Euro 2012: Counting Down the Men of the Match from Spain vs. Italy

This is the fifth installment of a tournament-long series in which I pick three men from each squad who could contend for Man of the Match for each game. The three men from each team will be ranked third place, runner-up and Man of the Match, with a Man of the Match of the whole game picked at the end. Happy Euros!

Group C kicked off with the last two World Cup champions—Spain and Italy—facing off in Gdansk, Poland. 

This match was one of the pre-tournament games to watch, as many of the world's best stepped on the pitch to fight for supremacy in Group C. 

Spain surprised many by leaving both Fernando Torres and Fernando Llorente on the bench and starting with no strikers. Italy took a gamble by starting controversial striker Mario Balotelli, Antonio Cassano—who underwent heart surgery just seven months ago—and untested Emanuele Giaccherini.

Spain started uncharacteristically slow; they weren't attacking as much as normal, and their defending was sluggish. Del Bosque seemed to have made a mistake not starting a striker against Italy's towering defense.

Italy played much brighter in the opening 30 minutes, creating chances on both flanks. They came closest to scoring when Antonio Cassano's shot rolled about a yard between the far post and an onrushing Mario Balotelli. 

The match started picking up steam as the half ended, and Spain might have gone ahead, but they tried to be too intricate with their passing. Spain needed to take a leaf out of Italy's book in that regard; the Italian players were shooting often and accurately.

Despite chances made by both teams, the score would stay 0-0 going into the half.

The second half started off much like the first ended, which each team probing forward. Spain began looking like the Spain of old, passing it much more easily around the pitch, and Italy continued to to create chances. Mario Balotelli had the best chance of the opening minutes, nicking the ball away from Sergio Ramos and coming one-on-one with Iker Casillas, but Ramos got back and tackled the ball away for a corner.

Balotelli came off in the 56th for Antonio Di Natale, who immediately made an impact. In the 61st minute, Di Natale took a through-ball from Andrea Pirlo right through the Spanish defense and coolly curled the ball around Iker Casillas.

It was a genius substitution, and Italy had the advantage over world and European champions Spain.

But not for long.

Three minutes later, David Silva flicked the ball past the Italian defense; Cesc Fabregas latched onto it and drilled it past Gianluigi Buffon with his first touch.

It was an immediate and furious response, and we were back to square one with nothing to separate the teams once again.  

Spain finally introduced a striker in the form of Fernando Torres in the 74th minute and almost scored with his first involvement of the game. Torres went one-on-one with Buffon, but the Italian keeper saw Torres' intentions a mile away and promptly smothered the misfiring Spaniard. 

Torres continued to misfire, Spain continued to pass around the box and not score, and the game ended 1-1—both sides feeling disappointed at dropping points. 

Here are my picks for Spain vs. Italy Men of the Match

Third Place, Spain: Xavi

Really any of Spain's midfield players could have taken this spot, but it was Xavi who continued to play his role as co-midfield maestro alongside Andres Iniesta.

The Barcelona duo of Xavi and Iniesta continued to control the midfield for Spain, and while Xavi may not have had as commanding a presence as some other Spanish players, he created chances and fed the ball through the necessary wide and middle outlets in order for Spain to be effective. 

Runner-Up, Spain: Andres Iniesta

Andres Iniesta showed up a little more in this game than the rest of Spain's midfield.

He showed more pace, more vision and a little bit more fire throughout the whole game. It was Iniesta who found David Silva right at the top of the box, who then fed Cesc Fabregas for the equalizing goal. 

Iniesta created opportunities down the left side and through the middle of the pitch for Spain all game, threading the ball through the Italian defense with relative ease. Along with Xavi, he commanded the Spanish midfield very much the same way he commands the Barcelona midfield for the rest of the year.   

Man of the Match, Spain: Francesc Fabregas

After going down 1-0 to Italy with an hour gone, Spain's response was immediate, and the equalizer came in the form of Cesc Fabregas at the end of some beautiful Spanish interplay.

Despite the fact that he scored the goal that won the point for Spain, Fabregas was the attacking midfielder in the odd formation that Vincente del Bosque sent out which lacked a striker. 

He was, sort of, the focal point of the Spanish attack until he was subbed, making runs at and behind the Italian defense, creating space for himself and passing off the ball when needed. 

Perhaps Fabregas, along with the Spanish attacking corps, played with the ball a little too much in front of Italy's goal, but a point is better than no points at all. 

Third Place, Italy: Antonio Cassano

I was amazed to see Antonio Cassano in the starting lineup for Italy this morning. I was under the impression that he was still recovering from heart surgery—obviously he is not.

I was amazed to see him play so well.

Cassano was the bright spot for Italy while he was on the pitch, constantly finding space everywhere in the attacking third. 

He came closest for Italy in the first half when his shot rolled just wide of the far post. He also had a hand in another one of Italy's chances, providing the cross that Thiago Motta almost headed home. 

Runner-Up, Italy: Antonio Di Natale

Antonio Di Natale scored the opening goal with literally his first touch of the ball after coming on as a substitute.

He took a through-ball from Andrea Pirlo—who also could have taken this spot—and curled the ball past Iker Casillas to lift the hopes of Italian hearts.

He definitely made a case for himself to start over the disappointing Mario Balotelli.

Man of the Match, Italy: Daniele De Rossi

Daniele de Rossi was omnipresent as the Italian sweeper. He popped up all over the field, simultaneously denying chances for Spain and creating them for Italy. 

While Andrea Pirlo may have been the midfield maestro for Italy today, it was Daniele de Rossi who stood strong behind him.

De Rossi blocked numerous shots, stuffed the potent Spanish attack and held his place in front of the Italian back line. 

If not for him, Spain may have well come away with the win. 

Man of the Match: Daniele di Rossi

Fabregas may have clinched the point for Spain, but it was de Rossi that constantly denied Spain the win. 

Your Thoughts?

Both teams played so well that it was hard to pick a Man of the Match, but Daniele de Rossi gets the honors.

Who was your Man of the Match? Let me know in the comments section below!

Happy Euros, and cheers!