Spain vs Italy - Euro 2012 Final match preview

As we approach the grand final of the summer's biggest tournament, the great debate has begun, who is going to win the European Championship 2012, Spain or Italy? Here we begin the countdown to the Olympic Stadium by discussing the pro's and con's of each team, and who we think will emerge as the victor.

Spain

Spain's tactics of dominating possession and accumulating an extremely high number of passes, known as "Tiki-Taka" football has had praise heaped upon it for many years now and has brought with it a number of trophies and successes, including the 2008 European Championship and the 2010 World Cup. But as this year's Euro progresses, questions are being raised as to whether Spain are becoming too "boring"? This week Spanish centre midfielder Xavi has hit back at these claims stating : "'If we are boring but we are winning, that is fantastic for us,'. He went on to say: "We are not bored. We will keep playing our game."

Winning Group C set Spain up with a quarter final against Group D runners up France, a game where even though Spain played poorly, they still dominated a disheartened French side and the game finished 2- after 2 Xabi Alonso goals. however it could have easily been many more.

Advancing into the Semi-Finals, Spain faced a Portugal side who had recently defeated a resilient Czech Republic side in the first quarter final. The goal scorer in that game Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese captain was to be a focal point of all of the pre-match build up before the tantalising semi-final between Spain and Portugal. The match eventually went to penalties, which Spain won 4-2 after misses from Joao Moutinho and Bruno Alves, yet the main surprise lay in the fact that Ronaldo did not take a penalty, and thus had no effect on the outcome of the shoot-out.

When dissecting the Spanish starting 11, it is hard to argue that they will not emerge victorious from tonight's final. With players such as Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Pique, Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas and Torres, Spain have become the most formidable force in world football.

Italy

A surprise addition to the final this year after nearly everybody in the football world expected a German win on Thursday, but Italy proved themselves to be worthy finalists after 2 goals from striker Mario Balotelli sent them through. In Cesare Prandelli they have a tactically astute manager who will have analysed all of Spain’s games this tournament, Italy are also the only team to score against the Spanish this tournament. Prandelli would have noted that the times when Spain were put under real pressure (against Portugal, Croatia and of course Italy) the opposition really got at the Spanish and tried to dictate the game to them. This is much different from the “Chelsea” approach that many would have expected to be deployed by many teams. Against Italy in the group stage game Spain looked second best early on and Italian hard work paid off when they scored, however Italy could not maintain that level and by the end of the game Spain were well on top.
If Italy can maintain the level of pressing and win the ball back quickly, (like Portugal in the semi-final) for a whole ninety minutes then they have a real chance against this Spanish team which will create chances but without a recognised striker will not convert as many as if David Villa is fit. Italy will have to be much more clinical than when they were against Germany when they could have put the game out of sight by the second half.
If Balotelli is clinical in his finishing when the chances come and if Pirlo is given time on the ball akin to the quarter and semi-final then the Italians will have to fancy themselves.

Pirlo vs Xavi

An aspect of tonight's final that every football fan is eagerly waiting for is the mouthwatering showdown between two of the world's best central midfielders and arguably two of the best ever passers of the ball.

Xavi's status as an all-time great has already been secured, but at this year's championship, he has yet to directly influence any of Spain's goals and he will be eager to do so tonight.

For the Italians, Andrea Pirlo has become the first name on their team sheet after his performances in the Euros so far, and has the Player of the Tournament prize almost secured, but he will be wanting to add the European Championship to his already impressive resume which already boasts a World Cup, and at the age of 33, the possibility that this is his last championship with Italy is a very real one.

Head to Head record

Wins: Italy - 8. Spain - 7. Draws - 11

Recent Major Tournament Meetings

• Spain 1-1 Italy Euro 2012 Group C game
  
• Spain 0-0 Italy. (Spain win on Penalties) Euro 2008 quarter final
  

• Italy 2-1 Spain World Cup 1994 quarter final

Possible Line-ups

                                                     Spain                                                                             




                                     Casillas                                                                            

                           Arbeloa – Ramos – Pique – Jordi Alba                          

             David Silva – Busquets – Xavi – Xabi Alonso – Iniesta       

                                                   Fabregas                                                                 

                                                     Italy


                                                    Buffon


                            Abate -- Barzagli -- Chiellini -- Balzaretti


                                 Marchisio -- Pirlo -- De Rossi


                                                  Montolivo


                                           Balotelli -- Cassano

                                                                                                       

Prediction

Spain's performances thus far in Euro 2012 have been less than impressive, so I'm going for an Italy upset. After their performance against Germany, Italy are going into tonight's final with lots of confidence and a striker who is on song in Mario Balotelli. After his 2 goals against Germany Balotelli will be a large part of Spain's pre-match preparation and rightly so, as he is odds on favourite to win the Golden Boot after catching Germany's Mario Gomez.

Andrea Pirlo will unsurprisingly be key to an Italian victory, and with Spain unlikely to assign a man to mark him, he will be given time and space in the centre of the field to distribute the ball and be the root of all the Italian attacks, and eventually plot the Spanish downfall.

Score prediction: Italy 1-0 Spain

Please leave a comment below and tell us who YOU think will win Euro 2012, and if you agree with our verdict.