4-0: Spanish Armada flattens Italy

Spain beat Italy to win their third Euro Championship, clinch third big title in a row

Kiev, July 1
World champions Spain took their place among the game's greats when they thrashed Italy 4-0 to become the first team to win successive European Championship titles on Sunday. Goals from David Silva, Jordi Alba, Fernando Torres and Juan Mata gave the world champions an easy victory over an Italian team down to 10 men through injury for the last half-hour.

The diminutive Silva scored with a rare header after a Cesc Fabregas pull-back in the 14th minute before a superb sprint finish from left-back Alba following a pinpoint Xavi pass doubled their lead four minutes before halftime. Torres, who scored the winner in the final when they won the title in 2008, struck their third goal in the 84th minute before setting up fellow substitute Mata to add the final flourish in the 88th.

Italy had more possession than Spain in the opening half but when they did have a sniff of goal goalkeeper Iker Casillas maintained his astonishing record of not conceding a goal in the knockout stage of a tournament for the 10th successive match.

Spain have become the first European side to win three major tournaments following their success in Euro 2008 and the World Cup two years ago. The only other team to win three successive major titles was Argentina who lifted the Copa America in 1945, 1946 and 1947 when that tournament was held annually.

Spain, who started without a recognised striker, were all artistry and guile in midfield while Italy, whose own creator Andrea Pirlo failed to shine, were handicapped by having only 10 men from the hour mark after using up all three substitutes.

The third of them, Thiago Motta, only lasted four minutes after replacing Riccardo Montolivo in the 57th before limping off with a hamstring injury. Italy went close twice through second half substitute Antonio Di Natale but Mario Balotelli, the two-goal hero of their 2-1 semi-final win over Germany, rarely looked like scoring. The opening goal came when Andres Iniesta split the Italy defence with an incisive pass to Fabregas who outpaced Giorgio Chiellini to get to the byline where he pulled the ball back to Silva who flashed his header past the helpless Buffon.

The second came when Alba tore past the static Leonardo Bonucci and planted a perfect left foot shot past Gianluigi Buffon. Torres then ran through to score the third after another Xavi through ball before setting up Mata with a deft flick.

In the end, the game statistics were quite even, despite the unbalanced scoreline, which proves that Spain created goals out of nowhere. Spain had a 14-11 lead in shots at goal, and 6-4 lead in shots on target. They led 57%-43% on ball possession and 88%-83% on pass completion. These figures got skewed in Spain favour after Italy were reduced to 10 men.

As Spain celebrated, there were tears and grief in the Italian team. Mario Balotelli and Leonardo Bonucci looked particularly distraught. Andrea Pirlo, the influential 33-year-old playmaker, has in all probably bowed out of major championship football and was suitably downcast.

Former Italy star Gianluca Vialli commented after the end of the rout: "Spain are great to watch - unless you are on the receiving end. As for Italy, this is a great starting point to the next World Cup… A new team, a new manager."

HIGH FIVES AT SOCCER SUMMIT
16 teams, 30 games, 72 goals... Here's our pick of five goals that rocked Ukraine-Poland and the rest of the soccer world

1. Having the gall to softly chip a penalty over a diving 'keeper, rather than firing to his left or right, is such the height of cool that this technique is named after its pioneer, Antonin Panenka. He used it to win the 1976 European Championship for Czechoslovakia against West Germany in a penalty shootout. At Euro 2012, Andrea Pirlo did it in Italy's quarterfinal shootout victory over England, and Sergio Ramos performed a "panenka" to help defending champion Spain beat Portugal in their semifinal penalty shootout. Brave.

SPAIN'S SOLE LAPSE

2. Italy was the only team that managed to score against the world and defending European champions at Euro 2012. Antonio Di Natale's chip at speed past Iker Casillas in the 61st minute in their opening Group C match on June 10 wasn't the prettiest goal of Euro 2012, but it's a top five pick for its rarity.

SUBLIME SILVA

3. Controlling the ball 12 metres out, the nippy Spain midfielder faced a seemingly impenetrable wall of three Ireland defenders blocking his route to goal. So he improvised, dancing right then left before hitting the ball with pinpoint precision past one defender, through the legs of two others, and beyond 'keeper Shay Given. It was Spain's second goal in a 4-0 win Group C on June 14. Laser-like.

IBRAHIMOVIC'S FAREWELL

4. Sweden were already eliminated when they played France on June 19 in Group D, but their towering frontman was determined to go out with a bang. With a roundhouse kick Bruce Lee would have been proud of, Ibrahimovic met Sebastian Larsson's cross and threw himself nearly sideways in the air to volley the ball with his right boot past Hugo Lloris. Thumping.

WELBECK’S FLICK

5. The Manchester United forward scored only once for England at Euro 2012, but his goal was brilliant for its cunning and exquisite timing. With England and Sweden at 2-2 in the 78th minute of their June 15 group stage match, winger Theo Walcott sent in a cross. His back to the goal, Welbeck met the ball with his right leg and flicked it behind him with his heel, stunning Sweden goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson. Welbeck's execution was astounding and the goal secured the win for England.