Spain vs. Italy: Euro 2012 Final Live Score, Analysis, Recap
By on June 30, 2012
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Euro 2012—final, Olimpiyskiy, Kiev, Ukraine
Spain 4-0 Italy (full time)
Goals: Silva (ESP) 14'; Alba (ESP) 41'; Torres (ESP) 84'; Mata (ESP) 88'
LINEUPS
Spain: Iker Casillas; Jordi Alba, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos, Alvaro Arbeloa; Sergio Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Xavi Hernandez; Andres Iniesta (Juan Mata 87'), Cesc Fabregas (Fernando Torres 75'), David Silva (Pedro 59').
Italy: Gianluigi Buffon; Giorgio Chiellini (Federico Balzaretti 21'), Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, Ignazio Abate; Daniele De Rossi, Andrea Pirlo, Claudio Marchisio; Riccardo Montolivo (Thiago Motta 56'); Antonio Cassano (Antonio Di Natale 46'), Mario Balotelli.
Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
FULL TIME: SPAIN 4, ITALY 0
Spain have won it! That makes three major tournaments in a row—something no team had ever done.
They're now among the all-time best teams, if they weren't already before.
It's the biggest winning margin in Euro final history. That's harsh on Italy, but they played well to get here.
Fernando Torres wins the Golden Boot as the tournament's top scorer. Don't try to figure it out, because it'll drive you insane.
The party starts now for Spain!
90+3
Xavi lifts a free kick into the Spain box. Torres cuts back and passes to Sergio Ramos, who tries to put the ball past Buffon with his heel.
Buffon saves easily.
Not long now.
Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
90'—SPAIN 4, ITALY 0
So this is truly a blowout now, and while Spain's performance is worthy, the result is harsh on Italy.
This would be the biggest winning margin in a Euro final, by the way.
88'—GOAL!
Juan Mata makes it four!
Fernando Torres with the assist. They're teammates at Chelsea.
Handout/Getty Images
87'—SPAIN SUB
Andres Iniesta leaves the pitch. Chelsea's Juan Mata finally makes his Euro 2012 debut.
That's amazing. Spain didn't need a player of Mata's quality while winning this tournament. Wow.
MORE ON THE GOAL
Torres runs onto a through-ball by Xavi and slots home past Gianluigi Buffon.
Spain had been in complete control for several minutes. Another goal was only a matter of time.
84'—GOAL!
Fernando Torres makes it 3-0!
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From the esteemed American sports writer Joe Posnanski:
From what I can tell, Spain ALWAYS seems to be playing 11 on 10. Now that it really is, it looks like 178 on 10.
— Joe Posnanski (@JPosnanski) July 1, 2012
79'—MISS!
Pedro misses a tap-in from the middle of the 6-yard box after a sweeping move by Spain.
No matter. The offside flag was up anyway.
Claudio Villa/Getty Images
77'—PENALTY?
Federico Balzaretti kicks and shoves Spain's Sergio Ramos to the ground inside the Italy box.
Penalty? Nope, says the referee.
That's a late-game no-contest call. This game is over.
Alex Livesey/Getty Images
75'—SPAIN SUB
Cesc Fabregas, who assisted the first goal, leaves the match. Fernando Torres comes on, and now Spain actually have a real striker on the pitch.
74'—SPAIN 2, ITALY 0
There's been an El Niño sighting. Fernando Torres will enter the game shortly.
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The game has slowed considerably. Time for another stat:
5 - David Silva has been involved in the most goals at Euro 2012 (two scored, three assisted). Protagonist.
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) July 1, 2012
Claudio Villa/Getty Images
69'—SPAIN 2, ITALY 0
More passing and more possession for Spain. Pedro tries to cross from the left with Cesc waiting in the middle.
The Italian defense holds firm this time and the ball is headed away.
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Regarding Thiago Motta's injury:
Spain should bring Fernando Torres on and even the sides.
— Neri Stein (@neristein) July 1, 2012
Martin Rose/Getty Images
66'—SPAIN 2, ITALY 0
Spain's midfielders pass the ball around casually, taking time off the clock.
Cesc Fabregas loses the ball to an Italian defender, and Macca says Cesc's touch has been off tonight.
Didn't look so bad when he set up that opening goal, Macca.
63'—SPAIN 2, ITALY 0
So Thiago Motta is off injured, and it doesn't seem likely that he'll return.
For now (possibly the rest of the match) the Azzurri are down to 10 men. That's why you don't use all three of your substitutions by the 60th minute.
Let's hope Thiago Motta can continue.
Christof Koepsel/Getty Images
61'—INJURY
Thiago Motta falls to the pitch, clutching his hamstring. He's in trouble, and he only just came on for Riccardo Montolivo.
The Italians have no subs left, by the way.
Martin Rose/Getty Images
59'—SPAIN SUB
David Silva, the scorer of the first goal, leaves the match.
Pedro replaces him.
58'—SPAIN 2, ITALY 0
Free kick to Italy on the right side, between the touchline and the 18-yard box.
Pirlo takes it, curling the ball into the box. Iker Casillas hits it away with his fist.
Then, moments later, Mario Balotelli blasts his shot over the bar.
Claudio Villa/Getty Images
57'—ITALY SUB
Thiago Motta replaces Riccardo Montolivo in the midfield.
54'—SPAIN 2, ITALY 0
Iniesta feeds Fabregas in the middle of the field, right at the back edge of Italy's defense.
The ball hits off Fabregas' feet and the chance evaporates.
Claudio Villa/Getty Images
51'—ITALY CHANCE!
Antonio Di Natale has another chance, but his shot inside the box is saved by Iker Casillas.
The Italians aren't quite done yet!
Claudio Villa/Getty Images
49'—HANDBALL!
Bonucci gets away with a handball in the Italy box. The Spanish players cry out for a penalty, but the ref denies their appeal.
Looks like that really should have been a penalty.
48'—SCRAMBLE!
Cesc threatens Italy's goal again, causing a scramble in front of Gianluigi Buffon.
Ignazio Abate clears under some duress.
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