways off and Xavi and Andre are no spring chickens.
Spain let in one goal all tournament. Fernando Torres wins the CL, Euro, and Euro golden boot as a bad form substitute.
Although no European team has won in South America, they might have a chance if they keep things up, their definently favorites.
This wasn’t even a game….. Spain has endured many letdowns in the past to emerge victorious in just about every major competition they’ve played in since 2006.
Best team ever.
Far be it for me to play historian but of my lifetime, this is the best team I’ve ever witnessed and we’re not even to 2014 in Brazil.
They can easily be in the discussion for the best team ever but if they were to win it in Brazil, it would be a complete and utter undisputed title.
Always fun to watch history being made. We’re currently witnessing it…
Respect for Italy to trying to play instead of playing Mourinho-like bus parking that every other team did. And goid luck playing with ten men. Italy will be there in two years.
Italy down to 10 men – game over…
Wow blatant penalty not given for Spain. Pathetic no call they don’t get mote obvious.
I think Spain’s “boring” play comes from teams bunkering against them.
Spain probably sick of people calling them boring. Just trucked over Italy.
And this is what happens when you don’t respect Spain and try and play with them…
And this is why Del Bosque is the the coach. Fab, Xavi, and Silva were superb; 2-0 at half.
So where are all the people saying that this was going to be the end of Spains Tiki Taka style? or the person saying spain would have no answer for an Early Ronadlo Goal when he had 0 shots on Spain? Back into hiding? i said from the start nobody was going to beat spain, and nobody is better than Spain. Oh and those saying that cant win without a true striker? huh maybe the most successful coach ever does know what hes doing
why isn’t Torres scoring and will Llorente ever get a chance for Spain?
ESPN sux.
Alright, well I’m glad it’s not just me.
What service do you have? AT&T just now coming back with picture but no sound after 4-5 minutes of black screen.
awesome espn is having problems here in Chicago. Can’t see the game
whats a good link to watch the game? i cant get on espn3 or to a tv! please help!!!
I do not like this starting line-up from Spain. Would have liked to have seen Fabregas and Xavi on the bench and instead Torres or Llorente up on top and Pedro on the left wing. It could also be argued that either Navas or Mata should be starting instead of Silva. is quite possible, though, that Del Bosque is a better coach then me.
If I added this up correctly, Spain is 43-4-2 (W-D-L) since March 2007 in competitive matches. The two losses are to the US in 2009 Confed Cup and the Swiss in the 2010 World Cup.