Euro 2012 Group C, Spain vs. Italy Preview: Toasts Meet Ghosts

Champagne football meets the potentially shambolic in this clash of international football titans. Reigning World Cup and Euro champs Spain are beyond in the ascendancy. After years of underachieving in major tournaments, La Roja enter Euro 2012 in the midst of their Golden Age.

In sharp contrast, the Azzurri find themselves embroiled in another match-fixing scandal that has threatened more than just the standing of the oft-tarnished Serie A in recent weeks. Despite a smashing qualification campaign, the Italians' form entering the tournament has been nothing short of abysmal (look no further than a shock 1-0 home loss to the U.S. in February and a listless 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Russia, June 2).

Friendlies are not always the best indicators of a squad's major competition temperament. Italy was caught up in a similar tempest in 2006 with the Calciopoli epidemic. Then-steward Marcello Lippi instilled an us-against-the-world attitude in his lads only to see them hoist the Cup in Germany.

The Italians have forever been maligned for their tactical drudgery and Machiavellian pitch antics, but new coach Cesare Prandelli's fresh approach promises to address at least the defensive-minded/opportunistic style of play that has been an Azzurri trademark for decades.

Spain enters the tournament no. 1 in the FIFA rankings for an abundance of reasons. The Spaniards' flowing style is a joy to watch for staunch supporters and neutrals alike. Their 4-5-1 formation focuses on an artisan midfield that boasts the wizardry of Xavi (Barcelona), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), David Silva (Manchester City) and Andries Iniesta (Barcelona).

Vicente Del Bosque's striker corps is a little less formidable, having lost David Villa to a broken leg, but a resurgent Fernando Torres (Chelsea) and emerging Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao) are there to pick up the slack.

The defense will be missing Carles Puyol, but with Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid) and Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) patrolling the backline, the Italians will have to conjure up something extraordinary to have a crack at beating all-world goalkeeper Iker Casillas (Real Madrid).

Italy features the most polarizing figure of Euro 2012 in striker Mario Balotelli (Manchester City), and with all the drama surrounding Italian soccer at the moment, they need an episode from him like the global economy needs another bad headline.

Like Spain, Italy's strength lies in their midfield anchored by maestro Andrea Pirlo (Juventus). Pirlo pulls the strings but he'll have Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Thiago Motta (Paris St. Germain) and rugged veteran Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma) to help counteract Spain's possession play.

With Prandelli having to send home Domenico Criscito and Andrea Barzagli ruled out for the group phase, Italy's traditionally airtight defense can only be considered shaky at this point. A Juve-heavy group will be martialed by Giorgio Chiellini, a stalwart capable of scoring on set pieces. Netminder Gigi Buffon (Juventus) is still in top form, and is certainly in the same strata as Casillas.

Up front is always a question for Italy, and with young gunner Giuseppe Rossi out to injury it will be up to poachers Antonio Cassano (AC Milan), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese) and up-and-comer Fabio Borini (Roma) to aid the mercurial Balotelli with vital scoring punch.

Spain is bound to confound all challengers in Euro 2012 with their dizzying display of one-touch and interchange football (call it tiki-taka, if you must), but the Italians have a knack for winning on the big stage. While Italy managed a late winner against Spain in a friendly last August in Bari, it was Spain that knocked the Azzurri out of Euro 2008 after a penalty shootout in the quarterfinal.

It's safe to say Italy has been in decline since their World Cup victory in 2006 (case in point, the Kiwi debacle of 2010), but they are still considered a bit of a dark horse by odds-makers and pundits on reputation alone.

There are five marquee matchups in the group phase in Euro 2012, and many will point to this tie at the PGE Arena in Gdansk as a possible showpiece. This will be both squads' first match of the tournament, so early assessments really only amount to platitudes.

Spain will undoubtedly be the aggressors with their superior talent and creativity, but the Italians could frustrate La Furia Roja and pounce on a chance or two to turn this Sangria fiesta into a Chianti affair. Let's just hope a re-hash of 2008's sleep-inducer is not in the cards.

Prediction: Spain 2, Italy 1