Spain v Italy
Fifa rankings:
Spain 1
Italy 12
The final of the tournament takes place amid the golden domes of the Ukrainian capital of Kiev. Spain current World and European champions take on Italy, the conquerors of England.
The Ukrainian writer, Mikhail Bulgakov sets his classic novel The White Guard amongst the turmoil of revolution in Kiev. Turmoil enveloped the Italians as they entered this tournament, amidst allegations of match fixing, politicians calling for the team to be withdrawn and the manager accepting to do likewise if required. The team was not withdrawn, and history suggests the Italians may respond positively to such circumstances, the 1982 World Cup victory following similar events. Spain, by way of contrast, could enter the competition in a state of calm. Having won the previous two major tournaments for national teams, and then breezing through qualification without defeat, the Spanish could be forgiven for feeling confident.
The two sides met in their opening group fixture. Whilst the match was drawn, the Italy were the better of the two teams. Spain then cruised pass the Irish and went on to beat Croatia narrowly. The Italians finished second to Spain in the group after drawing with Croatia and beating Ireland. In the second round the Spanish beat a French team who performed poorly, whilst the Italians beat a defensively minded English team on penalties. Spain opted not to attack for the majority of their semi final against Portugal, only rousing themselves to attack near the end, and going on to knock out Cristiano Ronaldo et al on penalties. By way of contrast Italy played superbly against a highly rated Germany with Mario Balotelli scoring twice, the second of which was a wonderful strike.
The core of the Spanish team comes from Barcelona and it is therefore no surprise they play in a similar style of fine passing favoured by the Catalans. A debt of gratitude is therefore owed to Johan Cruyff. The unavailability of David Villa through injury together with an embarrassment of riches in midfield has led Spain’s manager, Vicente Del Bosque, in some games to do away with forwards and play extra midfielders, albeit with Cesc Fabregas in an advanced role. An absence of strikers has meant the Spanish do not have the chances to score that their possession of the ball merits. Del Bosque does have strikers, such as Fernando Torres, Alvaro Negredo and Fernando Llorente, at his disposal and Spain, in this writer’s opinion, will do better against the Italians if one or two get on the pitch in Kiev’s Olympic Stadium.
Cesare Prandelli has the Italians dispensing with defensive tactics of old and playing an attacking passing based game. It is as if the Italians have watched and learnt from the Spanish sides that won World and European titles. The Italians will line up in a 4-4-2 formation, with their forward line led by the enigmatic Balotelli and ably assisted by Antonio Cassano who has matured into the role and plays in an intelligent fashion. Andrea Pirlo acts as conductor to the Italy team.
One to watch:
Spain - Xavi
Italy - Who else but Balotelli, the Manchester City forward is playing well, scoring, appearing to be happy and even smiling after scoring, expect fireworks albeit not literally.
Odds:
Spain to win 6 / 5
Italy to win 11 / 4
A draw 11 / 5
(Paddy Power)
Prediction:
If Spain play without strikers, expect a dour game narrowly edged by the Italians. However, if the Spanish play with strikers, expect a joyous game of wonderful attacking passing football narrowly edged by the Italians. This is not to say Spain can’t win, they are not reigning World and European Champions for nothing.
Spain 1 Italy 2
Comments
A lot with Italy will depend on their attitude. One of containment and counter, or go on the offensive ?
It should be the latter by old habits die hard and I suspect the former.
Think Spain will turn it on again and win comfortably.
Just hope its a decent spectacle.
hope italy win (not because of the bets), but because i cant bloody stand spain. bunch of arrogant %$^$% and i cant stand that tic tac football they play. so boring.
Spain the lift the Trophy ( 8-15 Bet365 )
Fabregas to score anytime ( 3-1 Betfred )
Balotelli to score the first goal of the game with a header ( 25-1 Betvictor )
oooooo tempting tempting
Can Pirlo manage 3 games in a week though? I guess a number of the Spaniards aren't spring chickens either but a functioning Pirlo seems fundamental to a successful italy in my view.
Prefer the Italian keeper over the Spanish one, therefore;
Italy on pens @ 9/1
Hoping for a Balotelli moment soon.
Ridiculous comments.
Almost a different sport to what we play
Edit. O just see it was casilas. Didnt see much of him neither
It's very skillful, masterful etc but there are just not enough attempts on goal for me.
Question: Would Maradona (or in England's case: Gascoigne, Barnes or Waddle) have been allowed to do what he did in this Spain team?
Answer: No
Conclusion: A loss to football.
Messi is allowed to do what he does for Barcelona, who play the same way, so that conclusion is wrong.
I know we all see things differently but 'a loss to football' just leaves me speechless tbh Jimmy.
England 66 for obvious reasons
Brazil 70 were pretty awesome as have been other Brazilian sides over the years but the way this Spanish side keeps and passes the ball and how hard the players work for each other is awesome.
I'm not really one for superlatives but this was special.
The passing and movement was special
I suppose in an ideal world they would have slaughtered everyone and played to their max every game or maybe they could have burnt out looked brilliant and not won the trophy ....
They did it with real style in the end and I'm glad they got there and they definitely deserved it , admittedly I didn't see it coming , I thought they were burnt out !
Shows that you don't have to be screaming great hulks to play brilliant, technical football.
Alba for 14m euros looks a bargain.
Can see them winning another world cup too.
I honestly think they are the greatest national side of all time. I don't know how it can be debated really with what they've achieved and the way they have turned the game on its head.
They certainly looked outstanding last night and it's how to understand how they managed to lose to England recently albeit in a friendly. You do wonder whether Germany would have given the Spanish a better game.
There are a number of top, top players who wouldn't get in the Spain team. I would go as far as saying that the likes of Xavi and Iniesta are ABOVE world class. They are in a class of their own which nobody can really get near.
Strange player Rooney - for Man U and Everton before that he looks everything he should be, hard to tackle, great work rate, he can play deep, or as the target man in the box and he scores goals. But for England he looks like a boy lost. Clearly he has the temperament to play internationally, I just wonder if deep down he's mentally immature and needs as a father figure as a manager which he seems to get with Fergie.
Spain disappointed me in the tournament as a whole, they had a lot of possession but didn't seem to do much with it and hardly shone in getting past Portugal in the semi. I got the impression that Iniesta missed having Villa playing on the left and cutting in and that removed some of Spain's attacking threat and therefore they resorted to pass the parcel football until something happened. Unquestionably they increased the pace in the final and were back to how they were in the WC and the last EC. All in all it reminded me of the Barcelona-Man U CL final two years back. That day Barcelona were outstanding and I doubt any team would have lived with them then and I doubt that Germany would have lived with Spain last night either.