Spain hammer Italy to win Euro 2012 (4-0)

Spain secured a unique place in football's long history by becoming the first team to win three successive major tournaments when beating Italy 4-0 in the final of Euro 2012 at Kiev's Olimpiyskiy Stadium.

 

 

Player Ratings: Spain's stars all shine
Spain
GK: Iker Casillas – 8
Made one world class save from Di Natale and a couple of other decent stops when the game was still on the line. Spain didn't need a top quality goalkeeper on the night but they had one.
RB: Alvaro Arbeloa – 7
One of the less heralded players in the Spanish team but was disciplined, decent on the ball, and allowed his team-mates do the damage.
CB: Sergio Ramos – 8
Solid at the back and dangerous going forward, Ramos clearly enjoyed himself out there with another enthusiastic performance.
CB: Gerard Pique – 7
Much like Arbeloa did nothing wrong and made sure Balotelli had a limited impact.
LB: Jordi Alba – 9
Superb performance by the Barcelona-bound full-back, his goal will live long in the memory but his rampaging runs had been causing problems even before then.
CM: Sergio Busquets – 7
Spain's spoiler did not have to do anything fancy as the Spanish collectively dominated possession. He passed to a red shirt when he got the ball and got on with his job. Helped keep Pirlo quiet.
CM: Xabi Alonso - 8
Smooth in possession throughout, Alonso was the one Spanish player willing to deliver the longer pass when the situation merited it.
CM: Xavi – 9
Came into the match without an assist in the tournament but slipped in two superb balls for goals and produced a vintage display of complex passing that he made look utterly simple.
AML: Andres Iniesta – 8
Spain's player of the tournament did not need to do as much as in other matches as his team-mates stepped up a gear but his pass to send Fabregas away to set up the opener was sublime.
AMR: David Silva – 7
Was clearly disappointed that his night ended after 58 minutes. His header set the tone though and he was always an outlet in Spain's short passing style.
AMC: Cesc Fabregas – 9
Provided everything you could want from a 'false nine' – linked the play, created chances and looked an attacking threat in his own right. Also had a superb assist for Silva's goal and earned his 15-minute rest.
Substitutes
Pedro (on 59') – 7
Added a new dimension to the Spanish attack with pace down the wing.
Fernando Torres (on 75') – 9
A goal and an assist in 15 minutes. You could not ask more from Torres who wins the Golden Boot despite limited action.
Juan Mata (on 87') – 8
A four-minute cameo ended with a goal set up by Torres – a good sign for Chelsea fans.
Italy
GK: Gianluigi Buffon – 5
Hard to put him at fault for any of the Spain goals but a world-class keeper such as himself would have hoped to have stopped at least one.
RB: Ignazio Abate – 5
Tired as the match progressed, Spain produced most of their good work down the Italian right and Abate has to take his share of the blame.
CB: Andrea Barzagli - 4
Let Silva get away for him for the first goal and didn't track Alba's run for the second. He needed to be more alert to stop the Spanish.
CB: Leonardo Bonucci – 5
Sloppy in possession and was equally culpable for the second goal as Barzagli. Was also lucky not to be charged with a handball in the box early in the second half.
LB: Giorgio Chiellini – 4
Looked unfit even before going off in the 21st minute. His poor distribution put Italy in trouble on more than one occasion.
CM: Andrea Pirlo – 5
Pirlo's sensational run of performances came to an end as he was smothered out of the match by Spain's midfield. On the few occasions he did wriggle free his long-range passing was just marginally off.
CM: Claudio Marchisio – 4
Never got into the match and was perhaps the most anonymous midfielder on the pitch. A tough night for the Juventus man.
CM: Daniele De Rossi – 6
Was Italy's best player in the first half as he seemed to find space that his team-mates could not but he did not get into the match in the second half.
AMC: Riccardo Montolivo – 5
Threaded a great ball in for Di Natale early in the second half for Italy's best chance but that was pretty much it from the usually creative attacking midfielder. A disappointingly quiet night that ended after 56 minutes.
ST: Mario Balotelli – 5
Worked hard but it was a frustrating night for Balotelli. Did not have much service and blazed over with the few half-chances he did have.
ST: Antonio Cassano – 6
Buzzed around and tried to make a nuisance of himself despite limited service. A little unlucky to be subbed at half time.
Substitutes
Federico Balzaretti (on 21') – 6
Looked more secure than Chiellini and was even an attacking threat down the left in the first half. Could do nothing but try and defend in the last 30 minutes though.
Antonio Di Natale (on 46') – 6
Came on at half-time and managed to get into position for Italy's two best chances. Could not put either away though and failed to impact the game when Italy went down to 10 men
Thiago Motta (on 57') - (Not rated)
Only on for four minutes before his hamstring went. Have to wonder if he had a sufficient warm-up.

762 sưu tầm