Spain: 2012 Euro Champs

Well, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Where did that Spanish attack come from? On paper, the Spaniards have always been a dangerous team, with the likes of Iniesta, Fabregas, Xavi, Torres and basically any other player on the field. However, their attack has been extremely poor this tournament (other than the Ireland game). I thought against a great defensive team like Italy, that that lack of offense trend from Spain this tournament. Well, I s’pose they were just saving the best for last. The Spanish midfield FINALLY found their form in this game, while the above average Italian midfield were mediocre, to say the least. This translated to higher possession and greater scoring chances for the Spaniards.  It was just a matter of time from then.

Obviously, injuries and substitutions were the story of this final for Italy. Starting Chiellini was the first mistake. It’s always hard to tell whether or not to start key players who are back from injuries. If they are 100% for the entire game, great, but as we saw yesterday, sometimes the injuries are just too much. There was Italy’s first wasted sub used at the 20^th minute. Italy used a second substitution at half. They took about Cassano for DiNatale. I think Cassano and Balotelli were a great combo for each other in this tourney, but Italian coach Prandelli must have thought DiNatale could recreate his magic from the first group game against Spain. I think this was wasted sub number two. The coach needs to be more cautious with his subs when you’ve had to use one early in the game. At least give Cassano the first fifteen minutes of the second half. Then, Thiago Motta subbed into the game (#3) around the 55th-60^th minute. Five minutes later, he is down, injuried, out of the game. There are Italy’s three subs, and there is Italy down a man, down two goals with thirty minutes left in the final. This is where the game is over. Before this, being down 2-0, Italy could have been able to score a goal, turn it into a 2-1 game, and then things would be interesting. But there was no way Italy was winning once Motta went down.

Overall, a very entertaining Euro. One thing I hate about televised international soccer events is seeing the diving and having that be exposed to the non-soccer world who then complain about it. I was very happy with the play in this tourney;  didn’t feel like there was much diving. A pleasant surprise for my Italians, but a brutal finish. Congrats to Spain on their record third straight international title in a row! Well deserved the way they played in the finale.