Italy have proved themselves the surprise package of this year’s European Championship with the brilliance of deep-lying playmaker Andrea Pirlo driving them forward. Spain on the other hand, have battled and passed their way to a third major tournament final in five years, but have not been at their dazzling best. These two teams started their Euro 2012 campaign against each other in Gdansk, Poland. Now they will finish against each other too, but in Kyiv, Ukraine.
It is a final few would have predicted, but one which many will anticipate with relish. Spain, seemingly tired and lacking the movement in the final third that fans are used to seeing, will be taking on an Italian side high on confidence after victory over the favourites, Germany, in the semi-final. What will be most encouraging for the Azzurri is that it was not as though they were lucky to win; as with their quarter final against England, they were the better team.
Spain are looking to equal Germany’s record of three European titles with a victory at the Olympic Stadium. But, just as with Germany prior to their semi-final, Italy have met Spain seven times in competitive football and never lost in normal time or in extra time. The only defeat was in the Euro 2008 quarter-final on penalties, but the final of the European Championship has never gone to that particular lottery.
Here, Inside Futbol takes a closer look at those key battles that will be decisive in determining whether Italy can win their second European crown or if it will be Spain who reign and claim an unprecedented third major international tournament in a row.
Jordi Alba vs Federico Balzaretti
Alba has been one of Spain’s players of Euro 2012 and this week secured a move to Barcelona. He was impressive again against Portugal in the semi-finals, rampaging down the left to create space in the centre. Spain almost scored their winner that way when Andres Iniesta saw his close range effort blocked. Italy allow their opponents to have the ball in wide areas and Alba can take advantage of this, particularly with Balzaretti likely to get forward himself. With Ignazio Abate recovering from injury, Balzaretti may keep his place on the right after his superb showing against Germany, and he can cause the Spanish problems of their own, particularly given Alba’s forward running. This could develop into an intriguing battle of overlapping full backs.
Andrea Pirlo vs Xabi Alonso
Pirlo has been the player of the tournament so far, showing his ability to shine on the biggest stage of all – he has been tormenting defences all season. The midfielder was after all the main reason Juventus won Serie A without losing a match and has shown an ability to find space, always finding a blue shirt with his passes, during Euro 2012. He will go up against possibly the second best deep-lying playmaker in Europe in Xabi Alonso. The Real Madrid player is also particularly crucial in a Spain team which may look to utilise fast players who naturally play out wide, such as Jesus Navas and Alba to create openings. If they do that, then Alonso’s long, on the floor passing from deep will be key to finding spaces behind the Italy defence. The battle of the deep-lying playmakers could determine this year’s European champions.
Sergio Ramos vs Mario Balotelli
Italy probably had more joy going forward against Germany than any other team at Euro 2012. In a way, there is no surprise in that. Germany’s defence is not that solid, and the decision to play Holger Badstuber at centre back and Jerome Boateng on the right meant that Joachim Low’s side were susceptible to the counter and the pace of the Italy attack. Italy had so much space going forward on Thursday night, but Spain will try to prevent that happening. Key then, will be the pace of Real Madrid defender Ramos, who will be tasked with marshalling Balotelli, who will probably finish as the tournament’s top scorer if he finds the net in the final. The Manchester City man had the second most shots of anyone in the tournament before the Germany game, but had scored just once. He was able to net twice in the semi-final mainly because of the space afforded to him. Ramos must not make the same error as the German defenders did, and if he can do that, Spain can at least nullify Italy’s main goalscoring threat.
Xavi vs Claudio Marchisio
Because Italy play effectively with four central midfielders, Spain will face a tricky test in this area of the pitch. Sergio Busquets may pick up the most advanced of the Italian quartet, Riccardo Montolivo, while Alonso will look to play in the same area as Pirlo and deny the Juventus maestro space. This means Xavi may have extra defensive duties and it would not be a surprise to see his attentions focused, if that happens, more on Claudio Marchisio than the less attack-minded Daniele De Rossi. Marchisio has produced few moments of individual brilliance, but has been a key part of the fast paced Italian attack and his all action displays have led to comparisons with former Italy great Marco Tardelli. But for Spain to be at their best, they will be looking to Xavi to prompt, probe and help tiki-taka Italy until their defence creaks. The Barcelona man will have one of the most important roles, but despite apparent fatigue, there is little doubt he is up to the task.
Jesus Navas vs Giorgio Chiellini
Navas may not even start this game as David Silva has been a regular in at Euro 2012, but Vicente del Bosque may be wise to include the Sevilla man. Italy’s system is designed to squeeze space in the middle of the field and against both England and Germany allowed time for wide players. Where they got lucky is England could not get forward enough to exploit that, whilst Germany did but opted to play centrally instead. Spain, more than any other team at Euro 2012 perhaps, have players up front like Andres Iniesta and Silva, who look to start wide and cut inside. It is for that reason that Navas could be key. Chiellini got forward at times against Germany but was rarely exposed. Pinning back Italy’s full backs will be a key task for Spain though, and Navas is perfectly suited to doing just that.
It should not be the biggest surprise in the world that Italy have made it this far. Last time a major match-fixing scandal broke in the country before a tournament (the World Cup in 2006), they won it. On the pitch, although the Azzurri have scored just six times, they have had more shots than anyone else in this tournament. Half of their team play for Juventus and have lost barely a game each all season, whilst their tactics have baffled opponents. Though Italy have changed from a back three to a back four mid-tournament, Cesare Prandelli’s side have blocked the midfield and central areas of the pitch, pressed high, and passed incisively at pace, always looking for the ball over the top. They seem at times to be playing on the counter attack, but are also an attacking team looking to control the game.
That so many of the Azzurri’s players are used to playing in a system with three defenders and four midfielders in front means they have a tactical fluidity which has helped them to block the key central areas of the pitch, yet take advantage of space going forward, because most teams in the Euros are naturally very attacking. Even against Germany though playing a nominal back four, for much of the time there were only three players in Italy’s backline, as Balzaretti and Chiellini took turns to drop into the defence and attack. Italy’s measured approach means they are well suited to playing attacking teams, such as Spain.
The European champions’ display on Wednesday against Portugal showed that they are susceptible to a team pressing high and counter attacking, as Italy will. But Italy will take the game to Spain more than Portugal did, and so Vicente del Bosque may be optimistic that his team will have more space. That may tempt him into fielding Fernando Torres. Spain have played with a ‘false’ nine and no striker for most of the time, but against Italy such a tactic may backfire. The idea behind the ‘false’ nine is to have that player, probably Cesc Fabregas, drop back to find space and pull defenders out of position. But against Italy the central midfield is so crowded that there will be little space to find.
Spain will naturally look to pass their way to victory, but will find that particularly difficult against Italy. Another tight game awaits, and arguably between the two most tactically fluid teams in Europe, so this should be a particularly fascinating final.
Euro 2012 Betting: Spain v Italy – Bets not to Miss
Euro 2012 Final: Spain vs Italy Match Preview
Euro 2012 Final – Stage Set for Mario Balotelli Heroics
