Spain v Italy

:00:51. > :00:55.Welcome to Kiev for the final of Euro 2012. Spain are on the brink

:00:56. > :01:01.of making history by becoming the first European team to win three

:01:01. > :01:11.majors in a row. Standing in their way, Italy, world champions

:01:11. > :01:23.

:01:23. > :01:33.The two best teams seized their chances when it mattered, where

:01:33. > :01:39.

:01:39. > :01:49.beat this. There is room for Mario Balotelli. Can he get a double? He

:01:49. > :02:02.

:02:02. > :02:12.It is a game of fractions, knowing Spain at their wonderful best.

:02:12. > :02:15.

:02:15. > :02:25.Andrea Pirlo. Alessandro de ne It went down to the thickness of a

:02:25. > :02:42.

:02:42. > :02:47.It will come down to a moment, but This was the tournament that was

:02:47. > :02:51.not supposed to work, it was too far away, the grounds were too far

:02:51. > :02:56.apart, not all fans would be welcomed. They were, and it has

:02:56. > :03:04.worked, and hope for me tonight, Spain and Italy can produce a final

:03:04. > :03:08.to make Poland and Ukraine feel proud. Inside the Olympic Stadium,

:03:08. > :03:14.Alan Hansen, Gianluca Vialli and Alan Shearer. Three weeks, 61 goals

:03:14. > :03:20.they go, Spain met Italy, it was 1- 1, but now, there is much more at

:03:20. > :03:25.stake. I sit here tonight, I am representing the thousands of

:03:25. > :03:30.Italians who live in your country. I do that with pride, because we

:03:30. > :03:34.have once again shown the world that we might not be the best when

:03:34. > :03:39.it comes to producing politicians, but we can certainly produced,

:03:39. > :03:44.among other things, great players, great managers, great player

:03:44. > :03:48.managers, more importantly! The spirit of this team has been an

:03:48. > :03:56.example, an inspiration for this country. We have reminded ourselves

:03:56. > :04:01.that we can be very clever, very smart, hard-working, United. We are

:04:01. > :04:04.going to a difficult time with the scandals, and sometimes, winning a

:04:04. > :04:09.match on a football pitch can change the destiny and the future

:04:09. > :04:14.of the country. I hope it will happen tonight. It will be

:04:14. > :04:19.difficult, two terrific sides, the best in the tournament? Absolutely,

:04:19. > :04:24.out and out quality. We have talked about Spain for the last four

:04:24. > :04:28.seasons, the passing and moving up, against the Portuguese, they were

:04:28. > :04:35.poor for 90 minutes, and then they came to life in extra-time. They

:04:35. > :04:39.were magnificent. The Italians, a bit like 2006, early on I thought,

:04:39. > :04:42.a bit pedestrian, then all of a sudden, against the Germans, it was

:04:42. > :04:49.electric, and it was one of the great performances in European

:04:49. > :04:56.history. Spain have gone by hundred minutes without conceding a goal in

:04:56. > :05:00.the knockout stages -- 900 minutes. They have changed the face of the

:05:00. > :05:04.way people are looking at them, how they play. They have six in

:05:04. > :05:09.midfield, without his centre- forward. There will be coaches

:05:09. > :05:14.looking around the world, thinking it, can we play that way? But not

:05:14. > :05:21.only that, defensively, they are so hard to beat. They do not concede

:05:21. > :05:25.many goals. Only one in this tournament, against Italy in the

:05:25. > :05:30.first game. We watched Italy draw against New Zealand two years ago.

:05:30. > :05:36.Now, they are in the final, and they deserve it. The Spanish are

:05:36. > :05:40.not moving bit as well as they have done previously. It is never an

:05:40. > :05:50.Paul Wappat local, maybe Xavi is getting older. Andres Iniesta has

:05:50. > :05:52.

:05:52. > :05:58.been terrific. They have not been They do not have a proven striker,

:05:58. > :06:04.Cesc Fabregas is in. Just the one change, replacing Alvaro Negredo.

:06:04. > :06:09.The centre-forward is not a player, it is the empty space, in front and

:06:09. > :06:14.behind of the central defenders. Every now and then, the midfielders

:06:14. > :06:18.have got to make the run in that space. They have got an opportunity

:06:18. > :06:22.to make history, no team has won three major championships in their

:06:22. > :06:28.growth. If they do that, they should be known as the best team

:06:28. > :06:33.ever. They are a wonderful sight. Jordi Alba has done really well,

:06:33. > :06:41.with Andres Iniesta. Then the middle is crowded, if you have got

:06:41. > :06:46.to have the wit. With all the talk of the Spanish being boring, we are

:06:46. > :06:50.hoping that a Italy entertain us! We have been very entertaining. I

:06:50. > :06:55.am not surprised that we got to the final, because this is the ninth

:06:55. > :07:01.time, we are quite good at getting there. But this is different. What

:07:01. > :07:04.is surprising is the way we are planed. We are very brave, we keep

:07:05. > :07:09.possession of the ball, we are very effective. It has been wonderful.

:07:09. > :07:14.An interesting change of tactics from the first match, when Italy

:07:14. > :07:24.had three at the back. They have brought it that they're about back

:07:24. > :07:31.in. -- Ignazio Abate. Giorgio Chiellini goes to left-back.

:07:31. > :07:37.Different two were outstanding. Andrea Pirlo, he is immense. This

:07:37. > :07:43.is Mario Balotelli, talking to his brother in the crowd. He seemed

:07:43. > :07:49.very relaxed before the game. As well he might, scoring two in the

:07:49. > :07:53.semi-final. He is wonderful, to be a proper centre forward, he has

:07:53. > :07:59.realised you cannot just show off, you have got to be prepared to do

:07:59. > :08:04.the dirty stuff, you have got to run the channels, hold the ball up,

:08:04. > :08:11.chase it, get free kicks, and if he combines his amazing technical

:08:11. > :08:15.skills with his athleticism... coach deserves credit for the way

:08:15. > :08:20.he has played in the tournament. He has put an arm around him, told him

:08:20. > :08:30.how great he thinks he is, and he has responded. The atmosphere has

:08:30. > :08:34.been building all day. We have been As the fans are turning up, a

:08:34. > :08:38.mixture of anticipation and apprehension. We hope we can find a

:08:38. > :08:42.couple of tickets so we can watch the game! A few months ago, Michel

:08:42. > :08:46.Platini questioned whether Ukraine would be allowed to host the

:08:46. > :08:52.tournament, and now he says the country has its greatest sporting

:08:52. > :08:57.legacy. We have had a great time, travelling around. We have got our

:08:57. > :09:03.Olympic games, we are looking forward to a raft of stadia, they

:09:03. > :09:08.have a crack out of seer -- they have a great atmosphere here, and

:09:08. > :09:12.they have seen Ukraine is a great country. We have enjoyed it, 1 1/2

:09:12. > :09:18.million people, massive TV audiences, it has been stunning.

:09:18. > :09:22.The football has been great. Record crowds in the stadium, record

:09:22. > :09:27.audiences on the TV, and the Ukraine have played their part.

:09:27. > :09:30.have seen some good talent, I was pleased to see Andriy Shevchenko

:09:30. > :09:36.score in this stadium. You shared in the emotion of the Ukrainian

:09:36. > :09:41.people. He has been flying their flat for many years. Football wise,

:09:41. > :09:45.what have we learned? From an English perspective, we are looking

:09:45. > :09:50.at the Dutch, playing in a World Cup two years ago and achieving

:09:50. > :09:54.nothing here, and we look at the Italians, making it to a final,

:09:54. > :09:59.they finished bottom in the World Cup. That is what we should look to

:09:59. > :10:06.in terms of building for the future. We talk about the grass roots, we

:10:06. > :10:10.can the cat that, but if we are organised and have good coaches...

:10:10. > :10:15.The tactics are important. England might be playing in a World Cup

:10:15. > :10:20.final in two years. Tonight, it is about Spain and Italy. How do you

:10:20. > :10:25.see the game going? We are in for a great match. The Spanish, the way

:10:25. > :10:30.they pass the ball. I have watched the semi-final again, they pass the

:10:30. > :10:34.ball beautifully, some great technique. Andrea Pirlo will not

:10:34. > :10:39.have the space he has enjoyed in the past, Sergio Ramos and Gerard

:10:39. > :10:44.Pique have been outstanding. Mario Balotelli against those two will be

:10:44. > :10:49.very interesting. It is not just the players that are impressive,

:10:49. > :10:54.even the Spanish fans, some impressive skills. He is hoping for

:10:54. > :11:02.a late call-up. Let's hope the game goes well. It is a fantastic night

:11:02. > :11:06.for Kiev and the Hall of Ukraine. Where could we not see the kid or

:11:06. > :11:10.the way through?! I love the official UEFA stats, because

:11:10. > :11:14.without them, I have trouble getting to sleep, but they do not

:11:14. > :11:18.help us work hard who will win. This is the fourth time that teams

:11:18. > :11:23.who have played in the group stage have met in the final, and the

:11:23. > :11:32.first time that the original game ended in a draw. They also met four

:11:32. > :11:39.years ago in the quarter-finals. Vienna, June 22nd, 2008, the night

:11:39. > :11:45.that changed Spanish football forever. Kate Gower goalless draw

:11:45. > :11:49.with Italy. One newspaper wrote, if it had been a bullfight, the ball

:11:49. > :11:59.would have died of boredom. For so long, they have found their way to

:11:59. > :12:05.

:12:05. > :12:11.But they found their way to win. Italy were world champions, the

:12:11. > :12:21.classic Big Ben performers. Spain had not beaten them competitively

:12:21. > :12:29.

:12:29. > :12:36.90 minutes came and went, extra time was no better. A talented

:12:36. > :12:41.Spanish side were not able to break down the Italians. Penalties were

:12:41. > :12:47.inevitable. Spain had been here before, and had failed. After the

:12:47. > :12:57.near misses, the matadors at last sensed blood and went for the kill.

:12:57. > :13:08.

:13:08. > :13:18.Iker Casillas led the way. David de When he converted, the footballing

:13:18. > :13:26.

:13:26. > :13:31.In many ways, watching Spain is a bit like watching a bullfight, and

:13:31. > :13:36.eventually, the ball gives up and wanders off. They wear them down.

:13:36. > :13:40.We have talked about the Spanish in possession, out of position, how

:13:40. > :13:44.they press quickly, but you do not win as many games and as many

:13:44. > :13:48.tournaments without the mental strength. You go back to the game

:13:48. > :13:53.against Portugal, by their standards, for the first 90 minutes,

:13:53. > :13:57.they were poor, but they found some inner strength to pick themselves

:13:57. > :14:03.up and play great it extra time, which is the sign of a remarkable

:14:03. > :14:07.sight. That is without two great players, David Villa and, spoil.

:14:07. > :14:12.For them to get here again and have the hunger and desire to win

:14:12. > :14:22.another trophy, remarkable. despite four years ago, Italy tend

:14:22. > :14:24.

:14:24. > :14:27.By and large, Italy do well against Spain. We are masters when it comes

:14:27. > :14:32.to tactics, and we know how to face different teams with different

:14:32. > :14:40.systems. Tonight, they will be running the show most of the time,

:14:40. > :14:44.they have eight midfielders. They will keep possession. We need to

:14:44. > :14:49.get as many players behind the ball as soon as we can, but that has

:14:49. > :14:54.just got to be the starting point. We cannot afford to defend

:14:54. > :14:58.passively, we need to be active. We need to go forward, when the ball

:14:58. > :15:03.back and have them when we have two strikers up front against two

:15:03. > :15:06.defenders. The Portuguese tactics in the semi-final, press them high

:15:06. > :15:16.up the pitch, and that worked, because it nullified the middle of

:15:16. > :15:16.

:15:16. > :15:24.You were involved in one of those successes, in 1998. You scored.

:15:24. > :15:32.was a misfit! It is not always about power, it is about timing and

:15:32. > :15:42.precision. This is definitely your brother. It has bounced four times

:15:42. > :15:45.

:15:45. > :15:55.before it hit the net. Ball's He looks better now! Time for a

:15:55. > :15:57.

:15:57. > :16:05.Spanish few. Rafa Benitez can give The problem with Spain is they have

:16:05. > :16:09.plenty of possession. You can see the pace of the game, the tempo is

:16:09. > :16:14.not the same. Some of the key players are getting older. The

:16:15. > :16:22.style is more or less similar. They tried to go through the middle. Key

:16:22. > :16:31.players like Xavi and Iniesta on the ball. He is one of the best

:16:31. > :16:33.players. Vicente had some problems with the strikers at the beginning,

:16:33. > :16:41.and we Fabregas they have more players in the middle and more

:16:41. > :16:46.possession. It is fine for them. Maybe because of with Messi at

:16:46. > :16:50.Barcelona they were doing the same. But it has gone well. He knows the

:16:51. > :16:55.players, he sees them training. If he decides to do this, it is

:16:55. > :16:58.because he is watching the players and thinks it is the best option.

:16:59. > :17:02.Prandelli was doing well because the first game, they played with

:17:02. > :17:08.three at the back and three midfielders. They could see the

:17:08. > :17:13.danger of Spain in the middle and the main thing was the position of

:17:13. > :17:17.De Rossi. He is a midfielder playing as a centre-back in this

:17:17. > :17:22.game. Everybody was worried about Pirlo, but De Rossi was kicking the

:17:22. > :17:27.ball long for Balotelli and Cassano and that is one of the problems for

:17:27. > :17:35.Spain. In the end they were playing two grip against two in defence.

:17:35. > :17:41.Italy's game plan was good. If Spain attack through the wide areas,

:17:41. > :17:50.two players against one, they will have a chance. But they play with

:17:50. > :17:57.Silva or Iniesta or, they like to go inside. It is something that del

:17:57. > :18:03.Bosque can manage with Navas on the right and Arbeloa, or maybe Pedrosa

:18:03. > :18:09.and Jordi Alba. He will not change the tactics all the time. He has a

:18:09. > :18:18.lot of experience as a player and a manager. The main thing is he is

:18:18. > :18:22.trying to give confidence to There is suddenly a sense that

:18:22. > :18:26.perhaps Spain are not as interesting as they once were,

:18:26. > :18:30.Arsene Wenger has said today that the thing with Spain is that they

:18:30. > :18:35.don't keep the ball to attack, they keep the ball not to lose. Do you

:18:35. > :18:42.subscribe to that? The movement is slower, they are not as potent as

:18:42. > :18:46.they used to be. They had three strikers up front before. To me,

:18:46. > :18:50.they are magnificent to watch, but they play it too much, they could

:18:50. > :18:55.be more direct. Over the years that I played the game and I have

:18:55. > :18:58.watched the game, I don't think I have seen a side so poor in

:18:58. > :19:02.possession for 90 minutes and then come out in extra time and be so

:19:02. > :19:11.come out in extra time and be so magnificent. Against Portugal?

:19:11. > :19:14.Iniesta gave it away. And then Alonso jabs that that. Alonso under

:19:14. > :19:19.hit this and in the second half they were so poor, it was beyond

:19:19. > :19:24.belief. All of a sudden, they press you quickly and how good is this?

:19:24. > :19:28.This is sensational. Talk about building play from the back. As

:19:28. > :19:37.Good As It gets. That is what we saw for the 30 minutes of extra-

:19:37. > :19:42.time. The next one is equally good. Three against one. They just play

:19:42. > :19:50.it and pass it. It is so comfortable, so composed. It is

:19:50. > :19:59.just easy. They keep looking... Portuguese can't get near it. The

:19:59. > :20:05.last one is a bit quicker. It is absolutely brilliant. Alonso, into

:20:05. > :20:07.feet, played back, and then Jordi Alba is away. For 30 minutes in

:20:07. > :20:10.extra time, if they had played like extra time, if they had played like

:20:10. > :20:14.that from the start, you would say they would be certain to win this

:20:14. > :20:17.game tonight. They have never changed the way they play, it is

:20:18. > :20:22.when the opposition gets tired. Have teams worked out how to play

:20:22. > :20:26.against them? Yes, but it is too tiring. Eventually their style

:20:27. > :20:31.becomes very effective, maybe at the end of the game. I have the

:20:31. > :20:35.utmost respect for Spain, I like the Spanish players a lot, they

:20:36. > :20:44.have a wonderful attitude. It seems like they're having a great time.

:20:44. > :20:49.He has been their best player, Iniesta. He had a magnificent World

:20:49. > :20:53.Cup in 2010. In this tournament, even though he hasn't been out of

:20:53. > :20:57.this world, he has been very good. They are all big stars, but you do

:20:57. > :21:02.not see any egos. They are all going in the same direction, they

:21:02. > :21:05.want the same goal, which is to win the tournament. The majority of

:21:05. > :21:10.them have had a taste of success and then you want more and more.

:21:10. > :21:15.They haven't hit the dizzy heights of 2010, but this could be the

:21:15. > :21:18.night. You may have noticed that during the penalties against

:21:18. > :21:22.Portugal, Cesc Fabregas was talking to the ball. He has also been

:21:22. > :21:26.talking to the media. Four years ago I talked to the ball and it did

:21:26. > :21:35.not let me down so I tried to talk to it again four years later and

:21:35. > :21:40.again it did not let me down. in the final? Her whether it had to

:21:40. > :21:45.be, it had to be, and in this case it is Italy, they are a great side.

:21:45. > :21:52.We played against them in the opening game and it was very tough.

:21:52. > :21:55.They are very experienced at the back and the front. They have play

:21:55. > :22:04.as who dominated Italy during the whole season, playing for Juventus

:22:04. > :22:09.and Milan and Inter Milan. They have a lot of variety as well. They

:22:09. > :22:14.have players who are very strong, like Balotelli, and then good

:22:14. > :22:17.players like Cassano and Di Natale. Then they have special players like

:22:17. > :22:22.Pirlo, Marchisio has done really well this season and this

:22:23. > :22:27.tournament. It will be a really tough one and I think the winner of

:22:28. > :22:32.this game will be the real champion. It will be well deserved for both

:22:32. > :22:38.of us to win this tournament because I think we have been the

:22:39. > :22:44.most consistent two teams in the tournament. There's Fabregas

:22:44. > :22:48.warming up at the Olympic Stadium. In many ways, they are playing the

:22:48. > :22:55.sort of system Barcelona played and he has now been given the Messi

:22:55. > :22:59.role, if that is possible. Spain is missing a player like Messi. When

:22:59. > :23:03.the opponents are crowding the last 30 yards of the pitch, you need

:23:03. > :23:09.somebody like Messi capable of going through the defence. Fabregas

:23:09. > :23:13.is a modern midfielder. He can play in any position, he is very

:23:13. > :23:17.effective, or whether creating or scoring. He represents the Spanish

:23:17. > :23:22.players very well because he is neither arrogant or nasty, he is

:23:22. > :23:28.very humble and I like that attitude. What about this system of

:23:28. > :23:31.malting midfielders? Everyone has to be so comfortable with the

:23:31. > :23:33.football and keeping possession and happy to receive it under pressure

:23:33. > :23:39.happy to receive it under pressure and every single one of that

:23:39. > :23:45.Spanish team will be. We have seen a unique situation where there's no

:23:45. > :23:49.direct centre-forward. When it Busquets or Xavi or Alonso get the

:23:49. > :23:52.ball, there's no centre-forward. Normally you would see a centre-

:23:52. > :23:57.forward with his back to goal trying to help the midfielders, but

:23:57. > :24:03.they are content to pass it and try to be patient and open teams up. If

:24:03. > :24:07.they need to go back to the goalkeeper, so be it. Normally a

:24:07. > :24:11.midfielder will initially look for the centre forward. There's no one

:24:11. > :24:19.there. They will come back across, it comes to Busquets, they are

:24:19. > :24:22.comfortable. That defence has no one to mark, there is no one

:24:22. > :24:26.running in behind them and no one in front. But when you play the

:24:26. > :24:32.system, when you get into a position like this, Jordi Alba, you

:24:32. > :24:36.have to have somebody like Alonso or Fabregas attacking the ball. A

:24:36. > :24:42.beautiful little ball from Silva, we have highlighted Fabregas, and

:24:42. > :24:47.he wants to get into the box. There's no Torres or villa. What

:24:47. > :24:52.advantage is there to not playing an out and out centre-forward?

:24:52. > :24:55.are still winning extract it is difficult for a centre-half to play

:24:56. > :25:01.without and the mediant opponent? The whole concept of defending

:25:01. > :25:04.hasn't changed. If there's one attacker, you need two defenders.

:25:04. > :25:07.If you're playing six in the middle of the park and you have a flat

:25:07. > :25:10.back four, you are missing out back four, you are missing out

:25:10. > :25:18.somewhere else and that is in the middle so you get out numbered.

:25:18. > :25:22.Fabregas, it is such a hard role to play, to get between the defence

:25:22. > :25:26.and midfield. Italy's brand of football at this tournament is

:25:26. > :25:36.popular all over Europe. There's a sentence I never thought I would

:25:36. > :25:41.

:25:41. > :25:49.say! Especially after the debacle It is Paraguay 1-0 in the lead.

:25:49. > :25:59.What a shock this is. It is in! Italy are finally back into the

:25:59. > :26:04.

:26:04. > :26:11.Would you believe it? New Zealand in front! The reigning champions

:26:11. > :26:21.are behind to the team ranked 78 in the world. Penalty! 1-1. The

:26:21. > :26:28.

:26:28. > :26:36.Slovakia are 1-0 ahead. The world champions are in trouble. It is

:26:37. > :26:43.two! Di Natale! Italy are back in it. It is a third goal. Surely

:26:43. > :26:52.there's no way Italy can score twice. Italy are going to take this

:26:52. > :27:02.right to the wire. Italy, the world champions, are beaten and the truth

:27:02. > :27:03.

:27:03. > :27:08.These are the scenes outside the Olympic Stadium. The capital of

:27:08. > :27:14.Ukraine, Kiev. A beautiful day, beautiful evening, all set fair for

:27:14. > :27:17.the perfect final. Talking of the Italians, Johan Cruyff once said

:27:17. > :27:22.they can't beat you, but you can lose against them. I think I know

:27:22. > :27:27.what he means. Those days have changed. A much more refreshing

:27:27. > :27:32.Italian team. It is down to Prandelli. I think he is a bit like

:27:32. > :27:38.Galileo, a visionary. He said he wants to change our mentality and

:27:38. > :27:46.we thought he was crazy, but he did. Now we play very entertaining

:27:46. > :27:51.football, sexy football. We are still getting results. I sincerely

:27:51. > :27:56.hope this gentle revolution spreads around our system, Italian football,

:27:56. > :28:03.all the way down to the grassroots. They have come a long way in two

:28:03. > :28:06.years,... Unexpectedly. I think he always stuck to his principles. He

:28:06. > :28:13.plays four midfielders, four central midfielders, one of them

:28:13. > :28:17.being Pirlo, which helps a lot. Everyone has been magnificent.

:28:17. > :28:24.Prandelli is the one that uses the players, chooses the system, makes

:28:25. > :28:29.decisions. A lot of the guys he has brought in, they have been his guys.

:28:29. > :28:34.Buffon and Pirlo hardly played two years ago. Balotelli, Cassano, all

:28:34. > :28:39.of the decisions he has made seem to be working. Against the Germans

:28:39. > :28:48.they were phenomenal. We outclassed them. That was probably the first

:28:48. > :28:53.time. He didn't play either in 2010. Not a bad keeper! If he stands like

:28:53. > :28:58.that the whole game, he's in trouble! He is very good in goal.

:28:58. > :29:01.He has got the right personality. Before the match, he always says

:29:01. > :29:08.the right thing. That shot of Buffon was recorded slightly

:29:09. > :29:12.because just behind us, the closing ceremony is getting under way. It

:29:12. > :29:17.promises to be quite a spectacle. Already the picture -- pitch has

:29:17. > :29:22.changed colour. The youngsters of Ukraine have given us so much in

:29:22. > :29:26.this tournament. If you would like to see more of it, it is currently

:29:26. > :29:30.available on the red button and on the BBC website. If you prefer to

:29:30. > :29:40.watch the closing Merrick -- ceremony to listening to our drivel,

:29:40. > :29:49.

:29:49. > :29:53.Italy's hero in the semi-final was Mario Balotelli. He's called two

:29:53. > :29:57.cracking goals, kissed his mum in public and now everybody loves him.

:29:57. > :30:07.Almost everyone. Dan Walker certainly does.

:30:07. > :30:16.

:30:16. > :30:20.A riddle wrapped in a mystery Winston Churchill never met Mario

:30:20. > :30:28.Balotelli. If he had, he might have had to think of a few more

:30:28. > :30:35.adjectives. Mario is still only 21. Tender age juxtaposed the sheer

:30:35. > :30:39.power of personality. But the power has been needed. As a child, he

:30:39. > :30:43.suffered serious illness. This, coupled with a tough social

:30:43. > :30:50.situation for his immigrant parents, led to a life of Foster care from

:30:50. > :30:55.the age of three. A tough start. Football was all he had for his

:30:55. > :30:58.future. Signed by Inter Milan, he spent three years there, winning

:30:58. > :31:02.three league titles and the Champions League. But clashes with

:31:02. > :31:08.the other special one meant it was a turbulent time, despite his

:31:08. > :31:12.success. It was also the problem of racism in the stands. He became an

:31:12. > :31:21.Italian cities and the day after his 18th birthday, and an

:31:21. > :31:25.international call-up followed soon after. The Italians now have a

:31:25. > :31:29.different kind of hero. Mario Balotelli is the first black player

:31:29. > :31:33.to represent his country as a major tournament, the first black Italian

:31:33. > :31:39.to score at a major tournament. But some of the press back home still

:31:39. > :31:45.do not seem to get it. Even now. Roberto Mancini brought him to

:31:45. > :31:55.Manchester. Fireworks on and off the pitch. Trouble following wind,

:31:55. > :32:01.

:32:01. > :32:09.always follow wind. But at the end, Now, Euro 2012, the latest in a

:32:09. > :32:13.line of heroes, the hour and the man may just have met.

:32:13. > :32:17.Everybody is talking about him, still criticism about his demeanour

:32:17. > :32:22.and his attitude, but should ring not be celebrating the fact that he

:32:22. > :32:30.has come over so many difficulties to perform on the stage? It was not

:32:30. > :32:37.easy to be him, growing up in Italy, with the problems. He is only 21,

:32:37. > :32:42.so he is not mature debt. He is making mistakes. Now, he is finally

:32:42. > :32:50.becoming a man. He came into the tournament a boy, and he might

:32:50. > :32:54.leave a man, that is how exciting he has been. He is 1 goal short of

:32:54. > :33:00.becoming Italy's highest scorer in this tournament. He has had the

:33:00. > :33:05.most shots on target of any player in the tournament, 17 goals for

:33:05. > :33:11.Manchester City, three Serie A titles and one Champions League,

:33:11. > :33:16.the Premier League and FA Cup, just 21, why are you so critical? I have

:33:16. > :33:22.always had admiration for him! The truly great players, it is not

:33:22. > :33:26.about one game, one sees it... is 21. The great players have got

:33:26. > :33:32.palate, ability, mental strength, but the biggest thing, reliability.

:33:32. > :33:36.He has got two of the four. If he scores a hat-trick tonight, that is

:33:36. > :33:42.fine, if he scores 10 hat-tricks in the Premier League next season, I

:33:42. > :33:46.will say you were right. I look forward to that! He has done

:33:46. > :33:51.nothing in his career, that is what you said. In his international

:33:51. > :33:56.career, he had done hardly anything. He has got an unbelievable

:33:56. > :34:06.opportunity to say, I appear to stick around. He has got a great

:34:06. > :34:07.

:34:07. > :34:14.chance to finish as top scorer, and I love the way he links up with

:34:14. > :34:22.Antonio Cassano. They are working together, as a partnership, looking

:34:22. > :34:25.after each other. They bullied at the German centre-halves. Le Cap

:34:25. > :34:34.Mario Balotelli's movement. What happens if the goalkeeper spills

:34:34. > :34:38.it? This is a great pass from Mario Balotelli. Riccardo Montolivo

:34:38. > :34:48.should have a shot. It is great play. They have gone from one end

:34:48. > :34:49.

:34:49. > :34:53.of the pitch... Of two in the last third. Giorgio Chiellini plays the

:34:53. > :34:57.past, and Mario Balotelli's movement, because he wants the head

:34:57. > :35:01.of more than the defender, he gets it and he wants to score the goal.

:35:01. > :35:08.Mario Balotelli knows that, he is waiting for it. That is the sign of

:35:09. > :35:16.an excellent partnership. Two players left upfield. Not many

:35:16. > :35:21.players will -- not many teams will do that. Mario Balotelli in the

:35:21. > :35:27.middle goes longer. Again, what a ball from Riccardo Montolivo. It is

:35:27. > :35:34.an amazing run from Mario Balotelli. His runs have been brilliant. Going

:35:34. > :35:40.short or long,... He does that very well. I love this finish. He is

:35:40. > :35:46.full of confidence, and he smashes it into the net. The story about

:35:46. > :35:50.Antonio Cassano, you will often see him going off after 60 minutes,

:35:50. > :35:56.because in November, he had a stroke, and he only came back in

:35:56. > :36:01.April. To achieve what he has done, brilliant. Mario Balotelli in

:36:01. > :36:06.contention for the Golden Boot. Antonio Cassano is a reliable

:36:06. > :36:10.genius, he loves playing of the French striker, going past

:36:10. > :36:16.defenders, and he feeds the striker with passes that nobody can say. It

:36:16. > :36:22.is a pity he is not fully fit. never, never know what you Opera to

:36:22. > :36:29.get with Mario Balotelli. -- what you are coming to get. That is not

:36:29. > :36:33.a team player. Lots of players on free goals. Mario Gomez is top,

:36:33. > :36:43.because he has got one assist, because that is the secondary think

:36:43. > :36:44.

:36:44. > :36:51.you look. Is this an assist?! He has a shot... A brilliant touch!

:36:51. > :36:55.That is one of yours! Showed that none of the players in contention

:36:55. > :37:01.this evening score, Mario Gomez get it because of that. I will go for

:37:01. > :37:09.Spain. I do not hope that the best team wins tonight, let's put it

:37:09. > :37:14.that way! Keep an eye on Claudio Marchisio. I wanted to be at a long

:37:14. > :37:18.night, but I will go for Spain, just. We started with 16 teams, we

:37:18. > :37:28.are now down to two, but whose name will be on the trophy? Italy or

:37:28. > :37:33.

:37:33. > :37:43.With domineering hand, she missed the turning wheel. Like currants in

:37:43. > :37:43.

:37:43. > :37:49.a treacherous Bass swept to and fro. The ruthless world has just deposed

:37:49. > :37:59.once fearful Keynes. Wellcome Trust must still, from low she lifts a

:37:59. > :38:04.

:38:05. > :38:13.The cries of misery she hears, no tears she heeds. But steely hearted

:38:13. > :38:21.laughs her front. Such is the game she plays, and show she tests her

:38:21. > :38:31.strength. Of mighty power she makes parade during one short hour. From

:38:31. > :38:37.

:38:37. > :38:47.Balotelli! Fernando Torres caused! Antonio di Natale! It is Cesc

:38:47. > :38:56.

:38:56. > :39:01.The opening ceremony is reaching its conclusion. It in the closing

:39:01. > :39:05.ceremony, of course! Italy against Spain in the final of Euro 2012.

:39:05. > :39:10.What can we anticipate? So much drama to come, so many great

:39:10. > :39:20.players. Your commentators here in the Olympic Stadium, Mark Lawrenson

:39:20. > :39:23.

:39:23. > :39:29.game of what has been a terrific tournament. We are back to where we

:39:29. > :39:35.were three weeks ago today, 1-1 in the Gdansk, one of the best of the

:39:35. > :39:40.opening round of matches, and now they meet again. Two countries

:39:40. > :39:45.whose people are probably fed up with hearing the word Euro, and its

:39:45. > :39:50.financial gloom and uncertain economic futures. At least Euro

:39:50. > :39:57.2012 has provided occasional respite Four Nations where football

:39:57. > :40:02.means so much. In Spain, they would have expected nothing less than

:40:02. > :40:07.being into my's final. This is a team on the verge of true greatness,

:40:07. > :40:14.just one game away from an unprecedented three and a row of

:40:14. > :40:19.European and world triumphs. For Italy, it is the culmination of

:40:19. > :40:24.Cesare Prandelli's work in transforming a team that was on its

:40:24. > :40:34.knees. They fail to get out of the group as defending champions at the

:40:34. > :40:38.last World Cup. It is a team that has become the Italy of smiles. One

:40:38. > :40:47.more huge historic effort tonight and they would be as wide as the

:40:47. > :40:53.River Tiber. This is the worst part, for the players who have given so

:40:53. > :40:58.much to get to the final. The waiting. Having to hang on. Keep

:40:58. > :41:06.the muscles loose, keep the tension at bay. But you can see it and feel

:41:06. > :41:11.it. You can almost hear it around the stadium. When the call finally

:41:11. > :41:16.comes, the captains, goalkeepers both, Gianluigi Buffon and Iker

:41:17. > :41:20.Casillas, two of the greats of the game, you will be pushed to find

:41:20. > :41:27.two more experienced players anywhere in the world, and they now

:41:27. > :41:37.lead their nations out, hoping that when they make their way back down

:41:37. > :42:05.

:42:05. > :42:15.at the end of the match that they we settle for the national anthems,

:42:15. > :42:21.presented by Tamara Khodakova and McCart Willerby -- Mykhailo

:42:21. > :42:31.Humenniy. They are from the Kiev municipal academic Opera and Ballet

:42:31. > :43:09.

:43:09. > :43:17.# Fratelli d'Italia. # L'Italia s'e desta.

:43:17. > :43:26.# Dell'elmo di Scipio. # S'e cinta la testa.

:43:26. > :43:36.# Dov'e la vittoria? # Le porga la chioma.

:43:36. > :43:38.

:43:38. > :43:42.# Che schiava di Roma. # Fratelli d'Italia.

:43:42. > :43:46.# L'Italia s'e desta. # Dell'elmo di Scipio.

:43:46. > :43:53.# S'e cinta la testa. # Dov'e la vittoria?

:43:53. > :43:55.# Le porga la chioma. # Che schiava di Roma.

:43:55. > :43:59.# Iddio la creo. # Stringiamoci a coorte.

:43:59. > :44:03.# Siam pronti alla morte. # Italia chiamo.

:44:03. > :44:13.# Stringiamoci a coorte. # Siam pronti alla morte.

:44:13. > :44:13.

:44:13. > :45:21.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:45:21. > :45:31.called the brothers of Italy. How needed, it has become such a

:45:31. > :45:46.

:45:46. > :45:51.familiar tune to hear at major right around the stadium. The

:45:51. > :46:00.defending champions make one change. Fabregas in for Negredo. Spain have

:46:00. > :46:10.no one considered the natural striker. Six Barcelona players,

:46:10. > :46:20.

:46:20. > :46:26.four from Real Madrid and one from double of Champions League and

:46:26. > :46:31.World Cup final. The same for tonight's referee. In charge of

:46:31. > :46:41.Chelsea's win in Munich in May and of Italy's over England at this

:46:41. > :46:57.

:46:57. > :47:02.house won the toss. -- has won. Italy have Abate back to full

:47:02. > :47:07.fitness and in at right-back having missed the semi-final. That means

:47:07. > :47:14.Balzaretti drops to the bench. The rest of the defence is unchanged

:47:14. > :47:24.and or Juventus. Up front, the same line-up as against England and

:47:24. > :47:30.

:47:30. > :47:36.Germany. Pirlo pulling the strings footballer in the 21st century.

:47:36. > :47:40.Hair clips in place, eyes focused and concentrated. A full complement

:47:41. > :47:45.of substitutes available. A lot of attacking talent on the bench if

:47:45. > :47:54.needed. Let's hope we get an attacking match right from the

:47:54. > :47:58.start. Andres Iniesta, the man who won the World Cup with his goal in

:47:58. > :48:08.Johannesburg two years ago. Balotelli, the man who fired it to

:48:08. > :48:17.

:48:17. > :48:27.Countdown from 10. And after the final countdown, Europe is ready to

:48:27. > :48:32.crown its champion team. Away we go in Kiev for the final of Euro 2012.

:48:32. > :48:42.Spain against Italy. It promises much. A splash of Mediterranean

:48:42. > :48:47.style with a lashing of Italian passion. Will it be Spain to retain

:48:47. > :48:52.their trophy? No team has ever managed to win the Henri Delaunay

:48:52. > :48:57.Trophy in two successive tournaments. Can it to the Crown a

:48:57. > :49:01.remarkable rise? I don't think anybody expected them to be here.

:49:01. > :49:05.No. The interesting thing from Spain's point of view, you could

:49:05. > :49:12.argue they have six midfielders on view so it should be enough to take

:49:12. > :49:22.care of Pirlo, just about. Vicente del Bosque maintains it is always

:49:22. > :49:32.

:49:32. > :49:36.night, Cassano. He was really, really good. A good role model --

:49:36. > :49:40.model for Cassano. He used to get headlines for the wrong reasons,

:49:40. > :49:50.but he has settled down and he has been a perfect foil for Marriott in

:49:50. > :50:02.

:50:02. > :50:12.this competition. If there is such off! A wry smile beneath a

:50:12. > :50:18.

:50:18. > :50:23.moustache on the face of Vicente was Luis Aragones's side that won

:50:23. > :50:33.Euro 2008. He has not done badly since! He has won everything in the

:50:33. > :50:39.

:50:39. > :50:45.game. Two Champions Leagues and two of Abate's face. We will have to

:50:45. > :50:50.give him the benefit of the doubt. Look how wide Chiellini is already

:50:50. > :51:00.for Italy. He was a real get out the other night against Germany.

:51:00. > :51:05.

:51:05. > :51:15.Almost playing as a left-sided play it as they have done all

:51:15. > :51:47.

:51:47. > :51:57.I think Ramos is down. He is trying to persuade the referee it was a

:51:57. > :52:04.

:52:04. > :52:10.poor tackle by Balotelli. He is up time Spain beat Italy, 1-0, in

:52:10. > :52:15.March 2008. It was decided by a volley from David Villa. David

:52:15. > :52:19.Villa is here tonight along with Carles Puyol, two who would have

:52:19. > :52:29.been in the squad but for bad injuries. They were invited by del

:52:29. > :52:43.

:52:43. > :52:50.Bosque to be part of the squad they the left. -- Cassano. There's a bit

:52:50. > :52:54.of a reaction from Balotelli. Ramos did not flinch. It is that ball

:52:54. > :53:00.again in between the two centre- backs. How many times have we seen

:53:00. > :53:10.that in this competition? Look at this. I don't think we rolled on

:53:10. > :53:15.

:53:15. > :53:25.Ramos. More than anybody else. A Real Madrid record 11 red cards in

:53:25. > :53:34.

:53:34. > :53:39.orthodox striker. I think this is a really good tackle by De Rossi. He

:53:39. > :53:44.has got the ball! It is one of those that is deemed reckless and

:53:44. > :53:54.not in control of himself. Right. Even though he got the ball. There

:53:54. > :54:21.

:54:21. > :54:31.they are. David Villa and Carles touch of finesse. His penalty in

:54:31. > :54:45.

:54:45. > :54:55.the shoot-out against Portugal his performances at left-back.

:54:55. > :54:58.

:54:58. > :55:01.Iniesta never does anything but think Spain did lack a striker then.

:55:02. > :55:11.The boys in the studio will be saying what a ball that would have

:55:12. > :55:26.

:55:26. > :55:31.been to a centre forward. What a certainly involved. I think he got

:55:31. > :55:35.too much on it. He had a free run at the ball. Chiellini arrived a

:55:36. > :55:45.little bit late to put him off properly. Maybe he did enough.

:55:46. > :56:19.

:56:19. > :56:24.Jordi Alba it is a willing runner Prandelli is organising and

:56:24. > :56:34.constantly giving out a message to his players. A contrast in styles

:56:34. > :56:45.

:56:45. > :56:49.with del Bosque, hands in pockets, against Italy. Spain don't beat

:56:49. > :56:58.Italy. It is like the Italian record against the Germans,

:56:58. > :57:04.traditionally. Italy have won 3, drawn four and Spain only one won

:57:04. > :57:07.on penalties for years ago. Miroslav Klose admitted in the week

:57:07. > :57:14.that he thinks it was in the back of the mind of one or two German

:57:14. > :57:24.players, the record against Italy. I don't think Spain players think

:57:24. > :57:24.

:57:24. > :58:15.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:58:15. > :58:25.much. They are shooting on sight tonight. Great play. Great

:58:25. > :58:30.

:58:30. > :58:40.against when it is played so quickly. Buffon was clutching thin

:58:40. > :58:41.

:58:41. > :58:45.air! Less than a ball's width over the bar. A bright bit of play from

:58:45. > :58:47.Spain. Where do you stand on the debate that has sprung up during

:58:48. > :58:52.this tournament that their brilliance has become boring?

:58:52. > :58:58.little bit. They have missed the idea of football, which is to score

:58:58. > :59:08.a lot of goals and entertain, as well as win. They look in the mood

:59:08. > :59:31.

:59:31. > :59:37.tonight. They certainly do. We have fouled. Don't blow the whistle!

:59:37. > :59:47.Montolivo hasn't got up, that is why we have a stoppage. Until now.

:59:47. > :00:22.

:00:22. > :00:30.They have had to weather a Spanish gold. Can they get out and work it

:00:30. > :00:40.themselves? Xabi Alonso came out to get close to Andrea Pirlo. He had

:00:40. > :01:01.

:01:01. > :01:06.to do a lot of moving to get the there is plenty of attacking being

:01:06. > :01:12.done. There is lots of movement and lots of options, which is the key.

:01:12. > :01:17.It is difficult for Italy to defend against it. If you back 18 to

:01:17. > :01:27.defend against anything, it would be an Italian team. They push up

:01:27. > :01:27.

:01:27. > :02:10.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:02:10. > :02:16.heading to the Premier League, but the goal has been comment. His

:02:16. > :02:21.second of Euro 2012. It is the first in the final. The Italians

:02:21. > :02:29.cannot cope with the pace and movement. Absolutely brilliant. He

:02:29. > :02:39.just got himself in front of his man. Once they see the past, it is

:02:39. > :02:42.

:02:42. > :02:47.great, inside the full-back. The movement, band. Brilliant. It was

:02:47. > :02:55.great work from Cesc Fabregas. David Silva cushioned it, he got

:02:55. > :03:05.the control with his header. Spanish joy. It is what they

:03:05. > :03:06.

:03:06. > :03:11.deserve, they have made a great start to the game. What sort of a

:03:12. > :03:21.response have Italy got? Mario Balotelli has got a free kick.

:03:22. > :03:23.

:03:23. > :03:31.There was an element of buying it. Is that a foul? The referee has

:03:31. > :03:38.given it. It will be a foul, then! That will be the fence I am sitting

:03:38. > :03:43.on! In the history of this tournament, 18 has only come behind

:03:43. > :03:52.to win the final three times. Most recently, France did it to Italy in

:03:52. > :03:59.2000. Throughout the competition, we have seen that this is a band of

:03:59. > :04:09.brothers' plane for the fishery. Andrea Pirlo scared -- scored from

:04:09. > :04:35.

:04:35. > :04:45.wall to get Italy a corner. He will glove on the ball. The whistle has

:04:45. > :04:49.

:04:49. > :04:55.gone. I think it just came off the back. It was just a fingertip.

:04:55. > :05:03.Daniele de Rossi was flying again, a little too vigorously, actually.

:05:03. > :05:13.He passed the ball before it came. It is the first time that Italy

:05:13. > :05:24.

:05:24. > :05:34.going to be a corner. Sergio Busquets fell a long way, an

:05:34. > :05:45.

:05:45. > :05:51.awkward landing as well. I think he the bar. The Italian bombardment

:05:51. > :06:01.will continue. Giorgio Chiellini thought he might be on the end of

:06:01. > :06:29.

:06:29. > :06:35.the crowd, but it was just too high for him. You do not want to give

:06:35. > :06:40.the Spanish the ball back when they are in the lead. It is an

:06:40. > :06:48.interesting debate amongst many for tonight, who is the better

:06:48. > :06:55.goalkeeper. 186 caps for the Spanish goalkeeper, 119 for the

:06:55. > :06:59.Italian. They both have won the World Cup. Finally divorce has been

:06:59. > :07:09.struggling with a sciatic nerve problem throughout the tournament -

:07:09. > :07:09.

:07:09. > :07:53.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:07:53. > :08:03.- Daniele de Rossi. He takes the front of the defender. Cesc

:08:03. > :08:09.

:08:09. > :08:18.Fabregas seems to enjoy the front- It was well read by the Italians.

:08:18. > :08:23.Giorgio Chiellini is struggling. It was a great tackle from Andrea

:08:23. > :08:28.Pirlo. He just does the same thing and get it out, because Giorgio

:08:28. > :08:35.Chiellini has got a problem. It is his left knee. That was a good

:08:35. > :08:44.tackle. They are going to make the change it straight away. Cesare

:08:44. > :08:49.Prandelli is not hanging around. Here you instantly. They do have a

:08:49. > :08:57.ready-made replacement in Federico Balzaretti, who was unlucky not to

:08:57. > :09:03.play tonight. He played right-back in the semi-final. He did sterling

:09:03. > :09:13.work out of position. The bonus for him, but a blow for Giorgio

:09:13. > :09:17.

:09:17. > :09:20.Chiellini. His final ends after 20 minutes. I just wonder whether

:09:20. > :09:27.fitness will be a consideration for Italy. It is their third game in a

:09:27. > :09:37.week. We thought that against the Germans, though. Spain have had

:09:37. > :09:37.

:09:37. > :09:47.more of a relaxing schedule. They got to Kiev earlier, Italy did not

:09:47. > :09:48.

:09:48. > :09:53.arrive until 3am yesterday. Most of the training and studying of Spain

:09:53. > :10:03.have been via video. But they will know all about Spain. Why were they

:10:03. > :10:31.

:10:31. > :10:41.but a goal kick is given. Andrea Pirlo will struggle to get too much

:10:41. > :10:42.

:10:42. > :10:47.of double. -- the ball. If it becomes a factor against Spain more

:10:47. > :10:51.than any other team... You spend so much time chasing the ball, you are

:10:51. > :10:55.shattered once you get it. Technically, they have got six

:10:55. > :11:05.midfield players gunman and they swarm, they win the ball back very

:11:05. > :11:07.

:11:07. > :11:16.quickly. Boring, apparently. Yes. do get that document,... I am

:11:16. > :11:24.delighted for you! You cannot of you with the brilliance of the

:11:24. > :11:28.players, though. Andrea Pirlo is under pressure, no other team has

:11:28. > :11:38.done that. The Spanish are making the Italians play with their heads

:11:38. > :11:38.

:11:38. > :12:51.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:12:51. > :12:55.down. Andrea Pirlo will not play playing, they are getting people

:12:55. > :13:02.between the lines. I am not sure about the way he went into that

:13:02. > :13:12.tackle. Vicente del Bosque des is protesting at, but it is the way he

:13:12. > :13:13.

:13:13. > :13:23.went into it. The bit risky from Gerard Pique. Just a touch. I am

:13:23. > :13:28.not sure he touched Antonio Cassano. He did not. Still... You do not see

:13:28. > :13:35.Vicente del Bosque that animated that often. He is more worried that

:13:35. > :13:40.he has got to be careful now, with a booking. I never saw Vicente del

:13:40. > :13:48.Bosque play, 18 caps for Spain, a defensive midfielder, I imagine he

:13:48. > :13:58.was that kind of player. Did he not play against Liverpool? Paris, the

:13:58. > :14:08.European Cup final. That was 1980. And Cesare Prandelli played against

:14:08. > :14:27.

:14:27. > :14:37.Liverpool, he came on as a go backwards, Italy. It is great

:14:37. > :14:49.

:14:49. > :14:54.Mario Balotelli, he was poised to head home the equaliser. Iker

:14:54. > :15:03.Casillas did extremely well. It was not a great touch, and he gets

:15:03. > :15:06.lucky, it comes off the full back. But it was a much better cross.

:15:06. > :15:15.That is what each has a rate -- that is what Federico Balzaretti

:15:15. > :15:20.will give to Italy. Because David Silva is playing on the right of

:15:20. > :15:30.the front three, he wants to tuck in, so there will always be space

:15:30. > :15:30.

:15:30. > :16:43.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:16:43. > :16:53.Casillas did well to stop that because it came through two pairs

:16:53. > :16:53.

:16:53. > :19:18.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:19:18. > :19:25.was a little bit strange, that. little flat by a Pirlo, of all

:19:25. > :19:30.people. In the build-up to the game, the whole of Italy going crazy, and

:19:30. > :19:40.Pirlo said, get into the final and not winning is like going to Rome

:19:40. > :20:12.

:20:12. > :20:22.and not seeing the Pope. I have that meant for me? And it is a bit

:20:22. > :20:23.

:20:23. > :21:23.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:21:23. > :21:33.of a waste when you are not have up yet. Picked out before as a

:21:33. > :21:33.

:21:33. > :23:14.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:23:14. > :23:19.was not expecting the ball but it gone up. It is all part of the game,

:23:19. > :23:24.guessing the when and where the past is going. The way the Spanish

:23:24. > :23:34.recycle the ball all the time. In between the lines, as it were. It

:23:34. > :23:44.is just outstanding. Spain are still leading by that Silva goal.

:23:44. > :23:44.

:23:44. > :25:19.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:25:19. > :25:23.Some great work by Fabregas said confidence, 23 years old. We saw

:25:23. > :25:32.his Spain debut against Scotland in October and he was good then.

:25:32. > :25:42.was outstanding at night. -- that night. Spain are putting themselves

:25:42. > :25:42.

:25:42. > :26:42.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:26:42. > :26:49.not quite the same effect as he actually. And he should be full of

:26:49. > :26:59.confidence. When you think about that only game against Spain. For

:26:59. > :27:09.

:27:09. > :27:19.some reason he just put the brakes free-kick for Spain. Balzaretti

:27:19. > :27:59.

:27:59. > :28:04.putting his weight on to David Italy's main mission will be to

:28:04. > :28:14.make sure they are only one behind at the break. Anything else will be

:28:14. > :28:20.

:28:20. > :28:30.a shrewd tactician. A bit of reorganisation, a few wise words at

:28:30. > :28:53.

:28:53. > :29:03.are more red shirts on the field. at chasing the ball? Ferry. Jordi

:29:03. > :29:11.

:29:11. > :29:17.Alba busting a gut! Spain have 82-0 Spanish pass! It is a long way back

:29:17. > :29:22.for Italy from here. Jordi Alba has his first senior international goal

:29:22. > :29:28.and it was a thing of beauty! Football does not get much better

:29:28. > :29:38.than that. The pace that he picked up with that run, Jordi Alba, was

:29:38. > :29:52.

:29:52. > :30:01.amazing and as you would expect, timing, the Finnish, it was all

:30:01. > :30:06.just so right. Yeah, brilliant. That is the reason why Barcelona

:30:06. > :30:16.have paid 40 million Euros to Valencia to make him a part of the

:30:16. > :30:30.

:30:30. > :30:40.Barcelona tried for next season. when the left-back scores goals

:30:40. > :30:40.

:30:40. > :31:50.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:31:50. > :32:00.have a go. It is whether there is handle. He has used the pace on the

:32:00. > :32:37.

:32:37. > :32:43.Barzagli. It is just a yellow. It was like the Italians are fault, I

:32:43. > :32:48.have got to take him out. He did not have too many options.

:32:48. > :32:58.taken for the team, because had Andres Iniesta got past him, Cesc

:32:58. > :33:10.

:33:10. > :33:20.Fabregas was in the middle, and are more trophies to be one for him.

:33:20. > :33:46.

:33:46. > :33:55.They are halfway to within one So was that clearance. He tried to

:33:55. > :34:01.hit it up the field early. You had the Italians do not lose their

:34:01. > :34:11.discipline. -- you hope. One minute to be added on at the end of the

:34:11. > :34:12.

:34:12. > :34:22.first half that has belonged to Spain. We have talked about Andrea

:34:22. > :34:38.

:34:38. > :34:42.Pirlo, but the Spanish performance from the defending world and

:34:42. > :34:47.European champions. They are embracing each other on the bench.

:34:47. > :34:52.The feeling is Spain are just about there, and what I find he has been,

:34:52. > :34:57.Jordi Alba, the left-back, with a scintillating second goal, after

:34:57. > :35:02.David Silva headed the first. Four years ago, they lead against

:35:02. > :35:06.Germany in the final, and here, they have doubled their money. It

:35:06. > :35:16.is a forlorn looking bunch of Italians who troop off to receive

:35:16. > :35:21.

:35:21. > :35:24.words of wisdom from Cesare They truly exhilarating display

:35:24. > :35:29.from the world and European champions. There are three of us in

:35:30. > :35:35.this studio, but I have concerns that the time of the centre-forward

:35:35. > :35:42.is over! We have seen a masterclass of how to keep hold of the ball,

:35:42. > :35:46.how to pass it. Italy are playing a flat back four, a diamond in

:35:46. > :35:52.midfield, Spain have got no forwards, but they are getting time

:35:52. > :35:56.and time again down the left-hand side, because there are so -- there

:35:56. > :36:02.is so much space. It is great to see. For people to even suggest

:36:02. > :36:09.that Spain of boring is laughable, because it is amazing to watch.

:36:09. > :36:15.am not quite sure you are enjoying this! It is painful for me to watch.

:36:15. > :36:20.So far, it has been a great game, two sides having a goat at each

:36:20. > :36:26.other. We do not put the same as we have been in the tournament. First

:36:26. > :36:31.of all, they are simply an awesome team, we have got to admit that.

:36:31. > :36:37.Secondly, they have found a way to neutralise Andrea Pirlo, and so we

:36:37. > :36:42.are struggling. Thirdly, we looked tired. All of the injuries, all of

:36:42. > :36:50.the travelling, all of the games played so far, with a huge mental

:36:50. > :36:55.effort, they have finally taken their toll. One day less stressed.

:36:55. > :36:59.For the neutral, in wonderful example of football. I have never

:36:59. > :37:06.seen anything as good, sustained periods where they were picking it

:37:06. > :37:09.up and playing at pace. When they played the 6 Midfield players and

:37:09. > :37:18.no strikers, they passed poorly, but when they pass it in that

:37:18. > :37:22.manner, it does not matter how they play. The interchange, the pace, I

:37:22. > :37:29.have never seen the like of that in my life, it was that good.

:37:29. > :37:33.Breathtaking at times. It is 70 matches since Spain lost since they

:37:33. > :37:39.have taken the lead, and you can see why, because it is so hard to

:37:39. > :37:43.get the ball off them. It will be complicated for us to get back into

:37:43. > :37:49.the game. But sometimes, it takes one moment of brilliance to change

:37:49. > :37:54.the game around. Greedy to change the way they are thinking. -- we

:37:54. > :37:59.need to change. Do something special, get one goal, make them

:37:59. > :38:03.think differently, you never know. The one criticism you can level at

:38:03. > :38:08.Spain, they do not get enough players in the box, and we saw

:38:09. > :38:13.examples of that before the goal. In the first 10 minutes, we were

:38:13. > :38:20.screaming, because it was a great run by Jordi Alba down the left-

:38:20. > :38:25.hand side. We watch David Silva, he should be working harder to get

:38:25. > :38:33.into the box. That is a great pass and a great ball in. Nobody in

:38:33. > :38:37.there. It is too late. The defender clears it away. But if they do not

:38:37. > :38:41.get you the first time, they will get you the second time. Andres

:38:42. > :38:47.Iniesta is the best player on the picture. Not only have the Spanish

:38:47. > :38:54.played well, they have nullified Andrea Pirlo. They have made him go

:38:54. > :39:02.back to what his own goal. Some incredible football for the goal. A

:39:02. > :39:09.brilliant piece of finishing. pick it up and played with

:39:09. > :39:13.consummate ease. I have always got options and alternative options.

:39:13. > :39:21.Look at how many men the Italians have got behind the ball. It is

:39:21. > :39:25.difficult to get through that. at Cesc Fabregas's body position.

:39:25. > :39:31.He is side on, he wants the ball between the centre halves.

:39:31. > :39:39.Magnificent. David Silva is in there this time. He has realised

:39:39. > :39:47.his mistake. I did not like the defendant from Leonardo Bonucci.

:39:47. > :39:51.has got to see that. Yes, and stay with him. It is all white people

:39:51. > :39:57.saying that... There are two reasons why a Andrea Pirlo is not

:39:57. > :40:02.playing, they are closing come down, and when he does have the ball, he

:40:02. > :40:08.is so tired, because they have worked hard to get it back. Lots of

:40:08. > :40:13.examples of breathtaking Spanish football. Yes, especially the

:40:13. > :40:19.second goal. We are defending too high. We are taking some chances

:40:19. > :40:23.now, because we are down. We are pressing them high, and we are

:40:23. > :40:29.leaving space behind the defenders. We are not covering particularly

:40:29. > :40:34.well. Andrea Barzagli should have stayed with the runner. When you

:40:34. > :40:40.are playing a flat back four against nobody... Look at how many

:40:40. > :40:46.spare men they have got. Nobody picks him up, because you were

:40:46. > :40:54.waiting for him to pick him up, and it Jordi Alba has made a great run.

:40:54. > :40:58.They has been one of the players of the tournament. He has just signed

:40:58. > :41:07.for Barcelona. Some terrific reactions from the Spanish

:41:07. > :41:12.supporters in Madrid. These are the scenes for the goal. Yes! Mass

:41:12. > :41:21.jubilation. It must be wonderful for them! Not a hint of jealousy

:41:21. > :41:29.from any of us! Technical ability at its very best. I have never seen

:41:29. > :41:37.anything like it. It is wonderful. You are seeing the best team ever

:41:37. > :41:42.here. Brazil, West Germany... No team has ever done this.

:41:42. > :41:46.Brazilians in 1970... No team has ever won three major tournaments.

:41:46. > :41:51.Normally, you played the worst in the final, because you are tired,

:41:51. > :42:01.but they have been in disguise so far. Are they wild by people saying

:42:01. > :42:02.

:42:03. > :42:07.they are boring? I think they just play their game. Look at this, how

:42:08. > :42:13.good is that? They never change, they just keep played, they work

:42:13. > :42:21.very hard for each other. They are so far in front of everybody in

:42:21. > :42:26.terms of passing and defend, you watch... Because we are tired, we

:42:26. > :42:29.always arrive half a second too late in closing them down, and

:42:29. > :42:39.therefore, with their ability, you end up in trouble. That is an

:42:39. > :42:43.

:42:43. > :42:53.excuse! It is a joy to watch, absolutely. We have had two goals,

:42:53. > :43:00.

:43:00. > :43:10.Pavlyuchenko. And still going. Pavlyuchenko! The substitute

:43:10. > :43:19.

:43:19. > :43:23.opportunities and perhaps danger in equal measure. What a goal!

:43:23. > :43:33.Blaszczykowski! And the host nation celebrates in every corner of the

:43:33. > :43:41.

:43:41. > :43:51.The flag stayed down and Germany lead! Mario Gomez gets his second

:43:51. > :43:59.

:43:59. > :44:09.midfield metronome scores with a superb, precise finish. That's how

:44:09. > :44:17.

:44:17. > :44:27.Carroll to get there! The plan's worked! Gerrard to Carroll, England

:44:27. > :44:40.

:44:40. > :44:50.Vaart! Brilliant! Just the start that the Netherlands needed. It is

:44:50. > :44:56.

:44:56. > :45:06.Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! Ibrahimovic, golden boy of Swedish

:45:06. > :45:14.

:45:14. > :45:18.football, has finally answered his struggling, but got two strong

:45:18. > :45:25.hands to it. Montolivo. Through for Balotelli, he was onside when the

:45:25. > :45:35.ball was played. Can Balotelli get a double? He can! That is smashed

:45:35. > :45:44.

:45:44. > :45:51.in. Magical Mario Balotelli. This That is the list of them. No

:45:51. > :45:58.competition, just a little bit of sun. Gentlemen, your decision?

:45:58. > :46:08.Camel and Ibrahimovic. Ibrahimovic for me. -- Andy Carroll.

:46:08. > :46:12.

:46:12. > :46:20.technique was sensational. Such a Ibrahimovic's eyes are always on

:46:20. > :46:30.the ball. Wimbledon is halfway through, Euro 2012 is almost over,

:46:30. > :46:30.

:46:30. > :47:26.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:47:27. > :47:31.that means the Olympics is just It is very close, it should be very

:47:31. > :47:36.special. A reminder that Andy Murray is in action against Marin

:47:37. > :47:42.Cilic at Wimbledon tomorrow. Coverage starts at 11:30am on BBC

:47:42. > :47:49.Two. Next Sunday, Jake Humphrey will be at Silverstone, also on BBC

:47:49. > :47:55.One. The one thing that Spain have done, they have neutralised Pirlo,

:47:55. > :48:00.who has been so magnificent in the tournament. How? They have just

:48:00. > :48:07.pressed him. They have got to him quickly and sometimes in numbers.

:48:07. > :48:16.What can you do in this position? There were three around him, they

:48:16. > :48:21.forced Pirlo backwards. But when I see Pirlo, I can't help thinking

:48:21. > :48:26.about Beethoven when he composes his symphony, but not tonight.

:48:26. > :48:35.Tonight he is quite slow. He has been surrounded by many opponents

:48:35. > :48:40.and he is struggling a bit. Would you believe that coming up, I think

:48:40. > :48:46.somewhere is the tackle on Iniesta, this one. That is his best bit of

:48:46. > :48:50.the game! Can you believe it? It is inch-perfect. I think he has got

:48:50. > :48:55.frustrated. If the Italians are going to get back into it, they

:48:55. > :49:03.have to get Pirlo back on the ball, but further up the pitch. Hopefully

:49:03. > :49:08.we will not have to make any more forced changes. I think Cassano

:49:08. > :49:13.will go off and probably Di Natale will take his place. They need to

:49:13. > :49:19.stop Balotelli as well. It would be nice to continue to see the Spanish

:49:19. > :49:29.being offences -- offences. Another 45 minutes of the same would be

:49:29. > :49:41.

:49:41. > :49:51.Natale. Di Natale gave it elite the lead in Gdansk when these sides met

:49:51. > :49:54.

:49:54. > :50:04.re weeks ago. -- gave Italy the scoring first in September 2006

:50:04. > :50:04.

:50:04. > :50:45.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:50:45. > :50:53.when Northern Ireland beat them in di Natale's first touch of the

:50:53. > :50:58.ball! If the best move of the game for Italy as well, a real chance.

:50:58. > :51:03.Minimum requirement: Hits the target. He is the most prolific of

:51:03. > :51:09.the Italy strikers in terms of club football over the last few seasons.

:51:09. > :51:14.29 for Udinese. He has scored 86 goals over the last three campaigns.

:51:14. > :51:24.He hasn't quite hit the net quite as regularly when wearing blue for

:51:24. > :51:24.

:51:24. > :52:23.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:52:23. > :52:33.Balzaretti has now brought down Arbeloa, Spanish free kick. Great

:52:33. > :52:33.

:52:33. > :53:24.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:53:24. > :53:34.real contest, has to be from Italy. cross to the referee, saying hand

:53:34. > :53:42.

:53:42. > :53:49.ball. Handball, all right. It was, with your hands in all honesty

:53:49. > :53:53.there. His arm has not moved. but he is in that position where it

:53:53. > :54:03.is positioned well to save it. what on earth are you supposed to

:54:03. > :54:03.

:54:03. > :54:59.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:54:59. > :55:09.That ball started the move from that! No chance, he just went into

:55:09. > :55:42.

:55:43. > :55:47.has stretched the game is now. -- first one was brilliantly stopped

:55:47. > :55:55.by Casillas but the second one was simple! The problem was the Spanish

:55:55. > :56:00.had stopped, they thought it was offside! The man they call St Iker

:56:00. > :56:10.in goal! You get past the line of defenders and you still have him to

:56:10. > :56:27.

:56:27. > :56:34.Spain have kept an incredible nine successive clean sheets in knockout

:56:34. > :56:41.games in tournaments. They have not let a single goal in since Zinedine

:56:41. > :56:51.Zidane scored against them. Pepe Reina would walk into most

:56:51. > :56:51.

:56:51. > :58:23.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:58:23. > :58:29.international teams. Not bad, this once. It just caught him in between

:58:29. > :58:36.his feet. It is just the way they take and received and are available

:58:36. > :58:45.for the ball and under all sorts of pressure, it is fantastic. Italy

:58:45. > :58:55.are hanging on in there. You never know, if they can get one... But

:58:55. > :58:55.

:58:55. > :00:00.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:00:00. > :00:10.allowed Gerrard Pique to take little too strong. Almost the ball

:00:10. > :00:40.

:00:40. > :00:45.is why he is in the team, for those moments as much as anything,

:00:45. > :00:50.filling in for people. Italy changed. They will bring off

:00:50. > :00:54.Montolivo, who has not had the effect in this game as in the last

:00:54. > :01:00.two. The man who will be leaving Fiorentina for Milan in time for

:01:00. > :01:05.next season. On comes Tiago Motta. He used to play for Barcelona and

:01:05. > :01:10.Atletico Madrid. An interesting duel if he goes up against Sergio

:01:10. > :01:20.Busquets. Busquets once got him sent off in the Champions League

:01:20. > :01:20.

:01:20. > :02:08.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:02:08. > :02:14.there's not much more Prandelli can Mario Balotelli, but you never know,

:02:14. > :02:24.a chance taken would liven him up. Pirlo to try to be the creator

:02:24. > :02:52.

:02:52. > :02:58.Here comes a Spanish change. They are taking off David Silva, who has

:02:58. > :03:02.been substituted in every game apart from the game against Ireland.

:03:02. > :03:07.Chatting to himself. He started it tonight, thanks to Fabregas. A

:03:07. > :03:13.brilliant header. A really tough one to control, but he did it and

:03:13. > :03:18.he gave Spain the lead. He is taking ages to leave the field. He

:03:18. > :03:27.is not happy about it at all. He is getting a good send-off from the

:03:27. > :03:37.Spanish supporters. Pedro is going to come on. A little more pace for

:03:37. > :03:41.

:03:41. > :03:46.the Italian defenders to come up shakes the hand or says anything to

:03:46. > :03:56.them when they come off. Sit down and get on with it. I get the

:03:56. > :04:02.

:04:02. > :04:07.feeling you like that. Absolutely, from Alonso and it is a free kick

:04:07. > :04:14.to Italy. He doesn't mind leaving players out, much to the annoyance

:04:14. > :04:21.of players like Torres and Fabregas. It is great when you have about 38

:04:21. > :04:31.players to pick from, though! Llorente, Mata, not kicked a ball

:04:31. > :04:49.

:04:49. > :04:56.in the championships. He just shoos gone down. Italy have made all

:04:56. > :05:06.three substitutions. The Spanish could have played on. If the right

:05:06. > :05:11.

:05:11. > :05:17.hamstring has gone, it is good just Arrie Prandelli and his team

:05:17. > :05:23.tonight. -- Je Azzurri Prandelli. It looks as though it is a game too

:05:23. > :05:33.far. He pulled up before the knock. He did indeed. The sniper has had

:05:33. > :05:36.

:05:36. > :05:43.play against 10 men. I'm not sure that is the case with Spain. Yeah,

:05:43. > :05:51.right! Give them a bit more room to play. They can already play when it

:05:51. > :05:58.is tight. He is done, isn't he? would think so, the way he pulled

:05:58. > :06:03.up. The other thing is, you can't risk him. Himself an Chiellini,

:06:03. > :06:08.that is really tough for the Italians. Fate is conspiring

:06:08. > :06:13.against Italy tonight. He is sitting up, he is trying to give a

:06:13. > :06:18.message that he will have a go. But he just can't do it. The rich

:06:18. > :06:23.owners of Paris St-Germain, where he plays his football, will think

:06:23. > :06:29.don't do it. Prandelli now has to work a miracle with 10 players on

:06:29. > :06:39.the field. When your luck is out, you're lucky is out. Four minutes

:06:39. > :06:46.

:06:46. > :06:53.after coming on, the third and seen so many medical people around

:06:53. > :07:03.one player. There must be 40. his hamstring has gone, I'm not

:07:03. > :07:13.

:07:13. > :07:20.sure 24 of them will be able to sight and he is being helped down

:07:20. > :07:30.the tunnel. The game is up. Italy have to do it a man light. Already

:07:30. > :07:38.

:07:38. > :07:41.could be important for them. You never know. We have seen so many

:07:41. > :07:47.things in football. This would be the most incredible of everything

:07:47. > :07:57.we have seen. It would be loaves and fishes. Worth watching if it

:07:57. > :08:16.

:08:16. > :08:23.but it is a free-kick to Spain. thought it might have been the

:08:23. > :08:33.other way. He has to get up. thinks he was blocked off. Busquets

:08:33. > :08:43.had his arm across. I'm afraid, Leonardo Bonucci, you have to carry

:08:43. > :08:43.

:08:43. > :09:27.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:09:27. > :09:37.flick it on to Iniesta. Handball against Balotelli. For once,

:09:37. > :09:37.

:09:37. > :10:29.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:10:29. > :10:37.Iniesta was not in tune with the was the furthest player forward and

:10:37. > :10:40.he was 35 yards from his own goal! Record-breaking Spanish team might

:10:41. > :10:46.have another one in its sights, the biggest-ever win in the European

:10:46. > :10:56.Championship final. 3-0 Germany against the Soviet Union in 1972.

:10:56. > :11:04.

:11:04. > :11:08.That is well within their reach if they don't want to. You've just

:11:08. > :11:18.had the feeling from the start that they wanted to tonight. They've

:11:18. > :11:22.

:11:22. > :11:32.forward and not have to worry about getting back. They can almost play

:11:32. > :11:35.

:11:35. > :11:39.Balotelli, his work, not just tonight, but ever since that

:11:39. > :11:45.opening game against Spain when he was not quite with it, he has been

:11:45. > :11:55.superb. Very, very good. Doesn't necessarily mean a lot, looking

:11:55. > :12:22.

:12:22. > :12:25.forward to next season, but he has through to the end now. Amazing to

:12:25. > :12:35.think Real Madrid sacked him as well. After winning the Champions

:12:35. > :13:09.

:13:09. > :13:19.away from Italian legs. They can't get out of their own half, I'm

:13:19. > :13:37.

:13:37. > :13:47.getting in the eye line if I could do so last, but it would bother

:13:47. > :13:59.

:13:59. > :14:09.that Spanish keeper. - the byline Fabregas. That started with a ball

:14:09. > :14:14.

:14:14. > :14:20.from Casillas, almost like Franz his young career. Not surprising

:14:20. > :14:25.that he started out as a left- winger. Barcelona let him go after

:14:25. > :14:35.he started there, they have had to pay 40 million Euros to get him

:14:35. > :14:53.

:14:53. > :14:58.Alonso... What do you feel as a man steeped in Liverpool about that

:14:58. > :15:05.decision several years ago to let Xabi Alonso go? Was it a little bit

:15:06. > :15:10.early? Mystifying, absolutely mystifying. He has come on and he

:15:10. > :15:17.has played the best football of his career at Real Madrid. Wasn't far

:15:17. > :15:27.behind at Liverpool, in all honesty. The really top player. -- a really

:15:27. > :15:45.

:15:45. > :15:48.at Spain now -- can Italy? Buffon is trying to give words of

:15:48. > :15:58.encouragement. The only encouragement I can think of is

:15:58. > :15:58.

:15:58. > :18:07.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:18:07. > :18:17.that Italy have not gone further He made sure it went higher just in

:18:17. > :18:17.

:18:17. > :19:16.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:19:16. > :19:26.for Spain and Cesc Fabregas will men, Spain have got to put a

:19:26. > :19:32.

:19:32. > :19:38.striking into the action. -- a brilliantly for David Silva. He

:19:38. > :19:44.scored in this tournament against Italy when the teams met in Gdansk.

:19:44. > :19:51.He scored against Ireland. He has had a very good Euro 2012. Now the

:19:51. > :19:58.man who won Euro 2008, Fernando Torres. He got the only goal in the

:19:58. > :20:01.final against Germany. He was only a substitute for Chelsea in the

:20:01. > :20:11.Champions League final, which was his source of much a millions for

:20:11. > :20:21.him. A goal now do finally clinched it for Spain, to round off his

:20:21. > :20:59.

:20:59. > :21:03.career. He was joint top scorer as Torres. This painting of appetite

:21:03. > :21:08.unit and they will be doing everything they can to give

:21:09. > :21:18.Fernando Torres a goal opportunity -- this Spanish team are a tight

:21:19. > :21:42.

:21:42. > :21:52.unit. Iniesta's name is being sung went down a little too easily

:21:52. > :22:22.

:22:22. > :22:26.though. At least it ended in a miracles to get them this far. They

:22:26. > :22:33.lost three games in a row before the start of the tournament without

:22:33. > :22:42.scoring, defeat to Europe right, Russia and the USA. -- defeats to

:22:43. > :22:52.Uruguay. Those kind of performances seemed to spur them on. Everything

:22:53. > :23:28.

:23:28. > :23:38.mesmerising attacking forced from spared. He can pretend that he knew

:23:38. > :24:11.

:24:11. > :24:17.a trophy. 2008, 2010, 2012. Three in a row, barring a miracle from

:24:17. > :24:21.Italy. We were always bemused that they never did better in the

:24:21. > :24:25.tournaments. I think the Madrid Barcelona thing was very important

:24:25. > :24:35.in that. They seemed to come together at the right time.

:24:35. > :24:41.

:24:41. > :24:51.Certainly. They are at each other's finding Barcelona's Busquets. And

:24:51. > :24:54.

:24:54. > :25:04.going to pull a muscle as he raced towards that. I think Torres wanted

:25:04. > :25:09.

:25:09. > :25:14.it on the left side and not on the with this corner. Torres stands to

:25:14. > :25:24.be one of eight players tonight to have played in two winning European

:25:24. > :25:56.

:25:56. > :26:06.position has been fifty-fifty but it is whether teams have had the

:26:06. > :26:06.

:26:06. > :26:56.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:26:56. > :27:03.ball. It doesn't feel like that. that people say it is boring. Let

:27:03. > :27:13.me tell you, not if you have in the Spanish connection it is not. --

:27:13. > :27:40.

:27:41. > :27:48.Do we want them to go hell-for- leather? A goal would be nice,

:27:48. > :27:58.wouldn't it? Somebody has got to have a run. I don't think it

:27:58. > :28:20.

:28:20. > :28:30.Every vedette she Italy! -- could buy commit Italy! This Spanish team

:28:30. > :29:02.

:29:02. > :29:07.has gone up a notch. Great finish. to score in two European

:29:07. > :29:15.Championship finals. I am sorry, Prandelli, it has just not been

:29:15. > :29:21.your night. It could get a whole lot worse for the Italians before

:29:21. > :29:31.the final whistle. Look at the three passes that created the three

:29:31. > :29:53.

:29:53. > :29:59.record by getting a fourth goal, the highest winning margin in the

:29:59. > :30:06.European Championship final. would like to see them play the

:30:06. > :30:16.Brazil 1970 team, wouldn't you. Sadly, time travel is beyond our

:30:16. > :30:22.

:30:22. > :30:27.capability, but that would be a David Villa amongst others, Spain's

:30:27. > :30:31.record goalscorer, three injury -- through injury. He is here watching

:30:31. > :30:40.tonight. Spain will make another change and Mata will get some

:30:40. > :30:44.action! The Chelsea player, wearing 13 for Spain. He will make his

:30:44. > :30:54.winner's medal seemed a whole lot more worth it. Andres Iniesta will

:30:54. > :31:09.

:31:09. > :31:18.on to a great reception. Spain tried to pass their way through to

:31:18. > :31:22.the final whistle. The best team have won it, it is great. Roman

:31:22. > :31:28.Abramovich has come to Kiev to see one of his Chelsea men get a goal

:31:28. > :31:38.and another one get a run out. And think about how many of his Spain

:31:38. > :32:01.

:32:01. > :32:05.team he would really like to buy! lordly being waved, but they can

:32:06. > :32:10.feel proud of their efforts in Poland and Ukraine. This has just

:32:10. > :32:14.been a step too far for them. It has been a question of having to

:32:14. > :32:19.get themselves up for the game just a few days after that monumental

:32:19. > :32:29.effort against Germany. And the effort against England with the

:32:29. > :33:03.

:33:03. > :33:07.have to feel quite a great deal of sympathy for Prandelli. But I'm

:33:07. > :33:13.afraid there are few teams on the planet, ever, that could have lived

:33:13. > :33:21.with his Spain's side. Turning into a very good night for the Chelsea

:33:21. > :33:31.connection. Mario had his night a few days ago. We talked about

:33:31. > :33:31.

:33:31. > :33:41.passes that create goals. Brilliant. He did not have to look, he just

:33:41. > :33:52.

:33:52. > :34:00.at Euro 2012-12. -- Euro 2012, to 12. One more to beat their total at

:34:01. > :34:05.Euro 2008. 4-0. There were many that had a sneaky feeling that

:34:05. > :34:15.Italy might just nick it, that everything was with them. I'm

:34:15. > :34:30.

:34:30. > :34:37.afraid all their luck ran out in don't want it to say there are any

:34:37. > :34:41.added minutes at all! -- Italy want it. They want to pack up, thank the

:34:41. > :34:45.fans for their support and contemplate how far they have come

:34:45. > :34:53.at this competition. They have been up against an absolutely rampant

:34:53. > :35:03.Spanish team. There will be three more minutes for Italy to endured

:35:03. > :35:31.

:35:31. > :35:41.Spanish players, looking to pick out a pass to score yet another

:35:41. > :36:02.

:36:02. > :36:06.somebody sat very close to me. Just had confirmation that as it stands,

:36:06. > :36:11.Torres, on three goals for the tournament, will get the Golden

:36:12. > :36:16.Boot. He has three goals and an assist, like Mario Gomez of Germany,

:36:16. > :36:26.but he has played less minutes than the German did. It is Fernando's

:36:26. > :36:36.

:36:36. > :36:42.might as way -- might as well pay your team-mates the respect of

:36:42. > :36:52.watching it! How on earth will we get back into this team? I think

:36:52. > :37:22.

:37:22. > :37:27.effort from Sergio Ramos followed neutral. You sort of want to get --

:37:27. > :37:36.Spain to get five or six, but you don't want it to me to suffer any

:37:36. > :37:46.more. No. -- Italy. The glory boys are ready to celebrate. David Silva,

:37:46. > :38:02.

:38:02. > :38:07.Jordi Alba, Fernando Torres and is Spain again. European

:38:07. > :38:12.Championship, World Cup, European Championship. It is a perfect

:38:12. > :38:17.treble that has never been done before, with a team playing For --

:38:17. > :38:20.perfect football like we've never seen before. It wins trophy after

:38:20. > :38:25.seen before. It wins trophy after trophy for Spain. It has made

:38:25. > :38:28.legends of these players. Italy have worked, they've given it

:38:28. > :38:33.everything, they were forced down to 10 players through injury

:38:33. > :38:38.tonight. It was just one game too far for one more Herculean effort

:38:38. > :38:48.and they have been pulled apart, all over the place, by the greatest

:38:48. > :38:57.

:38:57. > :39:01.STUDIO: Not to be for Italy. Spain become the first team to retain the

:39:01. > :39:04.European Championship, the first team to win three major trophies

:39:04. > :39:09.back to back to back and they are the first team to win a major final,

:39:09. > :39:13.ever, by four goals. They have still not conceded a goal in

:39:13. > :39:19.knockout football in nearly 1,000 minutes, since Zinedine Zidane

:39:19. > :39:24.scored against them in the 2006 World Cup. The players celebrate a

:39:24. > :39:29.truly phenomenal achievement by an astonishingly talented side. What a

:39:29. > :39:34.wonderful performance. You run out of superlatives. The Italians had a

:39:34. > :39:38.go in the second half and Cassano missed a couple of chances, but

:39:38. > :39:43.went -- once the Italians went to 10 men, it was like an exhibition

:39:43. > :39:49.match. But the first half, people will be talking about this first

:39:49. > :39:53.half in 40 years' time. All the way through the tournament, we talked

:39:53. > :39:58.about the Spanish being the best team ever in possession. There's no

:39:58. > :40:01.argument now. That first half performance was superlative. A word

:40:02. > :40:08.on the Italians, they fought hard and gave everything, but they were

:40:08. > :40:13.outclassed. Yes, they were tonight. This tournament has proven we are

:40:13. > :40:20.the most improved side in Europe. But this final has proven we are

:40:21. > :40:26.not there yet. Spain are in a league of their own, basically.

:40:26. > :40:33.Tonight they show you'd how magnificent they are. They deserved

:40:33. > :40:38.to win. I'm quite surprised the engraver was still itching Spain on

:40:38. > :40:42.to that trophy, it was over some time ago. It was. It was a game too

:40:42. > :40:46.far for the Italians. They've been impressive throughout the

:40:46. > :40:50.tournament, but they have met the team today in a league of their own.

:40:50. > :40:55.There's no one that can come close to them. Di Natale missed a couple

:40:55. > :40:59.of chances early in the second half and then Motta came on and went

:40:59. > :41:05.back off injured again. It was a matter of how many they were going

:41:05. > :41:08.to get, Spain. People throughout the tournament have asked one or

:41:08. > :41:13.two questions because of the system they play. Do they score enough

:41:13. > :41:19.goals? It is an emphatic yes. They have scored more goals than anyone

:41:19. > :41:24.and conceded less. It is incredible to watch, it really is. It is a

:41:24. > :41:27.nightmare to play against because at times, there's not many answers.

:41:27. > :41:32.Just great to watch and to be here to see such a magnificent

:41:32. > :41:37.performance. We've said before, not only are they did in possession and

:41:37. > :41:42.with technical ability, they are better than anything we have seen,

:41:42. > :41:46.but also they work so hard. If you look at Pirlo's performance in this

:41:46. > :41:50.game, he has been the star of the tournament, but he hardly had a

:41:50. > :41:53.kick and that was due to the pressing of the Spanish players.

:41:53. > :41:58.lovely shot of Fernando Torres with his children. He will surely be

:41:58. > :42:04.able to show them a Golden Boot! He has achieved that despite being a

:42:04. > :42:08.bit-part player in many ways for Spain. He scored two against

:42:08. > :42:13.Ireland, his other goal was this Ireland, his other goal was this

:42:13. > :42:18.one, this clinched it. It didn't quite clinch it... This was Pirlo

:42:18. > :42:23.in possession. They gave it away cheaply. Fernando got on to it

:42:23. > :42:27.quickly and it is a very, very competent finish. As soon as Italy

:42:28. > :42:31.went down to 10 men, you could just see Torres itching to get on. He

:42:31. > :42:37.knew there would be goals around for him if he could get on quickly

:42:37. > :42:41.enough. That was an excellent finish. I think this performance,

:42:41. > :42:46.this result, should not take anything away from Italy. I agree.

:42:46. > :42:51.In this tournament, we've reminded ourselves that we can also be a

:42:51. > :42:55.brave side, a United side, a very hard-working side, very smart, and

:42:55. > :42:59.I'm not just talking about football. It is great to see that these

:42:59. > :43:03.players have been able to give people in my country something to

:43:03. > :43:10.cheer about, something to be proud of, because it is a very difficult

:43:10. > :43:16.time. Fantastic! The Spanish players are getting even smaller!

:43:16. > :43:25.She's very good in possession, I'm told. Wonderful. What is

:43:25. > :43:30.astonishing is how much desire they have for winning. What a cute kid!

:43:30. > :43:34.What a player he is. We have gone through Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets,

:43:34. > :43:38.Torres, Fabregas, but there's one guy we have not mentioned, del

:43:38. > :43:43.Bosque. He has changed one or two things in this tournament and one

:43:43. > :43:48.or two questions were asked. He came up with the right answer. They

:43:48. > :43:51.are going home with the trivia well -- again. A fantastic team. It also

:43:51. > :43:57.helps if you have a great goalkeeper. She knows the camera

:43:57. > :44:03.when she sees one! A wonderful all- round team performance. The word on

:44:03. > :44:07.Torres from you, Alan, as a former striker. Three goals, a low total

:44:07. > :44:11.to win a Golden Boot. In a strange way, it has been a frustrating

:44:11. > :44:15.tournament for him because he has been a bit-part player. Probably

:44:15. > :44:21.would not have liked sitting on the bench. When he has been asked to do

:44:21. > :44:28.a job, he has come in and scored goals. He has played well. He got

:44:28. > :44:31.two against the Irish, one tonight. He has played a big enough part.

:44:31. > :44:35.This is the first European Championship with a creche! Tears

:44:35. > :44:39.for the Italians, but they were well beaten in the end. It is not

:44:39. > :44:45.like they have lost a dramatic penalty shoot-out. Tonight was just

:44:45. > :44:49.a matter of playing against a team which is still too strong for us,

:44:49. > :44:53.but also so much time... Are I'm very pleased Balotelli has come

:44:53. > :44:58.back on. He stormed off in a rage, it is good that he has come back

:44:58. > :45:00.out. It is very important to be there to take it on the chin and

:45:00. > :45:04.there to take it on the chin and there to take it on the chin and

:45:04. > :45:08.also to recognise that Spain truly deserved to win. The Italians gave

:45:08. > :45:18.it their best shot, but the Spanish were miles in front of them. They

:45:18. > :45:24.are getting ready for the Balotelli it was in contention for

:45:24. > :45:30.the Golden Boot. He just needed one strike. This was him at the end.

:45:30. > :45:38.What do you make of that? He is petulant. He is obviously

:45:38. > :45:44.frustrated. But over the 90 minutes, he had an elbow at Arbeloa and made

:45:44. > :45:48.a couple of kicks at some players... I think he did well enough.

:45:48. > :45:54.doubt about that but you cannot afford in a game of this magnitude

:45:54. > :45:59.to be petulant and I am afraid he was. I do not think he had enough

:45:59. > :46:03.quality balls. The officials have been magnificent. The whole

:46:03. > :46:07.tournament, we have hardly ever spoken about them at the end of any

:46:07. > :46:13.game, which is a good thing, no doubt. The standard of refereeing

:46:13. > :46:16.has been excellent. I was pleased to see that most of the time they

:46:16. > :46:20.kept be yellow cards in their pockets, so it has been more

:46:20. > :46:24.physical compared to the past and that is good for the game. It has

:46:24. > :46:29.encouraged an open game. Probably a good time to hand back to Guy

:46:29. > :46:36.Mowbray. A very good game, Gary. As far as

:46:36. > :46:41.Pedro Proenca is concerned. He did not have too much to officiate on.

:46:41. > :46:45.We have seen fair play at Euro 2012, which perhaps we have not always

:46:45. > :46:55.seen at the major tournaments. Three red cards, two in the opening

:46:55. > :47:02.game of when we thought, here we go. Well done to the Portuguese team of

:47:02. > :47:05.officials, and most of the referees, as distant referees and the

:47:05. > :47:12.additional assistance, the men with the sticks behind the goal, for the

:47:12. > :47:17.job they have done. Buffon is putting on a brave face. I

:47:18. > :47:22.mentioned that this Italian team have become known as "the Italy of

:47:22. > :47:29.smiles", but it is hard for them to master one at the moment after that

:47:29. > :47:34.footballing lesson. Mark, I think it is fair to say that Prandelli,

:47:34. > :47:39.after 2010, has really put the pride back into the Azzurri. He has

:47:39. > :47:44.galvanised the team. He applauded the Spanish there. One thing in

:47:44. > :47:49.football in my mind, you have to experience how to lose. It is all

:47:49. > :47:55.part of gaining experience. Mario did storm off at the end, he was

:47:55. > :47:59.overcome by it all, but by his own volition, I think, he came back out.

:47:59. > :48:02.He will be there to get his runners-up medal, which is more

:48:03. > :48:07.than these Italian players probably thought they were getting when they

:48:07. > :48:10.came into the competition. They have also been very sporting

:48:10. > :48:16.towards the Spanish. No other option when you have been

:48:16. > :48:20.completely outplayed. If there was the element of bad luck. How many

:48:20. > :48:26.coaches does that happen to win you have just made you final

:48:26. > :48:31.substitution and just substitute gets injured immediately? -- and

:48:31. > :48:35.your substitute gets injured? The Italians are taking it well. They

:48:35. > :48:39.are playing England in their next game in an August friendly, that

:48:39. > :48:44.will take place in Switzerland. Three days before the Premier

:48:44. > :48:51.League starts. It might well be. The managers will be delighted

:48:51. > :48:56.about that. Not long now and we are off again. Pirlo getting a special

:48:56. > :49:01.word from Michel Platini. You might think of him as an administrator

:49:01. > :49:07.but he was a pretty fine footballer in his day. A better footballer

:49:07. > :49:10.than an administrator, that is for certain. He was of course a very

:49:10. > :49:20.accomplished player himself for Juventus, arguably the best years

:49:20. > :49:23.

:49:23. > :49:27.of his career playing in the Serie A. Here is Mario. He lit up the

:49:27. > :49:37.semi-final against Germany. Provided two of the greatest

:49:37. > :49:39.

:49:39. > :49:43.moments of the entire tournament. Cesare Prandelli... He questioned

:49:43. > :49:49.been in international coach at times because he says he misses the

:49:49. > :49:58.day-to-day involvement. I am sure Balotelli's time will come for his

:49:58. > :50:06.country. And for these players, their time is now. An amazing bunch

:50:06. > :50:10.of footballers. Potter along by an amazing Spanish system -- brought

:50:10. > :50:14.along. They have brought the coaches through, got teams playing

:50:14. > :50:18.the way a lot of us say we want to see football played, technically

:50:18. > :50:24.brilliant, from Barcelona to Real Madrid, right the way through La

:50:24. > :50:34.Liga, every one of these can play. Andrea Pirlo can play as well but

:50:34. > :50:40.he can't do it on his own. No team before has retained the trophy, the

:50:41. > :50:46.Henri Delaunay Trophy. No team has managed to win from Europe three

:50:46. > :50:50.major tournaments in a row. It all started at Euro 2008, and it was

:50:50. > :50:55.carried on in scintillating style at the World Cup in South Africa,

:50:55. > :51:00.and then we all got a bit fed up with it, it seemed! We were saying

:51:00. > :51:05.they had peaked, that they were not ruthless enough. I think we had

:51:05. > :51:13.been spoilt. And then tonight happened. Spain reached a whole new

:51:13. > :51:19.level of football altogether. Every one of these players, beaming.

:51:19. > :51:27.Gerrard Pique, plays for Barcelona, European champion, world champion,

:51:27. > :51:37.he is dating Shakira, does he ever have a bad day?! He gets his medal

:51:37. > :51:37.

:51:37. > :51:46.for Michel Platini. The Golden Boot, Fernando Torres. A really nice shot

:51:46. > :51:51.of him with his kids. In the net. He did not know where to find it a

:51:51. > :51:54.little while ago but he does now. His career has picked up again

:51:54. > :52:04.after some dark times. A regular scorer for Chelsea towards the end

:52:04. > :52:08.

:52:08. > :52:15.of the season and three goals at Euro 2012. These are great scenes,

:52:15. > :52:20.seems you will remember as a football supporter. There always

:52:21. > :52:25.has to be a losing team but at the moment in world football terms,

:52:25. > :52:35.there is only one team of all to read winner's, coached by Vicente

:52:35. > :52:38.

:52:38. > :52:46.del Bosque, captained by the brilliant Iker Casillas. Michel

:52:46. > :52:51.Platini will take his place centre stage. And history will be made,

:52:51. > :53:00.when he hands over the Henri Delaunay Trophy, a trophy that

:53:00. > :53:10.marks Spain out as European champions, again! Once more, they

:53:10. > :53:37.

:53:37. > :53:39.The Spanish celebrations truly begin. The trophy held aloft,

:53:39. > :53:47.players have the shirts of footballers who have recently lost

:53:47. > :53:57.their lives. Ramos is the 23-year- old bet is player, known as Mickey,

:53:57. > :54:01.who died of cancer a short while ago -- Betis. The Spanish players

:54:01. > :54:07.have tears of joy. Fabregas holds the trophy aloft and every single

:54:07. > :54:12.one of these players have been magnificent in this tournament.

:54:12. > :54:16.Absolutely. Right from the word go, the reigning champions, the

:54:16. > :54:21.pressure is on, can they do it three on the trot, have they got

:54:21. > :54:25.the spirit and resolve? To right. If you think of when they played in

:54:25. > :54:31.the first half, it was a pleasure and privilege to be here watching

:54:31. > :54:35.it. It was just exceptional. That is what everybody in the world is

:54:35. > :54:39.going to aspire to. That sort of technical ability that the Spanish

:54:39. > :54:46.have got in abundance, everybody has got to try and be as good as

:54:46. > :54:51.that. I am not sure anyone ever will be as good as that team. I

:54:51. > :55:00.think we have seen something unique. Do you think that star will be

:55:00. > :55:03.copied? In many ways, it is a wonderful gift of the game, this

:55:03. > :55:08.possessions style of football that is so easy on the eye. Unless you

:55:08. > :55:15.on the receiving end, obviously, like I am tonight! But I am still

:55:15. > :55:19.very proud of my boys, the Italians, because this is a good starting

:55:19. > :55:23.point for the New World Cup. A new team, a new manager, he did

:55:23. > :55:28.wonderful and now we have our confidence back and we will be

:55:28. > :55:34.looking very difficult to beat him two years time. It is a great night

:55:34. > :55:39.for football. A team can win a major Championship playing this way,

:55:39. > :55:43.with six in the middle of the park, and pass their way through, and we

:55:43. > :55:48.know how difficult it is to pass your way through two bands of

:55:48. > :55:53.forwards, but they did it tonight time after time, with quick,

:55:53. > :55:57.thought for, purposeful, technically great football. It is

:55:57. > :56:03.hard to pick out one individual because they are all wonderfully

:56:03. > :56:08.gifted! An incredible squat with an incredible manager. The hunger and

:56:08. > :56:13.their desire from these guys, because let's not forget, these

:56:13. > :56:20.guys have had an unbelievable amount of success, so for them to

:56:20. > :56:26.actually come here again and show their desire to get that trophy...

:56:26. > :56:33.He has got a great first touch! I like the simplicity and a humble

:56:33. > :56:37.miss of the celebration. They are not every exaggerating. -- and the

:56:37. > :56:46.humble style of the celebration. Many of these players are from

:56:46. > :56:50.Barcelona, others from Real Madrid, and only Silva was a non-Barcelona

:56:50. > :56:57.and Real Madrid player. Then Torres and Mata came on of course. They

:56:57. > :57:00.are lining up for the photographers, of which there are hundreds.

:57:00. > :57:04.Italians were gracious in defeat and the Spanish were humble in

:57:04. > :57:10.victory. They embraced each other and it is very difficult when you

:57:10. > :57:14.have just got beaten. This is special, special, special, but for

:57:14. > :57:20.the losers, there is a big chasm of difference and there is no good

:57:20. > :57:25.news and no way to go. Where does this teams stand in terms of

:57:25. > :57:29.footballing history? Is it right at the top? For me, I think they are

:57:29. > :57:34.the best ever. You mentioned the Brazil side, with the ability of

:57:34. > :57:38.Pele, and all of these guys. But when you look at this team, it is

:57:38. > :57:44.absolutely unbelievable what they have achieved. Balotelli is still

:57:44. > :57:48.there! I think all people argued that the Brazilians of 1970 were

:57:48. > :57:52.truly exceptional. You said at half-time that you have never seen

:57:52. > :57:59.a passing display like that. the Brazilians had players that

:57:59. > :58:02.would just like, they had Pele at centre-forward, arguably the best

:58:02. > :58:08.player of all time. But this side must rank with anything we have

:58:08. > :58:13.seen in the last 20 or 30 years. They are that good. It is also the

:58:13. > :58:18.finest firework display at any European Championship! Magnificent!

:58:18. > :58:27.It has taken us bother by surprise at the end of proceedings! --

:58:27. > :58:32.rather by surprise! Brilliant. Jordi Alba played great as well,

:58:32. > :58:37.what a game he had. It always hurts when you use but when you used

:58:37. > :58:42.against Spain, you can kind of accepted -- when you lose. They are

:58:42. > :58:47.the best team at the moment in world football, that is for sure.

:58:47. > :58:53.Let's remind us of how the victory came about. Magnificent football

:58:53. > :59:03.for most of the goals. Right from the word go, they were up for it

:59:03. > :59:13.

:59:13. > :59:23.picked it up. Fabregas made a great run. A great ball in. And a

:59:23. > :59:29.

:59:29. > :59:33.Chiellini. I think Barzagli should have done better. But Silva it made

:59:33. > :59:42.the run from outside the box, and I think we could have picked it up a

:59:42. > :59:46.bit better. That was the first goal. Silva's magic moment. We are taking

:59:46. > :59:53.a chance here because we are one goal down so we are pressing them

:59:53. > :59:57.very high on the pitch. We are taking a chance. The time of our

:59:57. > :00:07.pressing is not perfect and again, we should have done better. The

:00:07. > :00:07.

:00:08. > :00:14.pass is magnificent. He actually put it on to his foot. A lovely

:00:14. > :00:24.touch. Fantastic. Xavi and Iniesta, what a combination! For goodness

:00:24. > :00:35.

:00:35. > :00:41.sake! And a great first touch from got pressure on Pirlo. The weight

:00:41. > :00:46.of pass. Torres comes on, not been on the pitch very long, he can

:00:46. > :00:53.smell the Golden Boot! He needed a goal and an assist and he managed

:00:53. > :00:59.it. A excellent finish. I think that tonight, they played much more

:00:59. > :01:08.open. They have been very effective. The this is what got Torres the

:01:08. > :01:18.Golden Boot. Into Mata. He was only on for two minutes. At this moment,

:01:18. > :01:25.

:01:25. > :01:32.coming on and scoring goals. Yes. Brilliant. You can only imagine

:01:32. > :01:39.what that feels like! Must be wonderful. It is a great feeling.

:01:39. > :01:46.And they deserve it. Thoroughly deserve it. They are still enjoying

:01:46. > :01:52.their celebrations. That trophy has been in the hands of the entire

:01:52. > :01:57.squad. Llorente is another player we did not even see. You look how

:01:57. > :02:02.good the Italians were against England and against Germany, but we

:02:02. > :02:05.have never seen anything like that tonight. That is because of the way

:02:05. > :02:12.Spain pressed them, because of the way they got the ball back, because

:02:12. > :02:18.of the way they passed the ball, created chances, scored goals.

:02:18. > :02:26.you win the first trophy, you want you win the first trophy, you want

:02:26. > :02:32.more and more. Let's get another view, the view of Martin Keown.

:02:32. > :02:36.Thank you. There are a few thousand Italian fans who might use some

:02:36. > :02:40.handkerchiefs this evening. Heartbreakers. History makers if

:02:40. > :02:45.you are Spanish. What a pleasure to be here and watch that display from

:02:45. > :02:50.Spain. Wow! The way they passed the ball, such imagination and

:02:50. > :02:55.expression. They have got on-board navigation systems, the way they

:02:55. > :03:00.pass the ball. The perfect decision every time, running at pace,

:03:00. > :03:04.delivering brilliant passes. Today it was their running off the ball.

:03:05. > :03:08.They got them around the throat and they would not let go. You look at

:03:08. > :03:13.Jordi Alba coming from deep, Cesc Fabregas coming from deep, and they

:03:14. > :03:17.just applied the finish. When you are watching it, it looks so

:03:17. > :03:22.complicated, but you said to me it is a simple way to play football.

:03:22. > :03:27.It is. They control it and pass it and moved. It was those runners

:03:27. > :03:31.from deep. They were not passing the ball for the sake of it, this

:03:31. > :03:35.was top-level football. They have set the bar high now. In four years,

:03:35. > :03:39.no international manager has got anywhere near them. I think they

:03:39. > :03:44.will dominate for a few more years. Where do they rank in terms of the

:03:45. > :03:49.greatest teams ever? We have heard Brazil 1970 mentioned a few times,

:03:49. > :03:54.you're quite proud of Arsenal 2004, but where do you put this team?

:03:54. > :03:58.They have to be the best. Any young player watching these guys, you

:03:58. > :04:03.think you can do more by running with the ball, you can do more by

:04:03. > :04:08.doing less. Make the ball do the work, pass and move. Beautiful to

:04:08. > :04:12.watch. Seeing Mata come off the bench, and Torres finally getting

:04:12. > :04:17.the goal he deserves, so many players, there's a specialness

:04:17. > :04:21.about this team. Barcelona, a lot of disappointments this year. Real

:04:21. > :04:26.Madrid, the same. They came back because they are a group of winners

:04:26. > :04:30.and they are hungry for us a text - - success. You might not think the

:04:30. > :04:34.managers and players of the world can match the side, but surely they

:04:34. > :04:38.can take inspirations and lessons. They can take lessons, but I don't

:04:38. > :04:43.think anyone can get close. They still have time on their side. One

:04:43. > :04:49.or two might have to go, Xavi, Torres needs to find form, but you

:04:49. > :04:54.look at their two central defenders, Ramos and Pique, brilliant players.

:04:54. > :04:59.They could almost play up front. The goalkeeper, sq Casillas, he

:04:59. > :05:03.plays like a sweeper. They have reinvented football. Thank you for

:05:03. > :05:08.your company. Lovely to spend a tournament with you.

:05:08. > :05:11.Congratulations once again to Spain, they can enjoy their holiday. The

:05:11. > :05:21.Italians will need a break after that!

:05:21. > :05:27.

:05:27. > :05:34.Thank you. The T-shirt reads, "always with us". He was

:05:34. > :05:38.magnificent tonight, Ramos. We keep saying how great they were. Him and

:05:38. > :05:43.Pique were the best defensive partnership in the tournament.

:05:43. > :05:48.is sometimes the thing you do for - - forget about Spain. Defensively,

:05:48. > :05:53.they are strong. That record of not conceding a goal in major knockout

:05:53. > :05:56.football is remarkable. It probably comes firstly because they keep the

:05:56. > :06:01.ball for 89 minutes! It is difficult for the opposition to

:06:02. > :06:05.come up with any threat. Astonishing. Two defenders, eight

:06:05. > :06:10.midfielders, no strikers, and they still don't concede. And when they

:06:10. > :06:14.get through the defence, they have a great goalkeeper. They needed him

:06:14. > :06:21.once or twice in the second half and he came up trumps with a save

:06:22. > :06:24.from Di Natale. You could go through that game and find so many

:06:24. > :06:30.examples of mercurial Spanish play. examples of mercurial Spanish play.

:06:30. > :06:35.It was relentless. They pick it up and play it, they pass and move,

:06:35. > :06:41.they make angles, you've got options, alternatives. This is

:06:41. > :06:47.sensational play. They are so patient... The Xavi has the first

:06:47. > :06:54.shot, then they come out and start again. Iniesta has the next shot,

:06:54. > :06:57.let's start again. It is so difficult to get through that

:06:58. > :07:04.barrier, two Banks of four, but we will play it wide and bring it back

:07:04. > :07:11.in the middle. Do we have the ability to get through? To write.

:07:11. > :07:17.Absolutely phenomenal. Eventually an opening will happen, if we keep

:07:17. > :07:21.passing it with pace and precision. They did that all night. When they

:07:21. > :07:28.are playing, it seems as if they are having so much fun so they are

:07:28. > :07:33.not getting tired, they are just keeping the ball. It is great on

:07:33. > :07:37.the eye for Spain, but if you why Italian, this is so demoralising.

:07:37. > :07:41.You are not touching the ball for long periods. Even when they were

:07:41. > :07:46.not at their best, against the Portuguese, they didn't have any

:07:46. > :07:48.efforts on target, the Portuguese. I felt for Pirlo. He has had such a

:07:48. > :07:51.I felt for Pirlo. He has had such a wonderful tournament.

:07:51. > :07:56.difference was in the previous games that he had time and space

:07:56. > :08:01.and nobody could get near him. They were hunting him in the right areas,

:08:01. > :08:08.where he could hurt you. There's no way he can hurt you too deep.

:08:08. > :08:14.could see it hurt him. He is 33. Playing five or six games in a

:08:14. > :08:17.short time is not easy. That is why del Bosque took off his Xavi a few

:08:17. > :08:21.times in the tournament, to keep him fresh and at his best for the

:08:21. > :08:26.final. The park from when they played Croatia, they got Mandzukic

:08:26. > :08:31.around him, but tonight if it wasn't Busquets, it was Xavi, if it

:08:31. > :08:33.wasn't Xavi, it was Iniesta, it was wasn't Xavi, it was Iniesta, it was

:08:33. > :08:37.Fabregas. Three major trophies for Spain. Let's remind ourselves of

:08:37. > :08:47.the goals that have led to those trophies. This was four years ago

:08:47. > :08:54.and Torres. A similar run tonight. Shoulder of the last defender.

:08:54. > :08:59.was against Germany. Torres became the first player to score in two

:08:59. > :09:09.consecutive European finals. Iniesta, what a World Cup he had in

:09:09. > :09:16.2010. Great first touch. Pick that out. And then four more this

:09:16. > :09:21.evening, an emphatic victory against the Italians. Every time

:09:21. > :09:29.you see it, it gets better and better. The passing, the movement,

:09:29. > :09:33.the finish. Sensational. It is football at its very, very very

:09:34. > :09:39.best. Have I been hearing things this tournament, people calling

:09:39. > :09:43.this boring? You've not been hearing things. But they have

:09:43. > :09:47.answered those critics emphatically. That is what great teams do. When

:09:47. > :09:52.someone asks a question, come up with the right answer. To be fair,

:09:52. > :09:56.they have not played as well as this in the previous games. Against

:09:56. > :10:02.Portugal in the semi-final... Against Ireland they were very good.

:10:02. > :10:07.Yes. But tonight... I don't know how you could set to team up to

:10:07. > :10:12.play against that. I think you can frustrate them sometimes if you sit

:10:12. > :10:17.back with 11 players behind the back with 11 players behind the

:10:17. > :10:21.ball. Like Chelsea. Exactly. Tonight we were a bit to break. The

:10:21. > :10:25.back four was sometimes too high up on the pitch. That is why it was a

:10:25. > :10:28.great night for football. If you can play that way and win major

:10:28. > :10:34.championships, everybody should follow you. Have you enjoyed the

:10:34. > :10:42.tournament? Thoroughly. Do you have a highlight? I would say beating

:10:42. > :10:47.England in the quarter-final! a great man. The Germany game was

:10:47. > :10:49.fantastic. A great tournament, I loved it. A lot of negativity

:10:49. > :10:55.beforehand, but it has been brilliant and the highlight was

:10:55. > :10:59.tonight. There were concerns about the tournament, but they never

:10:59. > :11:03.Rotier -- materialised. It has been a fantastic tournament, but the

:11:03. > :11:08.highlight has to be the performance of Spain in that first half. It is

:11:08. > :11:12.as good as you can get. Player of the tournament? Probably Pirlo. I

:11:12. > :11:17.felt sorry for him tonight, but he controlled every other game.

:11:17. > :11:23.would say Pirlo, but it will be very tight with Iniesta. Iniesta

:11:23. > :11:29.was fantastic. I would go with Iniesta. I would go with him as

:11:29. > :11:34.well. We are giving him the player of the tournament, Iniesta. I think

:11:35. > :11:39.we will know the team of the tournament and that is what counts.

:11:39. > :11:44.Thank you very much indeed. It is bitterly's pain as the reign of

:11:44. > :11:54.Spain continues in Ukraine. Spain remain world and European champions.

:11:54. > :11:55.

:11:55. > :12:03.From all of us here, a very good Darkness falls across the land. The

:12:03. > :12:10.Midnight hour is close at hand. Creatures crawl in search of blood.

:12:10. > :12:19.To terrorise your neighbourhood. Though you fight to stay alive.

:12:19. > :12:29.Your body starts to shiver. For no mere mortal can resist the evil of

:12:29. > :12:29.

:12:29. > :13:35.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds