Spain v Italy Match of the Day Live


Spain v Italy

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Welcome to Kiev for the final of Euro 2012. Spain are on the brink

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of making history by becoming the first European team to win three

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majors in a row. Standing in their way, Italy, world champions

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The two best teams seized their chances when it mattered, where

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beat this. There is room for Mario Balotelli. Can he get a double? He

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It is a game of fractions, knowing Spain at their wonderful best.

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Andrea Pirlo. Alessandro de ne It went down to the thickness of a

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It will come down to a moment, but This was the tournament that was

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not supposed to work, it was too far away, the grounds were too far

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apart, not all fans would be welcomed. They were, and it has

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worked, and hope for me tonight, Spain and Italy can produce a final

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to make Poland and Ukraine feel proud. Inside the Olympic Stadium,

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Alan Hansen, Gianluca Vialli and Alan Shearer. Three weeks, 61 goals

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they go, Spain met Italy, it was 1- 1, but now, there is much more at

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stake. I sit here tonight, I am representing the thousands of

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Italians who live in your country. I do that with pride, because we

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have once again shown the world that we might not be the best when

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it comes to producing politicians, but we can certainly produced,

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among other things, great players, great managers, great player

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managers, more importantly! The spirit of this team has been an

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example, an inspiration for this country. We have reminded ourselves

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that we can be very clever, very smart, hard-working, United. We are

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going to a difficult time with the scandals, and sometimes, winning a

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match on a football pitch can change the destiny and the future

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of the country. I hope it will happen tonight. It will be

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difficult, two terrific sides, the best in the tournament? Absolutely,

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out and out quality. We have talked about Spain for the last four

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seasons, the passing and moving up, against the Portuguese, they were

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poor for 90 minutes, and then they came to life in extra-time. They

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were magnificent. The Italians, a bit like 2006, early on I thought,

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a bit pedestrian, then all of a sudden, against the Germans, it was

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electric, and it was one of the great performances in European

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history. Spain have gone by hundred minutes without conceding a goal in

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the knockout stages -- 900 minutes. They have changed the face of the

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way people are looking at them, how they play. They have six in

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midfield, without his centre- forward. There will be coaches

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looking around the world, thinking it, can we play that way? But not

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only that, defensively, they are so hard to beat. They do not concede

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many goals. Only one in this tournament, against Italy in the

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first game. We watched Italy draw against New Zealand two years ago.

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Now, they are in the final, and they deserve it. The Spanish are

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not moving bit as well as they have done previously. It is never an

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Paul Wappat local, maybe Xavi is getting older. Andres Iniesta has

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been terrific. They have not been They do not have a proven striker,

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Cesc Fabregas is in. Just the one change, replacing Alvaro Negredo.

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The centre-forward is not a player, it is the empty space, in front and

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behind of the central defenders. Every now and then, the midfielders

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have got to make the run in that space. They have got an opportunity

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to make history, no team has won three major championships in their

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growth. If they do that, they should be known as the best team

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ever. They are a wonderful sight. Jordi Alba has done really well,

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with Andres Iniesta. Then the middle is crowded, if you have got

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to have the wit. With all the talk of the Spanish being boring, we are

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hoping that a Italy entertain us! We have been very entertaining. I

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am not surprised that we got to the final, because this is the ninth

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time, we are quite good at getting there. But this is different. What

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is surprising is the way we are planed. We are very brave, we keep

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possession of the ball, we are very effective. It has been wonderful.

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An interesting change of tactics from the first match, when Italy

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had three at the back. They have brought it that they're about back

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in. -- Ignazio Abate. Giorgio Chiellini goes to left-back.

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Different two were outstanding. Andrea Pirlo, he is immense. This

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is Mario Balotelli, talking to his brother in the crowd. He seemed

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very relaxed before the game. As well he might, scoring two in the

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semi-final. He is wonderful, to be a proper centre forward, he has

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realised you cannot just show off, you have got to be prepared to do

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the dirty stuff, you have got to run the channels, hold the ball up,

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chase it, get free kicks, and if he combines his amazing technical

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skills with his athleticism... coach deserves credit for the way

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he has played in the tournament. He has put an arm around him, told him

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how great he thinks he is, and he has responded. The atmosphere has

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been building all day. We have been As the fans are turning up, a

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mixture of anticipation and apprehension. We hope we can find a

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couple of tickets so we can watch the game! A few months ago, Michel

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Platini questioned whether Ukraine would be allowed to host the

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tournament, and now he says the country has its greatest sporting

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legacy. We have had a great time, travelling around. We have got our

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Olympic games, we are looking forward to a raft of stadia, they

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have a crack out of seer -- they have a great atmosphere here, and

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they have seen Ukraine is a great country. We have enjoyed it, 1 1/2

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million people, massive TV audiences, it has been stunning.

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The football has been great. Record crowds in the stadium, record

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audiences on the TV, and the Ukraine have played their part.

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have seen some good talent, I was pleased to see Andriy Shevchenko

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score in this stadium. You shared in the emotion of the Ukrainian

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people. He has been flying their flat for many years. Football wise,

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what have we learned? From an English perspective, we are looking

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at the Dutch, playing in a World Cup two years ago and achieving

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nothing here, and we look at the Italians, making it to a final,

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they finished bottom in the World Cup. That is what we should look to

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in terms of building for the future. We talk about the grass roots, we

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can the cat that, but if we are organised and have good coaches...

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The tactics are important. England might be playing in a World Cup

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final in two years. Tonight, it is about Spain and Italy. How do you

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see the game going? We are in for a great match. The Spanish, the way

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they pass the ball. I have watched the semi-final again, they pass the

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ball beautifully, some great technique. Andrea Pirlo will not

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have the space he has enjoyed in the past, Sergio Ramos and Gerard

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Pique have been outstanding. Mario Balotelli against those two will be

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very interesting. It is not just the players that are impressive,

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even the Spanish fans, some impressive skills. He is hoping for

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a late call-up. Let's hope the game goes well. It is a fantastic night

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for Kiev and the Hall of Ukraine. Where could we not see the kid or

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the way through?! I love the official UEFA stats, because

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without them, I have trouble getting to sleep, but they do not

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help us work hard who will win. This is the fourth time that teams

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who have played in the group stage have met in the final, and the

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first time that the original game ended in a draw. They also met four

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years ago in the quarter-finals. Vienna, June 22nd, 2008, the night

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that changed Spanish football forever. Kate Gower goalless draw

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with Italy. One newspaper wrote, if it had been a bullfight, the ball

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would have died of boredom. For so long, they have found their way to

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But they found their way to win. Italy were world champions, the

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classic Big Ben performers. Spain had not beaten them competitively

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90 minutes came and went, extra time was no better. A talented

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Spanish side were not able to break down the Italians. Penalties were

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inevitable. Spain had been here before, and had failed. After the

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near misses, the matadors at last sensed blood and went for the kill.

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Iker Casillas led the way. David de When he converted, the footballing

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In many ways, watching Spain is a bit like watching a bullfight, and

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eventually, the ball gives up and wanders off. They wear them down.

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We have talked about the Spanish in possession, out of position, how

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they press quickly, but you do not win as many games and as many

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tournaments without the mental strength. You go back to the game

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against Portugal, by their standards, for the first 90 minutes,

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they were poor, but they found some inner strength to pick themselves

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up and play great it extra time, which is the sign of a remarkable

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sight. That is without two great players, David Villa and, spoil.

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For them to get here again and have the hunger and desire to win

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another trophy, remarkable. despite four years ago, Italy tend

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By and large, Italy do well against Spain. We are masters when it comes

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to tactics, and we know how to face different teams with different

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systems. Tonight, they will be running the show most of the time,

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they have eight midfielders. They will keep possession. We need to

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get as many players behind the ball as soon as we can, but that has

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just got to be the starting point. We cannot afford to defend

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passively, we need to be active. We need to go forward, when the ball

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back and have them when we have two strikers up front against two

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defenders. The Portuguese tactics in the semi-final, press them high

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up the pitch, and that worked, because it nullified the middle of

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You were involved in one of those successes, in 1998. You scored.

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was a misfit! It is not always about power, it is about timing and

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precision. This is definitely your brother. It has bounced four times

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before it hit the net. Ball's He looks better now! Time for a

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Spanish few. Rafa Benitez can give The problem with Spain is they have

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plenty of possession. You can see the pace of the game, the tempo is

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not the same. Some of the key players are getting older. The

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style is more or less similar. They tried to go through the middle. Key

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players like Xavi and Iniesta on the ball. He is one of the best

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players. Vicente had some problems with the strikers at the beginning,

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and we Fabregas they have more players in the middle and more

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possession. It is fine for them. Maybe because of with Messi at

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Barcelona they were doing the same. But it has gone well. He knows the

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players, he sees them training. If he decides to do this, it is

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because he is watching the players and thinks it is the best option.

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Prandelli was doing well because the first game, they played with

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three at the back and three midfielders. They could see the

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danger of Spain in the middle and the main thing was the position of

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De Rossi. He is a midfielder playing as a centre-back in this

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game. Everybody was worried about Pirlo, but De Rossi was kicking the

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ball long for Balotelli and Cassano and that is one of the problems for

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Spain. In the end they were playing two grip against two in defence.

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Italy's game plan was good. If Spain attack through the wide areas,

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two players against one, they will have a chance. But they play with

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Silva or Iniesta or, they like to go inside. It is something that del

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Bosque can manage with Navas on the right and Arbeloa, or maybe Pedrosa

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and Jordi Alba. He will not change the tactics all the time. He has a

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lot of experience as a player and a manager. The main thing is he is

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trying to give confidence to There is suddenly a sense that

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perhaps Spain are not as interesting as they once were,

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Arsene Wenger has said today that the thing with Spain is that they

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don't keep the ball to attack, they keep the ball not to lose. Do you

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subscribe to that? The movement is slower, they are not as potent as

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they used to be. They had three strikers up front before. To me,

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they are magnificent to watch, but they play it too much, they could

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be more direct. Over the years that I played the game and I have

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watched the game, I don't think I have seen a side so poor in

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possession for 90 minutes and then come out in extra time and be so

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come out in extra time and be so magnificent. Against Portugal?

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Iniesta gave it away. And then Alonso jabs that that. Alonso under

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hit this and in the second half they were so poor, it was beyond

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

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This is sensational. Talk about building play from the back. As

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Good As It gets. That is what we saw for the 30 minutes of extra-

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time. The next one is equally good. Three against one. They just play

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it and pass it. It is so comfortable, so composed. It is

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just easy. They keep looking... Portuguese can't get near it. The

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last one is a bit quicker. It is absolutely brilliant. Alonso, into

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feet, played back, and then Jordi Alba is away. For 30 minutes in

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extra time, if they had played like extra time, if they had played like

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that from the start, you would say they would be certain to win this

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game tonight. They have never changed the way they play, it is

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when the opposition gets tired. Have teams worked out how to play

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against them? Yes, but it is too tiring. Eventually their style

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becomes very effective, maybe at the end of the game. I have the

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utmost respect for Spain, I like the Spanish players a lot, they

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have a wonderful attitude. It seems like they're having a great time.

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He has been their best player, Iniesta. He had a magnificent World

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Cup in 2010. In this tournament, even though he hasn't been out of

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this world, he has been very good. They are all big stars, but you do

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not see any egos. They are all going in the same direction, they

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want the same goal, which is to win the tournament. The majority of

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them have had a taste of success and then you want more and more.

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They haven't hit the dizzy heights of 2010, but this could be the

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night. You may have noticed that during the penalties against

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Portugal, Cesc Fabregas was talking to the ball. He has also been

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talking to the media. Four years ago I talked to the ball and it did

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not let me down so I tried to talk to it again four years later and

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again it did not let me down. in the final? Her whether it had to

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be, it had to be, and in this case it is Italy, they are a great side.

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We played against them in the opening game and it was very tough.

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They are very experienced at the back and the front. They have play

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as who dominated Italy during the whole season, playing for Juventus

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and Milan and Inter Milan. They have a lot of variety as well. They

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have players who are very strong, like Balotelli, and then good

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players like Cassano and Di Natale. Then they have special players like

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Pirlo, Marchisio has done really well this season and this

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tournament. It will be a really tough one and I think the winner of

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this game will be the real champion. It will be well deserved for both

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of us to win this tournament because I think we have been the

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most consistent two teams in the tournament. There's Fabregas

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warming up at the Olympic Stadium. In many ways, they are playing the

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sort of system Barcelona played and he has now been given the Messi

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role, if that is possible. Spain is missing a player like Messi. When

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the opponents are crowding the last 30 yards of the pitch, you need

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somebody like Messi capable of going through the defence. Fabregas

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is a modern midfielder. He can play in any position, he is very

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effective, or whether creating or scoring. He represents the Spanish

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players very well because he is neither arrogant or nasty, he is

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very humble and I like that attitude. What about this system of

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malting midfielders? Everyone has to be so comfortable with the

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football and keeping possession and happy to receive it under pressure

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happy to receive it under pressure and every single one of that

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Spanish team will be. We have seen a unique situation where there's no

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direct centre-forward. When it Busquets or Xavi or Alonso get the

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ball, there's no centre-forward. Normally you would see a centre-

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forward with his back to goal trying to help the midfielders, but

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they are content to pass it and try to be patient and open teams up. If

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they need to go back to the goalkeeper, so be it. Normally a

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midfielder will initially look for the centre forward. There's no one

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there. They will come back across, it comes to Busquets, they are

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comfortable. That defence has no one to mark, there is no one

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running in behind them and no one in front. But when you play the

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system, when you get into a position like this, Jordi Alba, you

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have to have somebody like Alonso or Fabregas attacking the ball. A

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beautiful little ball from Silva, we have highlighted Fabregas, and

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he wants to get into the box. There's no Torres or villa. What

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advantage is there to not playing an out and out centre-forward?

:24:47.:24:52.

are still winning extract it is difficult for a centre-half to play

:24:52.:24:55.

without and the mediant opponent? The whole concept of defending

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hasn't changed. If there's one attacker, you need two defenders.

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If you're playing six in the middle of the park and you have a flat

:25:04.:25:07.

back four, you are missing out back four, you are missing out

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somewhere else and that is in the middle so you get out numbered.

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Fabregas, it is such a hard role to play, to get between the defence

:25:18.:25:22.

and midfield. Italy's brand of football at this tournament is

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popular all over Europe. There's a sentence I never thought I would

:25:26.:25:36.
:25:36.:25:41.

say! Especially after the debacle It is Paraguay 1-0 in the lead.

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What a shock this is. It is in! Italy are finally back into the

:25:49.:25:59.
:25:59.:26:04.

Would you believe it? New Zealand in front! The reigning champions

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are behind to the team ranked 78 in the world. Penalty! 1-1. The

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:26:21.:26:28.

Slovakia are 1-0 ahead. The world champions are in trouble. It is

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two! Di Natale! Italy are back in it. It is a third goal. Surely

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there's no way Italy can score twice. Italy are going to take this

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right to the wire. Italy, the world champions, are beaten and the truth

:26:52.:27:02.
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These are the scenes outside the Olympic Stadium. The capital of

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Ukraine, Kiev. A beautiful day, beautiful evening, all set fair for

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the perfect final. Talking of the Italians, Johan Cruyff once said

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they can't beat you, but you can lose against them. I think I know

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what he means. Those days have changed. A much more refreshing

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Italian team. It is down to Prandelli. I think he is a bit like

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Galileo, a visionary. He said he wants to change our mentality and

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we thought he was crazy, but he did. Now we play very entertaining

:27:38.:27:46.

football, sexy football. We are still getting results. I sincerely

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hope this gentle revolution spreads around our system, Italian football,

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all the way down to the grassroots. They have come a long way in two

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years,... Unexpectedly. I think he always stuck to his principles. He

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plays four midfielders, four central midfielders, one of them

:28:06.:28:13.

being Pirlo, which helps a lot. Everyone has been magnificent.

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Prandelli is the one that uses the players, chooses the system, makes

:28:17.:28:24.

decisions. A lot of the guys he has brought in, they have been his guys.

:28:25.:28:29.

Buffon and Pirlo hardly played two years ago. Balotelli, Cassano, all

:28:29.:28:34.

of the decisions he has made seem to be working. Against the Germans

:28:34.:28:39.

they were phenomenal. We outclassed them. That was probably the first

:28:39.:28:48.

time. He didn't play either in 2010. Not a bad keeper! If he stands like

:28:48.:28:53.

that the whole game, he's in trouble! He is very good in goal.

:28:53.:28:58.

He has got the right personality. Before the match, he always says

:28:58.:29:01.

the right thing. That shot of Buffon was recorded slightly

:29:01.:29:08.

because just behind us, the closing ceremony is getting under way. It

:29:09.:29:12.

promises to be quite a spectacle. Already the picture -- pitch has

:29:12.:29:17.

changed colour. The youngsters of Ukraine have given us so much in

:29:17.:29:22.

this tournament. If you would like to see more of it, it is currently

:29:22.:29:26.

available on the red button and on the BBC website. If you prefer to

:29:26.:29:30.

watch the closing Merrick -- ceremony to listening to our drivel,

:29:30.:29:40.
:29:40.:29:49.

Italy's hero in the semi-final was Mario Balotelli. He's called two

:29:49.:29:53.

cracking goals, kissed his mum in public and now everybody loves him.

:29:53.:29:57.

Almost everyone. Dan Walker certainly does.

:29:57.:30:07.
:30:07.:30:16.

A riddle wrapped in a mystery Winston Churchill never met Mario

:30:16.:30:20.

Balotelli. If he had, he might have had to think of a few more

:30:20.:30:28.

adjectives. Mario is still only 21. Tender age juxtaposed the sheer

:30:28.:30:35.

power of personality. But the power has been needed. As a child, he

:30:35.:30:39.

suffered serious illness. This, coupled with a tough social

:30:39.:30:43.

situation for his immigrant parents, led to a life of Foster care from

:30:43.:30:50.

the age of three. A tough start. Football was all he had for his

:30:50.:30:55.

future. Signed by Inter Milan, he spent three years there, winning

:30:55.:30:58.

three league titles and the Champions League. But clashes with

:30:58.:31:02.

the other special one meant it was a turbulent time, despite his

:31:02.:31:08.

success. It was also the problem of racism in the stands. He became an

:31:08.:31:12.

Italian cities and the day after his 18th birthday, and an

:31:12.:31:21.

international call-up followed soon after. The Italians now have a

:31:21.:31:25.

different kind of hero. Mario Balotelli is the first black player

:31:25.:31:29.

to represent his country as a major tournament, the first black Italian

:31:29.:31:33.

to score at a major tournament. But some of the press back home still

:31:33.:31:39.

do not seem to get it. Even now. Roberto Mancini brought him to

:31:39.:31:45.

Manchester. Fireworks on and off the pitch. Trouble following wind,

:31:45.:31:55.
:31:55.:32:01.

always follow wind. But at the end, Now, Euro 2012, the latest in a

:32:01.:32:09.

line of heroes, the hour and the man may just have met.

:32:09.:32:13.

Everybody is talking about him, still criticism about his demeanour

:32:13.:32:17.

and his attitude, but should ring not be celebrating the fact that he

:32:17.:32:22.

has come over so many difficulties to perform on the stage? It was not

:32:22.:32:30.

easy to be him, growing up in Italy, with the problems. He is only 21,

:32:30.:32:37.

so he is not mature debt. He is making mistakes. Now, he is finally

:32:37.:32:42.

becoming a man. He came into the tournament a boy, and he might

:32:42.:32:50.

leave a man, that is how exciting he has been. He is 1 goal short of

:32:50.:32:54.

becoming Italy's highest scorer in this tournament. He has had the

:32:54.:33:00.

most shots on target of any player in the tournament, 17 goals for

:33:00.:33:05.

Manchester City, three Serie A titles and one Champions League,

:33:05.:33:11.

the Premier League and FA Cup, just 21, why are you so critical? I have

:33:11.:33:16.

always had admiration for him! The truly great players, it is not

:33:16.:33:22.

about one game, one sees it... is 21. The great players have got

:33:22.:33:26.

palate, ability, mental strength, but the biggest thing, reliability.

:33:26.:33:32.

He has got two of the four. If he scores a hat-trick tonight, that is

:33:32.:33:36.

fine, if he scores 10 hat-tricks in the Premier League next season, I

:33:36.:33:42.

will say you were right. I look forward to that! He has done

:33:42.:33:46.

nothing in his career, that is what you said. In his international

:33:46.:33:51.

career, he had done hardly anything. He has got an unbelievable

:33:51.:33:56.

opportunity to say, I appear to stick around. He has got a great

:33:56.:34:06.
:34:06.:34:07.

chance to finish as top scorer, and I love the way he links up with

:34:07.:34:14.

Antonio Cassano. They are working together, as a partnership, looking

:34:14.:34:22.

after each other. They bullied at the German centre-halves. Le Cap

:34:22.:34:25.

Mario Balotelli's movement. What happens if the goalkeeper spills

:34:25.:34:34.

it? This is a great pass from Mario Balotelli. Riccardo Montolivo

:34:34.:34:38.

should have a shot. It is great play. They have gone from one end

:34:38.:34:48.
:34:48.:34:49.

of the pitch... Of two in the last third. Giorgio Chiellini plays the

:34:49.:34:53.

past, and Mario Balotelli's movement, because he wants the head

:34:53.:34:57.

of more than the defender, he gets it and he wants to score the goal.

:34:57.:35:01.

Mario Balotelli knows that, he is waiting for it. That is the sign of

:35:01.:35:08.

an excellent partnership. Two players left upfield. Not many

:35:09.:35:16.

players will -- not many teams will do that. Mario Balotelli in the

:35:16.:35:21.

middle goes longer. Again, what a ball from Riccardo Montolivo. It is

:35:21.:35:27.

an amazing run from Mario Balotelli. His runs have been brilliant. Going

:35:27.:35:34.

short or long,... He does that very well. I love this finish. He is

:35:34.:35:40.

full of confidence, and he smashes it into the net. The story about

:35:40.:35:46.

Antonio Cassano, you will often see him going off after 60 minutes,

:35:46.:35:50.

because in November, he had a stroke, and he only came back in

:35:50.:35:56.

April. To achieve what he has done, brilliant. Mario Balotelli in

:35:56.:36:01.

contention for the Golden Boot. Antonio Cassano is a reliable

:36:01.:36:06.

genius, he loves playing of the French striker, going past

:36:06.:36:10.

defenders, and he feeds the striker with passes that nobody can say. It

:36:10.:36:16.

is a pity he is not fully fit. never, never know what you Opera to

:36:16.:36:22.

get with Mario Balotelli. -- what you are coming to get. That is not

:36:22.:36:29.

a team player. Lots of players on free goals. Mario Gomez is top,

:36:29.:36:33.

because he has got one assist, because that is the secondary think

:36:33.:36:43.
:36:43.:36:44.

you look. Is this an assist?! He has a shot... A brilliant touch!

:36:44.:36:51.

That is one of yours! Showed that none of the players in contention

:36:51.:36:55.

this evening score, Mario Gomez get it because of that. I will go for

:36:55.:37:01.

Spain. I do not hope that the best team wins tonight, let's put it

:37:01.:37:09.

that way! Keep an eye on Claudio Marchisio. I wanted to be at a long

:37:09.:37:14.

night, but I will go for Spain, just. We started with 16 teams, we

:37:14.:37:18.

are now down to two, but whose name will be on the trophy? Italy or

:37:18.:37:28.
:37:28.:37:33.

With domineering hand, she missed the turning wheel. Like currants in

:37:33.:37:43.
:37:43.:37:43.

a treacherous Bass swept to and fro. The ruthless world has just deposed

:37:43.:37:49.

once fearful Keynes. Wellcome Trust must still, from low she lifts a

:37:49.:37:59.
:37:59.:38:04.

The cries of misery she hears, no tears she heeds. But steely hearted

:38:05.:38:13.

laughs her front. Such is the game she plays, and show she tests her

:38:13.:38:21.

strength. Of mighty power she makes parade during one short hour. From

:38:21.:38:31.
:38:31.:38:37.

Balotelli! Fernando Torres caused! Antonio di Natale! It is Cesc

:38:37.:38:47.
:38:47.:38:56.

The opening ceremony is reaching its conclusion. It in the closing

:38:56.:39:01.

ceremony, of course! Italy against Spain in the final of Euro 2012.

:39:01.:39:05.

What can we anticipate? So much drama to come, so many great

:39:05.:39:10.

players. Your commentators here in the Olympic Stadium, Mark Lawrenson

:39:10.:39:20.
:39:20.:39:23.

game of what has been a terrific tournament. We are back to where we

:39:23.:39:29.

were three weeks ago today, 1-1 in the Gdansk, one of the best of the

:39:29.:39:35.

opening round of matches, and now they meet again. Two countries

:39:35.:39:40.

whose people are probably fed up with hearing the word Euro, and its

:39:40.:39:45.

financial gloom and uncertain economic futures. At least Euro

:39:45.:39:50.

2012 has provided occasional respite Four Nations where football

:39:50.:39:57.

means so much. In Spain, they would have expected nothing less than

:39:57.:40:02.

being into my's final. This is a team on the verge of true greatness,

:40:02.:40:07.

just one game away from an unprecedented three and a row of

:40:07.:40:14.

European and world triumphs. For Italy, it is the culmination of

:40:14.:40:19.

Cesare Prandelli's work in transforming a team that was on its

:40:19.:40:24.

knees. They fail to get out of the group as defending champions at the

:40:24.:40:34.

last World Cup. It is a team that has become the Italy of smiles. One

:40:34.:40:38.

more huge historic effort tonight and they would be as wide as the

:40:38.:40:47.

River Tiber. This is the worst part, for the players who have given so

:40:47.:40:53.

much to get to the final. The waiting. Having to hang on. Keep

:40:53.:40:58.

the muscles loose, keep the tension at bay. But you can see it and feel

:40:58.:41:06.

it. You can almost hear it around the stadium. When the call finally

:41:06.:41:11.

comes, the captains, goalkeepers both, Gianluigi Buffon and Iker

:41:11.:41:16.

Casillas, two of the greats of the game, you will be pushed to find

:41:17.:41:20.

two more experienced players anywhere in the world, and they now

:41:20.:41:27.

lead their nations out, hoping that when they make their way back down

:41:27.:41:37.
:41:37.:42:05.

at the end of the match that they we settle for the national anthems,

:42:05.:42:15.

presented by Tamara Khodakova and McCart Willerby -- Mykhailo

:42:15.:42:21.

Humenniy. They are from the Kiev municipal academic Opera and Ballet

:42:21.:42:31.
:42:31.:43:09.

# Fratelli d'Italia. # L'Italia s'e desta.

:43:09.:43:17.

# Dell'elmo di Scipio. # S'e cinta la testa.

:43:17.:43:26.

# Dov'e la vittoria? # Le porga la chioma.

:43:26.:43:36.
:43:36.:43:38.

# Che schiava di Roma. # Fratelli d'Italia.

:43:38.:43:42.

# L'Italia s'e desta. # Dell'elmo di Scipio.

:43:42.:43:46.

# S'e cinta la testa. # Dov'e la vittoria?

:43:46.:43:53.

# Le porga la chioma. # Che schiava di Roma.

:43:53.:43:55.

# Iddio la creo. # Stringiamoci a coorte.

:43:55.:43:59.

# Siam pronti alla morte. # Italia chiamo.

:43:59.:44:03.

# Stringiamoci a coorte. # Siam pronti alla morte.

:44:03.:44:13.
:44:13.:44:13.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:44:13.:45:21.

called the brothers of Italy. How needed, it has become such a

:45:21.:45:31.
:45:31.:45:46.

familiar tune to hear at major right around the stadium. The

:45:46.:45:51.

defending champions make one change. Fabregas in for Negredo. Spain have

:45:51.:46:00.

no one considered the natural striker. Six Barcelona players,

:46:00.:46:10.
:46:10.:46:20.

four from Real Madrid and one from double of Champions League and

:46:20.:46:26.

World Cup final. The same for tonight's referee. In charge of

:46:26.:46:31.

Chelsea's win in Munich in May and of Italy's over England at this

:46:31.:46:41.
:46:41.:46:57.

house won the toss. -- has won. Italy have Abate back to full

:46:57.:47:02.

fitness and in at right-back having missed the semi-final. That means

:47:02.:47:07.

Balzaretti drops to the bench. The rest of the defence is unchanged

:47:07.:47:14.

and or Juventus. Up front, the same line-up as against England and

:47:14.:47:24.
:47:24.:47:30.

Germany. Pirlo pulling the strings footballer in the 21st century.

:47:30.:47:36.

Hair clips in place, eyes focused and concentrated. A full complement

:47:36.:47:40.

of substitutes available. A lot of attacking talent on the bench if

:47:41.:47:45.

needed. Let's hope we get an attacking match right from the

:47:45.:47:54.

start. Andres Iniesta, the man who won the World Cup with his goal in

:47:54.:47:58.

Johannesburg two years ago. Balotelli, the man who fired it to

:47:58.:48:08.
:48:08.:48:17.

Countdown from 10. And after the final countdown, Europe is ready to

:48:17.:48:27.

crown its champion team. Away we go in Kiev for the final of Euro 2012.

:48:27.:48:32.

Spain against Italy. It promises much. A splash of Mediterranean

:48:32.:48:42.

style with a lashing of Italian passion. Will it be Spain to retain

:48:42.:48:47.

their trophy? No team has ever managed to win the Henri Delaunay

:48:47.:48:52.

Trophy in two successive tournaments. Can it to the Crown a

:48:52.:48:57.

remarkable rise? I don't think anybody expected them to be here.

:48:57.:49:01.

No. The interesting thing from Spain's point of view, you could

:49:01.:49:05.

argue they have six midfielders on view so it should be enough to take

:49:05.:49:12.

care of Pirlo, just about. Vicente del Bosque maintains it is always

:49:12.:49:22.
:49:22.:49:32.

night, Cassano. He was really, really good. A good role model --

:49:32.:49:36.

model for Cassano. He used to get headlines for the wrong reasons,

:49:36.:49:40.

but he has settled down and he has been a perfect foil for Marriott in

:49:40.:49:50.
:49:50.:50:02.

this competition. If there is such off! A wry smile beneath a

:50:02.:50:12.
:50:12.:50:18.

moustache on the face of Vicente was Luis Aragones's side that won

:50:18.:50:23.

Euro 2008. He has not done badly since! He has won everything in the

:50:23.:50:33.
:50:33.:50:39.

game. Two Champions Leagues and two of Abate's face. We will have to

:50:39.:50:45.

give him the benefit of the doubt. Look how wide Chiellini is already

:50:45.:50:50.

for Italy. He was a real get out the other night against Germany.

:50:50.:51:00.
:51:00.:51:05.

Almost playing as a left-sided play it as they have done all

:51:05.:51:15.
:51:15.:51:47.

I think Ramos is down. He is trying to persuade the referee it was a

:51:47.:51:57.
:51:57.:52:04.

poor tackle by Balotelli. He is up time Spain beat Italy, 1-0, in

:52:04.:52:10.

March 2008. It was decided by a volley from David Villa. David

:52:10.:52:15.

Villa is here tonight along with Carles Puyol, two who would have

:52:15.:52:19.

been in the squad but for bad injuries. They were invited by del

:52:19.:52:29.
:52:29.:52:43.

Bosque to be part of the squad they the left. -- Cassano. There's a bit

:52:43.:52:50.

of a reaction from Balotelli. Ramos did not flinch. It is that ball

:52:50.:52:54.

again in between the two centre- backs. How many times have we seen

:52:54.:53:00.

that in this competition? Look at this. I don't think we rolled on

:53:00.:53:10.
:53:10.:53:15.

Ramos. More than anybody else. A Real Madrid record 11 red cards in

:53:15.:53:25.
:53:25.:53:34.

orthodox striker. I think this is a really good tackle by De Rossi. He

:53:34.:53:39.

has got the ball! It is one of those that is deemed reckless and

:53:39.:53:44.

not in control of himself. Right. Even though he got the ball. There

:53:44.:53:54.
:53:54.:54:21.

they are. David Villa and Carles touch of finesse. His penalty in

:54:21.:54:31.
:54:31.:54:45.

the shoot-out against Portugal his performances at left-back.

:54:45.:54:55.
:54:55.:54:58.

Iniesta never does anything but think Spain did lack a striker then.

:54:58.:55:01.

The boys in the studio will be saying what a ball that would have

:55:02.:55:11.
:55:12.:55:26.

been to a centre forward. What a certainly involved. I think he got

:55:26.:55:31.

too much on it. He had a free run at the ball. Chiellini arrived a

:55:31.:55:35.

little bit late to put him off properly. Maybe he did enough.

:55:36.:55:45.
:55:46.:56:19.

Jordi Alba it is a willing runner Prandelli is organising and

:56:19.:56:24.

constantly giving out a message to his players. A contrast in styles

:56:24.:56:34.
:56:34.:56:45.

with del Bosque, hands in pockets, against Italy. Spain don't beat

:56:45.:56:49.

Italy. It is like the Italian record against the Germans,

:56:49.:56:58.

traditionally. Italy have won 3, drawn four and Spain only one won

:56:58.:57:04.

on penalties for years ago. Miroslav Klose admitted in the week

:57:04.:57:07.

that he thinks it was in the back of the mind of one or two German

:57:07.:57:14.

players, the record against Italy. I don't think Spain players think

:57:14.:57:24.
:57:24.:57:24.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:57:24.:58:15.

much. They are shooting on sight tonight. Great play. Great

:58:15.:58:25.
:58:25.:58:30.

against when it is played so quickly. Buffon was clutching thin

:58:30.:58:40.
:58:40.:58:41.

air! Less than a ball's width over the bar. A bright bit of play from

:58:41.:58:45.

Spain. Where do you stand on the debate that has sprung up during

:58:45.:58:47.

this tournament that their brilliance has become boring?

:58:48.:58:52.

little bit. They have missed the idea of football, which is to score

:58:52.:58:58.

a lot of goals and entertain, as well as win. They look in the mood

:58:58.:59:08.
:59:08.:59:31.

tonight. They certainly do. We have fouled. Don't blow the whistle!

:59:31.:59:37.

Montolivo hasn't got up, that is why we have a stoppage. Until now.

:59:37.:59:47.
:59:47.:00:22.

They have had to weather a Spanish gold. Can they get out and work it

:00:22.:00:30.

themselves? Xabi Alonso came out to get close to Andrea Pirlo. He had

:00:30.:00:40.
:00:40.:01:01.

to do a lot of moving to get the there is plenty of attacking being

:01:01.:01:06.

done. There is lots of movement and lots of options, which is the key.

:01:06.:01:12.

It is difficult for Italy to defend against it. If you back 18 to

:01:12.:01:17.

defend against anything, it would be an Italian team. They push up

:01:17.:01:27.
:01:27.:01:27.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:01:27.:02:10.

heading to the Premier League, but the goal has been comment. His

:02:10.:02:16.

second of Euro 2012. It is the first in the final. The Italians

:02:16.:02:21.

cannot cope with the pace and movement. Absolutely brilliant. He

:02:21.:02:29.

just got himself in front of his man. Once they see the past, it is

:02:29.:02:39.
:02:39.:02:42.

great, inside the full-back. The movement, band. Brilliant. It was

:02:42.:02:47.

great work from Cesc Fabregas. David Silva cushioned it, he got

:02:47.:02:55.

the control with his header. Spanish joy. It is what they

:02:55.:03:05.
:03:05.:03:06.

deserve, they have made a great start to the game. What sort of a

:03:06.:03:11.

response have Italy got? Mario Balotelli has got a free kick.

:03:12.:03:21.
:03:22.:03:23.

There was an element of buying it. Is that a foul? The referee has

:03:23.:03:31.

given it. It will be a foul, then! That will be the fence I am sitting

:03:31.:03:38.

on! In the history of this tournament, 18 has only come behind

:03:38.:03:43.

to win the final three times. Most recently, France did it to Italy in

:03:43.:03:52.

2000. Throughout the competition, we have seen that this is a band of

:03:52.:03:59.

brothers' plane for the fishery. Andrea Pirlo scared -- scored from

:03:59.:04:09.
:04:09.:04:35.

wall to get Italy a corner. He will glove on the ball. The whistle has

:04:35.:04:45.
:04:45.:04:49.

gone. I think it just came off the back. It was just a fingertip.

:04:49.:04:55.

Daniele de Rossi was flying again, a little too vigorously, actually.

:04:55.:05:03.

He passed the ball before it came. It is the first time that Italy

:05:03.:05:13.
:05:13.:05:24.

going to be a corner. Sergio Busquets fell a long way, an

:05:24.:05:34.
:05:34.:05:45.

awkward landing as well. I think he the bar. The Italian bombardment

:05:45.:05:51.

will continue. Giorgio Chiellini thought he might be on the end of

:05:51.:06:01.
:06:01.:06:29.

the crowd, but it was just too high for him. You do not want to give

:06:29.:06:35.

the Spanish the ball back when they are in the lead. It is an

:06:35.:06:40.

interesting debate amongst many for tonight, who is the better

:06:40.:06:48.

goalkeeper. 186 caps for the Spanish goalkeeper, 119 for the

:06:48.:06:55.

Italian. They both have won the World Cup. Finally divorce has been

:06:55.:06:59.

struggling with a sciatic nerve problem throughout the tournament -

:06:59.:07:09.
:07:09.:07:09.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:07:09.:07:53.

- Daniele de Rossi. He takes the front of the defender. Cesc

:07:53.:08:03.
:08:03.:08:09.

Fabregas seems to enjoy the front- It was well read by the Italians.

:08:09.:08:18.

Giorgio Chiellini is struggling. It was a great tackle from Andrea

:08:18.:08:23.

Pirlo. He just does the same thing and get it out, because Giorgio

:08:23.:08:28.

Chiellini has got a problem. It is his left knee. That was a good

:08:28.:08:35.

tackle. They are going to make the change it straight away. Cesare

:08:35.:08:44.

Prandelli is not hanging around. Here you instantly. They do have a

:08:44.:08:49.

ready-made replacement in Federico Balzaretti, who was unlucky not to

:08:49.:08:57.

play tonight. He played right-back in the semi-final. He did sterling

:08:57.:09:03.

work out of position. The bonus for him, but a blow for Giorgio

:09:03.:09:13.
:09:13.:09:17.

Chiellini. His final ends after 20 minutes. I just wonder whether

:09:17.:09:20.

fitness will be a consideration for Italy. It is their third game in a

:09:20.:09:27.

week. We thought that against the Germans, though. Spain have had

:09:27.:09:37.
:09:37.:09:37.

more of a relaxing schedule. They got to Kiev earlier, Italy did not

:09:37.:09:47.
:09:47.:09:48.

arrive until 3am yesterday. Most of the training and studying of Spain

:09:48.:09:53.

have been via video. But they will know all about Spain. Why were they

:09:53.:10:03.
:10:03.:10:31.

but a goal kick is given. Andrea Pirlo will struggle to get too much

:10:31.:10:41.
:10:41.:10:42.

of double. -- the ball. If it becomes a factor against Spain more

:10:42.:10:47.

than any other team... You spend so much time chasing the ball, you are

:10:47.:10:51.

shattered once you get it. Technically, they have got six

:10:51.:10:55.

midfield players gunman and they swarm, they win the ball back very

:10:55.:11:05.
:11:05.:11:07.

quickly. Boring, apparently. Yes. do get that document,... I am

:11:07.:11:16.

delighted for you! You cannot of you with the brilliance of the

:11:16.:11:24.

players, though. Andrea Pirlo is under pressure, no other team has

:11:24.:11:28.

done that. The Spanish are making the Italians play with their heads

:11:28.:11:38.
:11:38.:11:38.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:11:38.:12:51.

down. Andrea Pirlo will not play playing, they are getting people

:12:51.:12:55.

between the lines. I am not sure about the way he went into that

:12:55.:13:02.

tackle. Vicente del Bosque des is protesting at, but it is the way he

:13:02.:13:12.
:13:12.:13:13.

went into it. The bit risky from Gerard Pique. Just a touch. I am

:13:13.:13:23.

not sure he touched Antonio Cassano. He did not. Still... You do not see

:13:23.:13:28.

Vicente del Bosque that animated that often. He is more worried that

:13:28.:13:35.

he has got to be careful now, with a booking. I never saw Vicente del

:13:35.:13:40.

Bosque play, 18 caps for Spain, a defensive midfielder, I imagine he

:13:40.:13:48.

was that kind of player. Did he not play against Liverpool? Paris, the

:13:48.:13:58.

European Cup final. That was 1980. And Cesare Prandelli played against

:13:58.:14:08.
:14:08.:14:27.

Liverpool, he came on as a go backwards, Italy. It is great

:14:27.:14:37.
:14:37.:14:49.

Mario Balotelli, he was poised to head home the equaliser. Iker

:14:49.:14:54.

Casillas did extremely well. It was not a great touch, and he gets

:14:54.:15:03.

lucky, it comes off the full back. But it was a much better cross.

:15:03.:15:06.

That is what each has a rate -- that is what Federico Balzaretti

:15:06.:15:15.

will give to Italy. Because David Silva is playing on the right of

:15:15.:15:20.

the front three, he wants to tuck in, so there will always be space

:15:20.:15:30.
:15:30.:15:30.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:15:30.:16:43.

Casillas did well to stop that because it came through two pairs

:16:43.:16:53.
:16:53.:16:53.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:16:53.:19:18.

was a little bit strange, that. little flat by a Pirlo, of all

:19:18.:19:25.

people. In the build-up to the game, the whole of Italy going crazy, and

:19:25.:19:30.

Pirlo said, get into the final and not winning is like going to Rome

:19:30.:19:40.
:19:40.:20:12.

and not seeing the Pope. I have that meant for me? And it is a bit

:20:12.:20:22.
:20:22.:20:23.

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:20:23.:21:23.

of a waste when you are not have up yet. Picked out before as a

:21:23.:21:33.
:21:33.:21:33.

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:21:33.:23:14.

was not expecting the ball but it gone up. It is all part of the game,

:23:14.:23:19.

guessing the when and where the past is going. The way the Spanish

:23:19.:23:24.

recycle the ball all the time. In between the lines, as it were. It

:23:24.:23:34.

is just outstanding. Spain are still leading by that Silva goal.

:23:34.:23:44.
:23:44.:23:44.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:23:44.:25:19.

Some great work by Fabregas said confidence, 23 years old. We saw

:25:19.:25:23.

his Spain debut against Scotland in October and he was good then.

:25:23.:25:32.

was outstanding at night. -- that night. Spain are putting themselves

:25:32.:25:42.
:25:42.:25:42.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:25:42.:26:42.

not quite the same effect as he actually. And he should be full of

:26:42.:26:49.

confidence. When you think about that only game against Spain. For

:26:49.:26:59.
:26:59.:27:09.

some reason he just put the brakes free-kick for Spain. Balzaretti

:27:09.:27:19.
:27:19.:27:59.

putting his weight on to David Italy's main mission will be to

:27:59.:28:04.

make sure they are only one behind at the break. Anything else will be

:28:04.:28:14.
:28:14.:28:20.

a shrewd tactician. A bit of reorganisation, a few wise words at

:28:20.:28:30.
:28:30.:28:53.

are more red shirts on the field. at chasing the ball? Ferry. Jordi

:28:53.:29:03.
:29:03.:29:11.

Alba busting a gut! Spain have 82-0 Spanish pass! It is a long way back

:29:11.:29:17.

for Italy from here. Jordi Alba has his first senior international goal

:29:17.:29:22.

and it was a thing of beauty! Football does not get much better

:29:22.:29:28.

than that. The pace that he picked up with that run, Jordi Alba, was

:29:28.:29:38.
:29:38.:29:52.

amazing and as you would expect, timing, the Finnish, it was all

:29:52.:30:01.

just so right. Yeah, brilliant. That is the reason why Barcelona

:30:01.:30:06.

have paid 40 million Euros to Valencia to make him a part of the

:30:06.:30:16.
:30:16.:30:30.

Barcelona tried for next season. when the left-back scores goals

:30:30.:30:40.
:30:40.:30:40.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:30:40.:31:50.

have a go. It is whether there is handle. He has used the pace on the

:31:50.:32:00.
:32:00.:32:37.

Barzagli. It is just a yellow. It was like the Italians are fault, I

:32:37.:32:43.

have got to take him out. He did not have too many options.

:32:43.:32:48.

taken for the team, because had Andres Iniesta got past him, Cesc

:32:48.:32:58.
:32:58.:33:10.

Fabregas was in the middle, and are more trophies to be one for him.

:33:10.:33:20.
:33:20.:33:46.

They are halfway to within one So was that clearance. He tried to

:33:46.:33:55.

hit it up the field early. You had the Italians do not lose their

:33:55.:34:01.

discipline. -- you hope. One minute to be added on at the end of the

:34:01.:34:11.
:34:11.:34:12.

first half that has belonged to Spain. We have talked about Andrea

:34:12.:34:22.
:34:22.:34:38.

Pirlo, but the Spanish performance from the defending world and

:34:38.:34:42.

European champions. They are embracing each other on the bench.

:34:42.:34:47.

The feeling is Spain are just about there, and what I find he has been,

:34:47.:34:52.

Jordi Alba, the left-back, with a scintillating second goal, after

:34:52.:34:57.

David Silva headed the first. Four years ago, they lead against

:34:57.:35:02.

Germany in the final, and here, they have doubled their money. It

:35:02.:35:06.

is a forlorn looking bunch of Italians who troop off to receive

:35:06.:35:16.
:35:16.:35:21.

words of wisdom from Cesare They truly exhilarating display

:35:21.:35:24.

from the world and European champions. There are three of us in

:35:24.:35:29.

this studio, but I have concerns that the time of the centre-forward

:35:30.:35:35.

is over! We have seen a masterclass of how to keep hold of the ball,

:35:35.:35:42.

how to pass it. Italy are playing a flat back four, a diamond in

:35:42.:35:46.

midfield, Spain have got no forwards, but they are getting time

:35:46.:35:52.

and time again down the left-hand side, because there are so -- there

:35:52.:35:56.

is so much space. It is great to see. For people to even suggest

:35:56.:36:02.

that Spain of boring is laughable, because it is amazing to watch.

:36:02.:36:09.

am not quite sure you are enjoying this! It is painful for me to watch.

:36:09.:36:15.

So far, it has been a great game, two sides having a goat at each

:36:15.:36:20.

other. We do not put the same as we have been in the tournament. First

:36:20.:36:26.

of all, they are simply an awesome team, we have got to admit that.

:36:26.:36:31.

Secondly, they have found a way to neutralise Andrea Pirlo, and so we

:36:31.:36:37.

are struggling. Thirdly, we looked tired. All of the injuries, all of

:36:37.:36:42.

the travelling, all of the games played so far, with a huge mental

:36:42.:36:50.

effort, they have finally taken their toll. One day less stressed.

:36:50.:36:55.

For the neutral, in wonderful example of football. I have never

:36:55.:36:59.

seen anything as good, sustained periods where they were picking it

:36:59.:37:06.

up and playing at pace. When they played the 6 Midfield players and

:37:06.:37:09.

no strikers, they passed poorly, but when they pass it in that

:37:09.:37:18.

manner, it does not matter how they play. The interchange, the pace, I

:37:18.:37:22.

have never seen the like of that in my life, it was that good.

:37:22.:37:29.

Breathtaking at times. It is 70 matches since Spain lost since they

:37:29.:37:33.

have taken the lead, and you can see why, because it is so hard to

:37:33.:37:39.

get the ball off them. It will be complicated for us to get back into

:37:39.:37:43.

the game. But sometimes, it takes one moment of brilliance to change

:37:43.:37:49.

the game around. Greedy to change the way they are thinking. -- we

:37:49.:37:54.

need to change. Do something special, get one goal, make them

:37:54.:37:59.

think differently, you never know. The one criticism you can level at

:37:59.:38:03.

Spain, they do not get enough players in the box, and we saw

:38:03.:38:08.

examples of that before the goal. In the first 10 minutes, we were

:38:09.:38:13.

screaming, because it was a great run by Jordi Alba down the left-

:38:13.:38:20.

hand side. We watch David Silva, he should be working harder to get

:38:20.:38:25.

into the box. That is a great pass and a great ball in. Nobody in

:38:25.:38:33.

there. It is too late. The defender clears it away. But if they do not

:38:33.:38:37.

get you the first time, they will get you the second time. Andres

:38:37.:38:41.

Iniesta is the best player on the picture. Not only have the Spanish

:38:42.:38:47.

played well, they have nullified Andrea Pirlo. They have made him go

:38:47.:38:54.

back to what his own goal. Some incredible football for the goal. A

:38:54.:39:02.

brilliant piece of finishing. pick it up and played with

:39:02.:39:09.

consummate ease. I have always got options and alternative options.

:39:09.:39:13.

Look at how many men the Italians have got behind the ball. It is

:39:13.:39:21.

difficult to get through that. at Cesc Fabregas's body position.

:39:21.:39:25.

He is side on, he wants the ball between the centre halves.

:39:25.:39:31.

Magnificent. David Silva is in there this time. He has realised

:39:31.:39:39.

his mistake. I did not like the defendant from Leonardo Bonucci.

:39:39.:39:47.

has got to see that. Yes, and stay with him. It is all white people

:39:47.:39:51.

saying that... There are two reasons why a Andrea Pirlo is not

:39:51.:39:57.

playing, they are closing come down, and when he does have the ball, he

:39:57.:40:02.

is so tired, because they have worked hard to get it back. Lots of

:40:02.:40:08.

examples of breathtaking Spanish football. Yes, especially the

:40:08.:40:13.

second goal. We are defending too high. We are taking some chances

:40:13.:40:19.

now, because we are down. We are pressing them high, and we are

:40:19.:40:23.

leaving space behind the defenders. We are not covering particularly

:40:23.:40:29.

well. Andrea Barzagli should have stayed with the runner. When you

:40:29.:40:34.

are playing a flat back four against nobody... Look at how many

:40:34.:40:40.

spare men they have got. Nobody picks him up, because you were

:40:40.:40:46.

waiting for him to pick him up, and it Jordi Alba has made a great run.

:40:46.:40:54.

They has been one of the players of the tournament. He has just signed

:40:54.:40:58.

for Barcelona. Some terrific reactions from the Spanish

:40:58.:41:07.

supporters in Madrid. These are the scenes for the goal. Yes! Mass

:41:07.:41:12.

jubilation. It must be wonderful for them! Not a hint of jealousy

:41:12.:41:21.

from any of us! Technical ability at its very best. I have never seen

:41:21.:41:29.

anything like it. It is wonderful. You are seeing the best team ever

:41:29.:41:37.

here. Brazil, West Germany... No team has ever done this.

:41:37.:41:42.

Brazilians in 1970... No team has ever won three major tournaments.

:41:42.:41:46.

Normally, you played the worst in the final, because you are tired,

:41:46.:41:51.

but they have been in disguise so far. Are they wild by people saying

:41:51.:42:01.
:42:01.:42:02.

they are boring? I think they just play their game. Look at this, how

:42:03.:42:07.

good is that? They never change, they just keep played, they work

:42:08.:42:13.

very hard for each other. They are so far in front of everybody in

:42:13.:42:21.

terms of passing and defend, you watch... Because we are tired, we

:42:21.:42:26.

always arrive half a second too late in closing them down, and

:42:26.:42:29.

therefore, with their ability, you end up in trouble. That is an

:42:29.:42:39.
:42:39.:42:43.

excuse! It is a joy to watch, absolutely. We have had two goals,

:42:43.:42:53.
:42:53.:43:00.

Pavlyuchenko. And still going. Pavlyuchenko! The substitute

:43:00.:43:10.
:43:10.:43:19.

opportunities and perhaps danger in equal measure. What a goal!

:43:19.:43:23.

Blaszczykowski! And the host nation celebrates in every corner of the

:43:23.:43:33.
:43:33.:43:41.

The flag stayed down and Germany lead! Mario Gomez gets his second

:43:41.:43:51.
:43:51.:43:59.

midfield metronome scores with a superb, precise finish. That's how

:43:59.:44:09.
:44:09.:44:17.

Carroll to get there! The plan's worked! Gerrard to Carroll, England

:44:17.:44:27.
:44:27.:44:40.

Vaart! Brilliant! Just the start that the Netherlands needed. It is

:44:40.:44:50.
:44:50.:44:56.

Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! Ibrahimovic, golden boy of Swedish

:44:56.:45:06.
:45:06.:45:14.

football, has finally answered his struggling, but got two strong

:45:14.:45:18.

hands to it. Montolivo. Through for Balotelli, he was onside when the

:45:18.:45:25.

ball was played. Can Balotelli get a double? He can! That is smashed

:45:25.:45:35.
:45:35.:45:44.

in. Magical Mario Balotelli. This That is the list of them. No

:45:44.:45:51.

competition, just a little bit of sun. Gentlemen, your decision?

:45:51.:45:58.

Camel and Ibrahimovic. Ibrahimovic for me. -- Andy Carroll.

:45:58.:46:08.
:46:08.:46:12.

technique was sensational. Such a Ibrahimovic's eyes are always on

:46:12.:46:20.

the ball. Wimbledon is halfway through, Euro 2012 is almost over,

:46:20.:46:30.
:46:30.:46:30.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:46:30.:47:26.

that means the Olympics is just It is very close, it should be very

:47:27.:47:31.

special. A reminder that Andy Murray is in action against Marin

:47:31.:47:36.

Cilic at Wimbledon tomorrow. Coverage starts at 11:30am on BBC

:47:37.:47:42.

Two. Next Sunday, Jake Humphrey will be at Silverstone, also on BBC

:47:42.:47:49.

One. The one thing that Spain have done, they have neutralised Pirlo,

:47:49.:47:55.

who has been so magnificent in the tournament. How? They have just

:47:55.:48:00.

pressed him. They have got to him quickly and sometimes in numbers.

:48:00.:48:07.

What can you do in this position? There were three around him, they

:48:07.:48:16.

forced Pirlo backwards. But when I see Pirlo, I can't help thinking

:48:16.:48:21.

about Beethoven when he composes his symphony, but not tonight.

:48:21.:48:26.

Tonight he is quite slow. He has been surrounded by many opponents

:48:26.:48:35.

and he is struggling a bit. Would you believe that coming up, I think

:48:35.:48:40.

somewhere is the tackle on Iniesta, this one. That is his best bit of

:48:40.:48:46.

the game! Can you believe it? It is inch-perfect. I think he has got

:48:46.:48:50.

frustrated. If the Italians are going to get back into it, they

:48:50.:48:55.

have to get Pirlo back on the ball, but further up the pitch. Hopefully

:48:55.:49:03.

we will not have to make any more forced changes. I think Cassano

:49:03.:49:08.

will go off and probably Di Natale will take his place. They need to

:49:08.:49:13.

stop Balotelli as well. It would be nice to continue to see the Spanish

:49:13.:49:19.

being offences -- offences. Another 45 minutes of the same would be

:49:19.:49:29.
:49:29.:49:41.

Natale. Di Natale gave it elite the lead in Gdansk when these sides met

:49:41.:49:51.
:49:51.:49:54.

re weeks ago. -- gave Italy the scoring first in September 2006

:49:54.:50:04.
:50:04.:50:04.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:50:04.:50:45.

when Northern Ireland beat them in di Natale's first touch of the

:50:45.:50:53.

ball! If the best move of the game for Italy as well, a real chance.

:50:53.:50:58.

Minimum requirement: Hits the target. He is the most prolific of

:50:58.:51:03.

the Italy strikers in terms of club football over the last few seasons.

:51:03.:51:09.

29 for Udinese. He has scored 86 goals over the last three campaigns.

:51:09.:51:14.

He hasn't quite hit the net quite as regularly when wearing blue for

:51:14.:51:24.
:51:24.:51:24.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:51:24.:52:23.

Balzaretti has now brought down Arbeloa, Spanish free kick. Great

:52:23.:52:33.
:52:33.:52:33.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:52:33.:53:24.

real contest, has to be from Italy. cross to the referee, saying hand

:53:24.:53:34.
:53:34.:53:42.

ball. Handball, all right. It was, with your hands in all honesty

:53:42.:53:49.

there. His arm has not moved. but he is in that position where it

:53:49.:53:53.

is positioned well to save it. what on earth are you supposed to

:53:53.:54:03.
:54:03.:54:03.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:54:03.:54:59.

That ball started the move from that! No chance, he just went into

:54:59.:55:09.
:55:09.:55:42.

has stretched the game is now. -- first one was brilliantly stopped

:55:43.:55:47.

by Casillas but the second one was simple! The problem was the Spanish

:55:47.:55:55.

had stopped, they thought it was offside! The man they call St Iker

:55:55.:56:00.

in goal! You get past the line of defenders and you still have him to

:56:00.:56:10.
:56:10.:56:27.

Spain have kept an incredible nine successive clean sheets in knockout

:56:27.:56:34.

games in tournaments. They have not let a single goal in since Zinedine

:56:34.:56:41.

Zidane scored against them. Pepe Reina would walk into most

:56:41.:56:51.
:56:51.:56:51.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:56:51.:58:23.

international teams. Not bad, this once. It just caught him in between

:58:23.:58:29.

his feet. It is just the way they take and received and are available

:58:29.:58:36.

for the ball and under all sorts of pressure, it is fantastic. Italy

:58:36.:58:45.

are hanging on in there. You never know, if they can get one... But

:58:45.:58:55.
:58:55.:58:55.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:58:55.:00:00.

allowed Gerrard Pique to take little too strong. Almost the ball

:00:00.:00:10.
:00:10.:00:40.

is why he is in the team, for those moments as much as anything,

:00:40.:00:45.

filling in for people. Italy changed. They will bring off

:00:45.:00:50.

Montolivo, who has not had the effect in this game as in the last

:00:50.:00:54.

two. The man who will be leaving Fiorentina for Milan in time for

:00:54.:01:00.

next season. On comes Tiago Motta. He used to play for Barcelona and

:01:00.:01:05.

Atletico Madrid. An interesting duel if he goes up against Sergio

:01:05.:01:10.

Busquets. Busquets once got him sent off in the Champions League

:01:10.:01:20.
:01:20.:01:20.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:01:20.:02:08.

there's not much more Prandelli can Mario Balotelli, but you never know,

:02:08.:02:14.

a chance taken would liven him up. Pirlo to try to be the creator

:02:14.:02:24.
:02:24.:02:52.

Here comes a Spanish change. They are taking off David Silva, who has

:02:52.:02:58.

been substituted in every game apart from the game against Ireland.

:02:58.:03:02.

Chatting to himself. He started it tonight, thanks to Fabregas. A

:03:02.:03:07.

brilliant header. A really tough one to control, but he did it and

:03:07.:03:13.

he gave Spain the lead. He is taking ages to leave the field. He

:03:13.:03:18.

is not happy about it at all. He is getting a good send-off from the

:03:18.:03:27.

Spanish supporters. Pedro is going to come on. A little more pace for

:03:27.:03:37.
:03:37.:03:41.

the Italian defenders to come up shakes the hand or says anything to

:03:41.:03:46.

them when they come off. Sit down and get on with it. I get the

:03:46.:03:56.
:03:56.:04:02.

feeling you like that. Absolutely, from Alonso and it is a free kick

:04:02.:04:07.

to Italy. He doesn't mind leaving players out, much to the annoyance

:04:07.:04:14.

of players like Torres and Fabregas. It is great when you have about 38

:04:14.:04:21.

players to pick from, though! Llorente, Mata, not kicked a ball

:04:21.:04:31.
:04:31.:04:49.

in the championships. He just shoos gone down. Italy have made all

:04:49.:04:56.

three substitutions. The Spanish could have played on. If the right

:04:56.:05:06.
:05:06.:05:11.

hamstring has gone, it is good just Arrie Prandelli and his team

:05:11.:05:17.

tonight. -- Je Azzurri Prandelli. It looks as though it is a game too

:05:17.:05:23.

far. He pulled up before the knock. He did indeed. The sniper has had

:05:23.:05:33.
:05:33.:05:36.

play against 10 men. I'm not sure that is the case with Spain. Yeah,

:05:36.:05:43.

right! Give them a bit more room to play. They can already play when it

:05:43.:05:51.

is tight. He is done, isn't he? would think so, the way he pulled

:05:51.:05:58.

up. The other thing is, you can't risk him. Himself an Chiellini,

:05:58.:06:03.

that is really tough for the Italians. Fate is conspiring

:06:03.:06:08.

against Italy tonight. He is sitting up, he is trying to give a

:06:08.:06:13.

message that he will have a go. But he just can't do it. The rich

:06:13.:06:18.

owners of Paris St-Germain, where he plays his football, will think

:06:18.:06:23.

don't do it. Prandelli now has to work a miracle with 10 players on

:06:23.:06:29.

the field. When your luck is out, you're lucky is out. Four minutes

:06:29.:06:39.
:06:39.:06:46.

after coming on, the third and seen so many medical people around

:06:46.:06:53.

one player. There must be 40. his hamstring has gone, I'm not

:06:53.:07:03.
:07:03.:07:13.

sure 24 of them will be able to sight and he is being helped down

:07:13.:07:20.

the tunnel. The game is up. Italy have to do it a man light. Already

:07:20.:07:30.
:07:30.:07:38.

could be important for them. You never know. We have seen so many

:07:38.:07:41.

things in football. This would be the most incredible of everything

:07:41.:07:47.

we have seen. It would be loaves and fishes. Worth watching if it

:07:47.:07:57.
:07:57.:08:16.

but it is a free-kick to Spain. thought it might have been the

:08:16.:08:23.

other way. He has to get up. thinks he was blocked off. Busquets

:08:23.:08:33.

had his arm across. I'm afraid, Leonardo Bonucci, you have to carry

:08:33.:08:43.
:08:43.:08:43.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:08:43.:09:27.

flick it on to Iniesta. Handball against Balotelli. For once,

:09:27.:09:37.
:09:37.:09:37.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:09:37.:10:29.

Iniesta was not in tune with the was the furthest player forward and

:10:29.:10:37.

he was 35 yards from his own goal! Record-breaking Spanish team might

:10:37.:10:40.

have another one in its sights, the biggest-ever win in the European

:10:41.:10:46.

Championship final. 3-0 Germany against the Soviet Union in 1972.

:10:46.:10:56.
:10:56.:11:04.

That is well within their reach if they don't want to. You've just

:11:04.:11:08.

had the feeling from the start that they wanted to tonight. They've

:11:08.:11:18.
:11:18.:11:22.

forward and not have to worry about getting back. They can almost play

:11:22.:11:32.
:11:32.:11:35.

Balotelli, his work, not just tonight, but ever since that

:11:35.:11:39.

opening game against Spain when he was not quite with it, he has been

:11:39.:11:45.

superb. Very, very good. Doesn't necessarily mean a lot, looking

:11:45.:11:55.
:11:55.:12:22.

forward to next season, but he has through to the end now. Amazing to

:12:22.:12:25.

think Real Madrid sacked him as well. After winning the Champions

:12:25.:12:35.
:12:35.:13:09.

away from Italian legs. They can't get out of their own half, I'm

:13:09.:13:19.
:13:19.:13:37.

getting in the eye line if I could do so last, but it would bother

:13:37.:13:47.
:13:47.:13:59.

that Spanish keeper. - the byline Fabregas. That started with a ball

:13:59.:14:09.
:14:09.:14:14.

from Casillas, almost like Franz his young career. Not surprising

:14:14.:14:20.

that he started out as a left- winger. Barcelona let him go after

:14:20.:14:25.

he started there, they have had to pay 40 million Euros to get him

:14:25.:14:35.
:14:35.:14:53.

Alonso... What do you feel as a man steeped in Liverpool about that

:14:53.:14:58.

decision several years ago to let Xabi Alonso go? Was it a little bit

:14:58.:15:05.

early? Mystifying, absolutely mystifying. He has come on and he

:15:06.:15:10.

has played the best football of his career at Real Madrid. Wasn't far

:15:10.:15:17.

behind at Liverpool, in all honesty. The really top player. -- a really

:15:17.:15:27.
:15:27.:15:45.

at Spain now -- can Italy? Buffon is trying to give words of

:15:45.:15:48.

encouragement. The only encouragement I can think of is

:15:48.:15:58.
:15:58.:15:58.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:15:58.:18:07.

that Italy have not gone further He made sure it went higher just in

:18:07.:18:17.
:18:17.:18:17.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:18:17.:19:16.

for Spain and Cesc Fabregas will men, Spain have got to put a

:19:16.:19:26.
:19:26.:19:32.

striking into the action. -- a brilliantly for David Silva. He

:19:32.:19:38.

scored in this tournament against Italy when the teams met in Gdansk.

:19:38.:19:44.

He scored against Ireland. He has had a very good Euro 2012. Now the

:19:44.:19:51.

man who won Euro 2008, Fernando Torres. He got the only goal in the

:19:51.:19:58.

final against Germany. He was only a substitute for Chelsea in the

:19:58.:20:01.

Champions League final, which was his source of much a millions for

:20:01.:20:11.

him. A goal now do finally clinched it for Spain, to round off his

:20:11.:20:21.
:20:21.:20:59.

career. He was joint top scorer as Torres. This painting of appetite

:20:59.:21:03.

unit and they will be doing everything they can to give

:21:03.:21:08.

Fernando Torres a goal opportunity -- this Spanish team are a tight

:21:09.:21:18.
:21:19.:21:42.

unit. Iniesta's name is being sung went down a little too easily

:21:42.:21:52.
:21:52.:22:22.

though. At least it ended in a miracles to get them this far. They

:22:22.:22:26.

lost three games in a row before the start of the tournament without

:22:26.:22:33.

scoring, defeat to Europe right, Russia and the USA. -- defeats to

:22:33.:22:42.

Uruguay. Those kind of performances seemed to spur them on. Everything

:22:43.:22:52.
:22:53.:23:28.

mesmerising attacking forced from spared. He can pretend that he knew

:23:28.:23:38.
:23:38.:24:11.

a trophy. 2008, 2010, 2012. Three in a row, barring a miracle from

:24:11.:24:17.

Italy. We were always bemused that they never did better in the

:24:17.:24:21.

tournaments. I think the Madrid Barcelona thing was very important

:24:21.:24:25.

in that. They seemed to come together at the right time.

:24:25.:24:35.
:24:35.:24:41.

Certainly. They are at each other's finding Barcelona's Busquets. And

:24:41.:24:51.
:24:51.:24:54.

going to pull a muscle as he raced towards that. I think Torres wanted

:24:54.:25:04.
:25:04.:25:09.

it on the left side and not on the with this corner. Torres stands to

:25:09.:25:14.

be one of eight players tonight to have played in two winning European

:25:14.:25:24.
:25:24.:25:56.

position has been fifty-fifty but it is whether teams have had the

:25:56.:26:06.
:26:06.:26:06.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 67 seconds

:26:06.:26:56.

ball. It doesn't feel like that. that people say it is boring. Let

:26:56.:27:03.

me tell you, not if you have in the Spanish connection it is not. --

:27:03.:27:13.
:27:13.:27:40.

Do we want them to go hell-for- leather? A goal would be nice,

:27:41.:27:48.

wouldn't it? Somebody has got to have a run. I don't think it

:27:48.:27:58.
:27:58.:28:20.

Every vedette she Italy! -- could buy commit Italy! This Spanish team

:28:20.:28:30.
:28:30.:29:02.

has gone up a notch. Great finish. to score in two European

:29:02.:29:07.

Championship finals. I am sorry, Prandelli, it has just not been

:29:07.:29:15.

your night. It could get a whole lot worse for the Italians before

:29:15.:29:21.

the final whistle. Look at the three passes that created the three

:29:21.:29:31.
:29:31.:29:53.

record by getting a fourth goal, the highest winning margin in the

:29:53.:29:59.

European Championship final. would like to see them play the

:29:59.:30:06.

Brazil 1970 team, wouldn't you. Sadly, time travel is beyond our

:30:06.:30:16.
:30:16.:30:22.

capability, but that would be a David Villa amongst others, Spain's

:30:22.:30:27.

record goalscorer, three injury -- through injury. He is here watching

:30:27.:30:31.

tonight. Spain will make another change and Mata will get some

:30:31.:30:40.

action! The Chelsea player, wearing 13 for Spain. He will make his

:30:40.:30:44.

winner's medal seemed a whole lot more worth it. Andres Iniesta will

:30:44.:30:54.
:30:54.:31:09.

on to a great reception. Spain tried to pass their way through to

:31:09.:31:18.

the final whistle. The best team have won it, it is great. Roman

:31:18.:31:22.

Abramovich has come to Kiev to see one of his Chelsea men get a goal

:31:22.:31:28.

and another one get a run out. And think about how many of his Spain

:31:28.:31:38.
:31:38.:32:01.

team he would really like to buy! lordly being waved, but they can

:32:01.:32:05.

feel proud of their efforts in Poland and Ukraine. This has just

:32:06.:32:10.

been a step too far for them. It has been a question of having to

:32:10.:32:14.

get themselves up for the game just a few days after that monumental

:32:14.:32:19.

effort against Germany. And the effort against England with the

:32:19.:32:29.
:32:29.:33:03.

have to feel quite a great deal of sympathy for Prandelli. But I'm

:33:03.:33:07.

afraid there are few teams on the planet, ever, that could have lived

:33:07.:33:13.

with his Spain's side. Turning into a very good night for the Chelsea

:33:13.:33:21.

connection. Mario had his night a few days ago. We talked about

:33:21.:33:31.
:33:31.:33:31.

passes that create goals. Brilliant. He did not have to look, he just

:33:31.:33:41.
:33:41.:33:52.

at Euro 2012-12. -- Euro 2012, to 12. One more to beat their total at

:33:52.:34:00.

Euro 2008. 4-0. There were many that had a sneaky feeling that

:34:01.:34:05.

Italy might just nick it, that everything was with them. I'm

:34:05.:34:15.
:34:15.:34:30.

afraid all their luck ran out in don't want it to say there are any

:34:30.:34:37.

added minutes at all! -- Italy want it. They want to pack up, thank the

:34:37.:34:41.

fans for their support and contemplate how far they have come

:34:41.:34:45.

at this competition. They have been up against an absolutely rampant

:34:45.:34:53.

Spanish team. There will be three more minutes for Italy to endured

:34:53.:35:03.
:35:03.:35:31.

Spanish players, looking to pick out a pass to score yet another

:35:31.:35:41.
:35:41.:36:02.

somebody sat very close to me. Just had confirmation that as it stands,

:36:02.:36:06.

Torres, on three goals for the tournament, will get the Golden

:36:06.:36:11.

Boot. He has three goals and an assist, like Mario Gomez of Germany,

:36:12.:36:16.

but he has played less minutes than the German did. It is Fernando's

:36:16.:36:26.
:36:26.:36:36.

might as way -- might as well pay your team-mates the respect of

:36:36.:36:42.

watching it! How on earth will we get back into this team? I think

:36:42.:36:52.
:36:52.:37:22.

effort from Sergio Ramos followed neutral. You sort of want to get --

:37:22.:37:27.

Spain to get five or six, but you don't want it to me to suffer any

:37:27.:37:36.

more. No. -- Italy. The glory boys are ready to celebrate. David Silva,

:37:36.:37:46.
:37:46.:38:02.

Jordi Alba, Fernando Torres and is Spain again. European

:38:02.:38:07.

Championship, World Cup, European Championship. It is a perfect

:38:07.:38:12.

treble that has never been done before, with a team playing For --

:38:12.:38:17.

perfect football like we've never seen before. It wins trophy after

:38:17.:38:20.

seen before. It wins trophy after trophy for Spain. It has made

:38:20.:38:25.

legends of these players. Italy have worked, they've given it

:38:25.:38:28.

everything, they were forced down to 10 players through injury

:38:28.:38:33.

tonight. It was just one game too far for one more Herculean effort

:38:33.:38:38.

and they have been pulled apart, all over the place, by the greatest

:38:38.:38:48.
:38:48.:38:57.

STUDIO: Not to be for Italy. Spain become the first team to retain the

:38:57.:39:01.

European Championship, the first team to win three major trophies

:39:01.:39:04.

back to back to back and they are the first team to win a major final,

:39:04.:39:09.

ever, by four goals. They have still not conceded a goal in

:39:09.:39:13.

knockout football in nearly 1,000 minutes, since Zinedine Zidane

:39:13.:39:19.

scored against them in the 2006 World Cup. The players celebrate a

:39:19.:39:24.

truly phenomenal achievement by an astonishingly talented side. What a

:39:24.:39:29.

wonderful performance. You run out of superlatives. The Italians had a

:39:29.:39:34.

go in the second half and Cassano missed a couple of chances, but

:39:34.:39:38.

went -- once the Italians went to 10 men, it was like an exhibition

:39:38.:39:43.

match. But the first half, people will be talking about this first

:39:43.:39:49.

half in 40 years' time. All the way through the tournament, we talked

:39:49.:39:53.

about the Spanish being the best team ever in possession. There's no

:39:53.:39:58.

argument now. That first half performance was superlative. A word

:39:58.:40:01.

on the Italians, they fought hard and gave everything, but they were

:40:02.:40:08.

outclassed. Yes, they were tonight. This tournament has proven we are

:40:08.:40:13.

the most improved side in Europe. But this final has proven we are

:40:13.:40:20.

not there yet. Spain are in a league of their own, basically.

:40:21.:40:26.

Tonight they show you'd how magnificent they are. They deserved

:40:26.:40:33.

to win. I'm quite surprised the engraver was still itching Spain on

:40:33.:40:38.

to that trophy, it was over some time ago. It was. It was a game too

:40:38.:40:42.

far for the Italians. They've been impressive throughout the

:40:42.:40:46.

tournament, but they have met the team today in a league of their own.

:40:46.:40:50.

There's no one that can come close to them. Di Natale missed a couple

:40:50.:40:55.

of chances early in the second half and then Motta came on and went

:40:55.:40:59.

back off injured again. It was a matter of how many they were going

:40:59.:41:05.

to get, Spain. People throughout the tournament have asked one or

:41:05.:41:08.

two questions because of the system they play. Do they score enough

:41:08.:41:13.

goals? It is an emphatic yes. They have scored more goals than anyone

:41:13.:41:19.

and conceded less. It is incredible to watch, it really is. It is a

:41:19.:41:24.

nightmare to play against because at times, there's not many answers.

:41:24.:41:27.

Just great to watch and to be here to see such a magnificent

:41:27.:41:32.

performance. We've said before, not only are they did in possession and

:41:32.:41:37.

with technical ability, they are better than anything we have seen,

:41:37.:41:42.

but also they work so hard. If you look at Pirlo's performance in this

:41:42.:41:46.

game, he has been the star of the tournament, but he hardly had a

:41:46.:41:50.

kick and that was due to the pressing of the Spanish players.

:41:50.:41:53.

lovely shot of Fernando Torres with his children. He will surely be

:41:53.:41:58.

able to show them a Golden Boot! He has achieved that despite being a

:41:58.:42:04.

bit-part player in many ways for Spain. He scored two against

:42:04.:42:08.

Ireland, his other goal was this Ireland, his other goal was this

:42:08.:42:13.

one, this clinched it. It didn't quite clinch it... This was Pirlo

:42:13.:42:18.

in possession. They gave it away cheaply. Fernando got on to it

:42:18.:42:23.

quickly and it is a very, very competent finish. As soon as Italy

:42:23.:42:27.

went down to 10 men, you could just see Torres itching to get on. He

:42:28.:42:31.

knew there would be goals around for him if he could get on quickly

:42:31.:42:37.

enough. That was an excellent finish. I think this performance,

:42:37.:42:41.

this result, should not take anything away from Italy. I agree.

:42:41.:42:46.

In this tournament, we've reminded ourselves that we can also be a

:42:46.:42:51.

brave side, a United side, a very hard-working side, very smart, and

:42:51.:42:55.

I'm not just talking about football. It is great to see that these

:42:55.:42:59.

players have been able to give people in my country something to

:42:59.:43:03.

cheer about, something to be proud of, because it is a very difficult

:43:03.:43:10.

time. Fantastic! The Spanish players are getting even smaller!

:43:10.:43:16.

She's very good in possession, I'm told. Wonderful. What is

:43:16.:43:25.

astonishing is how much desire they have for winning. What a cute kid!

:43:25.:43:30.

What a player he is. We have gone through Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets,

:43:30.:43:34.

Torres, Fabregas, but there's one guy we have not mentioned, del

:43:34.:43:38.

Bosque. He has changed one or two things in this tournament and one

:43:38.:43:43.

or two questions were asked. He came up with the right answer. They

:43:43.:43:48.

are going home with the trivia well -- again. A fantastic team. It also

:43:48.:43:51.

helps if you have a great goalkeeper. She knows the camera

:43:51.:43:57.

when she sees one! A wonderful all- round team performance. The word on

:43:57.:44:03.

Torres from you, Alan, as a former striker. Three goals, a low total

:44:03.:44:07.

to win a Golden Boot. In a strange way, it has been a frustrating

:44:07.:44:11.

tournament for him because he has been a bit-part player. Probably

:44:11.:44:15.

would not have liked sitting on the bench. When he has been asked to do

:44:15.:44:21.

a job, he has come in and scored goals. He has played well. He got

:44:21.:44:28.

two against the Irish, one tonight. He has played a big enough part.

:44:28.:44:31.

This is the first European Championship with a creche! Tears

:44:31.:44:35.

for the Italians, but they were well beaten in the end. It is not

:44:35.:44:39.

like they have lost a dramatic penalty shoot-out. Tonight was just

:44:39.:44:45.

a matter of playing against a team which is still too strong for us,

:44:45.:44:49.

but also so much time... Are I'm very pleased Balotelli has come

:44:49.:44:53.

back on. He stormed off in a rage, it is good that he has come back

:44:53.:44:58.

out. It is very important to be there to take it on the chin and

:44:58.:45:00.

there to take it on the chin and there to take it on the chin and

:45:00.:45:04.

also to recognise that Spain truly deserved to win. The Italians gave

:45:04.:45:08.

it their best shot, but the Spanish were miles in front of them. They

:45:08.:45:18.

are getting ready for the Balotelli it was in contention for

:45:18.:45:24.

the Golden Boot. He just needed one strike. This was him at the end.

:45:24.:45:30.

What do you make of that? He is petulant. He is obviously

:45:30.:45:38.

frustrated. But over the 90 minutes, he had an elbow at Arbeloa and made

:45:38.:45:44.

a couple of kicks at some players... I think he did well enough.

:45:44.:45:48.

doubt about that but you cannot afford in a game of this magnitude

:45:48.:45:54.

to be petulant and I am afraid he was. I do not think he had enough

:45:54.:45:59.

quality balls. The officials have been magnificent. The whole

:45:59.:46:03.

tournament, we have hardly ever spoken about them at the end of any

:46:03.:46:07.

game, which is a good thing, no doubt. The standard of refereeing

:46:07.:46:13.

has been excellent. I was pleased to see that most of the time they

:46:13.:46:16.

kept be yellow cards in their pockets, so it has been more

:46:16.:46:20.

physical compared to the past and that is good for the game. It has

:46:20.:46:24.

encouraged an open game. Probably a good time to hand back to Guy

:46:24.:46:29.

Mowbray. A very good game, Gary. As far as

:46:29.:46:36.

Pedro Proenca is concerned. He did not have too much to officiate on.

:46:36.:46:41.

We have seen fair play at Euro 2012, which perhaps we have not always

:46:41.:46:45.

seen at the major tournaments. Three red cards, two in the opening

:46:45.:46:55.

game of when we thought, here we go. Well done to the Portuguese team of

:46:55.:47:02.

officials, and most of the referees, as distant referees and the

:47:02.:47:05.

additional assistance, the men with the sticks behind the goal, for the

:47:05.:47:12.

job they have done. Buffon is putting on a brave face. I

:47:12.:47:17.

mentioned that this Italian team have become known as "the Italy of

:47:18.:47:22.

smiles", but it is hard for them to master one at the moment after that

:47:22.:47:29.

footballing lesson. Mark, I think it is fair to say that Prandelli,

:47:29.:47:34.

after 2010, has really put the pride back into the Azzurri. He has

:47:34.:47:39.

galvanised the team. He applauded the Spanish there. One thing in

:47:39.:47:44.

football in my mind, you have to experience how to lose. It is all

:47:44.:47:49.

part of gaining experience. Mario did storm off at the end, he was

:47:49.:47:55.

overcome by it all, but by his own volition, I think, he came back out.

:47:55.:47:59.

He will be there to get his runners-up medal, which is more

:47:59.:48:02.

than these Italian players probably thought they were getting when they

:48:03.:48:07.

came into the competition. They have also been very sporting

:48:07.:48:10.

towards the Spanish. No other option when you have been

:48:10.:48:16.

completely outplayed. If there was the element of bad luck. How many

:48:16.:48:20.

coaches does that happen to win you have just made you final

:48:20.:48:26.

substitution and just substitute gets injured immediately? -- and

:48:26.:48:31.

your substitute gets injured? The Italians are taking it well. They

:48:31.:48:35.

are playing England in their next game in an August friendly, that

:48:35.:48:39.

will take place in Switzerland. Three days before the Premier

:48:39.:48:44.

League starts. It might well be. The managers will be delighted

:48:44.:48:51.

about that. Not long now and we are off again. Pirlo getting a special

:48:51.:48:56.

word from Michel Platini. You might think of him as an administrator

:48:56.:49:01.

but he was a pretty fine footballer in his day. A better footballer

:49:01.:49:07.

than an administrator, that is for certain. He was of course a very

:49:07.:49:10.

accomplished player himself for Juventus, arguably the best years

:49:10.:49:20.
:49:20.:49:23.

of his career playing in the Serie A. Here is Mario. He lit up the

:49:23.:49:27.

semi-final against Germany. Provided two of the greatest

:49:27.:49:37.
:49:37.:49:39.

moments of the entire tournament. Cesare Prandelli... He questioned

:49:39.:49:43.

been in international coach at times because he says he misses the

:49:43.:49:49.

day-to-day involvement. I am sure Balotelli's time will come for his

:49:49.:49:58.

country. And for these players, their time is now. An amazing bunch

:49:58.:50:06.

of footballers. Potter along by an amazing Spanish system -- brought

:50:06.:50:10.

along. They have brought the coaches through, got teams playing

:50:10.:50:14.

the way a lot of us say we want to see football played, technically

:50:14.:50:18.

brilliant, from Barcelona to Real Madrid, right the way through La

:50:18.:50:24.

Liga, every one of these can play. Andrea Pirlo can play as well but

:50:24.:50:34.

he can't do it on his own. No team before has retained the trophy, the

:50:34.:50:40.

Henri Delaunay Trophy. No team has managed to win from Europe three

:50:41.:50:46.

major tournaments in a row. It all started at Euro 2008, and it was

:50:46.:50:50.

carried on in scintillating style at the World Cup in South Africa,

:50:50.:50:55.

and then we all got a bit fed up with it, it seemed! We were saying

:50:55.:51:00.

they had peaked, that they were not ruthless enough. I think we had

:51:00.:51:05.

been spoilt. And then tonight happened. Spain reached a whole new

:51:05.:51:13.

level of football altogether. Every one of these players, beaming.

:51:13.:51:19.

Gerrard Pique, plays for Barcelona, European champion, world champion,

:51:19.:51:27.

he is dating Shakira, does he ever have a bad day?! He gets his medal

:51:27.:51:37.
:51:37.:51:37.

for Michel Platini. The Golden Boot, Fernando Torres. A really nice shot

:51:37.:51:46.

of him with his kids. In the net. He did not know where to find it a

:51:46.:51:51.

little while ago but he does now. His career has picked up again

:51:51.:51:54.

after some dark times. A regular scorer for Chelsea towards the end

:51:54.:52:04.
:52:04.:52:08.

of the season and three goals at Euro 2012. These are great scenes,

:52:08.:52:15.

seems you will remember as a football supporter. There always

:52:15.:52:20.

has to be a losing team but at the moment in world football terms,

:52:21.:52:25.

there is only one team of all to read winner's, coached by Vicente

:52:25.:52:35.
:52:35.:52:38.

del Bosque, captained by the brilliant Iker Casillas. Michel

:52:38.:52:46.

Platini will take his place centre stage. And history will be made,

:52:46.:52:51.

when he hands over the Henri Delaunay Trophy, a trophy that

:52:51.:53:00.

marks Spain out as European champions, again! Once more, they

:53:00.:53:10.
:53:10.:53:37.

The Spanish celebrations truly begin. The trophy held aloft,

:53:37.:53:39.

players have the shirts of footballers who have recently lost

:53:39.:53:47.

their lives. Ramos is the 23-year- old bet is player, known as Mickey,

:53:47.:53:57.

who died of cancer a short while ago -- Betis. The Spanish players

:53:57.:54:01.

have tears of joy. Fabregas holds the trophy aloft and every single

:54:01.:54:07.

one of these players have been magnificent in this tournament.

:54:07.:54:12.

Absolutely. Right from the word go, the reigning champions, the

:54:12.:54:16.

pressure is on, can they do it three on the trot, have they got

:54:16.:54:21.

the spirit and resolve? To right. If you think of when they played in

:54:21.:54:25.

the first half, it was a pleasure and privilege to be here watching

:54:25.:54:31.

it. It was just exceptional. That is what everybody in the world is

:54:31.:54:35.

going to aspire to. That sort of technical ability that the Spanish

:54:35.:54:39.

have got in abundance, everybody has got to try and be as good as

:54:39.:54:46.

that. I am not sure anyone ever will be as good as that team. I

:54:46.:54:51.

think we have seen something unique. Do you think that star will be

:54:51.:55:00.

copied? In many ways, it is a wonderful gift of the game, this

:55:00.:55:03.

possessions style of football that is so easy on the eye. Unless you

:55:03.:55:08.

on the receiving end, obviously, like I am tonight! But I am still

:55:08.:55:15.

very proud of my boys, the Italians, because this is a good starting

:55:15.:55:19.

point for the New World Cup. A new team, a new manager, he did

:55:19.:55:23.

wonderful and now we have our confidence back and we will be

:55:23.:55:28.

looking very difficult to beat him two years time. It is a great night

:55:28.:55:34.

for football. A team can win a major Championship playing this way,

:55:34.:55:39.

with six in the middle of the park, and pass their way through, and we

:55:39.:55:43.

know how difficult it is to pass your way through two bands of

:55:43.:55:48.

forwards, but they did it tonight time after time, with quick,

:55:48.:55:53.

thought for, purposeful, technically great football. It is

:55:53.:55:57.

hard to pick out one individual because they are all wonderfully

:55:57.:56:03.

gifted! An incredible squat with an incredible manager. The hunger and

:56:03.:56:08.

their desire from these guys, because let's not forget, these

:56:08.:56:13.

guys have had an unbelievable amount of success, so for them to

:56:13.:56:20.

actually come here again and show their desire to get that trophy...

:56:20.:56:26.

He has got a great first touch! I like the simplicity and a humble

:56:26.:56:33.

miss of the celebration. They are not every exaggerating. -- and the

:56:33.:56:37.

humble style of the celebration. Many of these players are from

:56:37.:56:46.

Barcelona, others from Real Madrid, and only Silva was a non-Barcelona

:56:46.:56:50.

and Real Madrid player. Then Torres and Mata came on of course. They

:56:50.:56:57.

are lining up for the photographers, of which there are hundreds.

:56:57.:57:00.

Italians were gracious in defeat and the Spanish were humble in

:57:00.:57:04.

victory. They embraced each other and it is very difficult when you

:57:04.:57:10.

have just got beaten. This is special, special, special, but for

:57:10.:57:14.

the losers, there is a big chasm of difference and there is no good

:57:14.:57:20.

news and no way to go. Where does this teams stand in terms of

:57:20.:57:25.

footballing history? Is it right at the top? For me, I think they are

:57:25.:57:29.

the best ever. You mentioned the Brazil side, with the ability of

:57:29.:57:34.

Pele, and all of these guys. But when you look at this team, it is

:57:34.:57:38.

absolutely unbelievable what they have achieved. Balotelli is still

:57:38.:57:44.

there! I think all people argued that the Brazilians of 1970 were

:57:44.:57:48.

truly exceptional. You said at half-time that you have never seen

:57:48.:57:52.

a passing display like that. the Brazilians had players that

:57:52.:57:59.

would just like, they had Pele at centre-forward, arguably the best

:57:59.:58:02.

player of all time. But this side must rank with anything we have

:58:02.:58:08.

seen in the last 20 or 30 years. They are that good. It is also the

:58:08.:58:13.

finest firework display at any European Championship! Magnificent!

:58:13.:58:18.

It has taken us bother by surprise at the end of proceedings! --

:58:18.:58:27.

rather by surprise! Brilliant. Jordi Alba played great as well,

:58:27.:58:32.

what a game he had. It always hurts when you use but when you used

:58:32.:58:37.

against Spain, you can kind of accepted -- when you lose. They are

:58:37.:58:42.

the best team at the moment in world football, that is for sure.

:58:42.:58:47.

Let's remind us of how the victory came about. Magnificent football

:58:47.:58:53.

for most of the goals. Right from the word go, they were up for it

:58:53.:59:03.
:59:03.:59:13.

picked it up. Fabregas made a great run. A great ball in. And a

:59:13.:59:23.
:59:23.:59:29.

Chiellini. I think Barzagli should have done better. But Silva it made

:59:29.:59:33.

the run from outside the box, and I think we could have picked it up a

:59:33.:59:42.

bit better. That was the first goal. Silva's magic moment. We are taking

:59:42.:59:46.

a chance here because we are one goal down so we are pressing them

:59:46.:59:53.

very high on the pitch. We are taking a chance. The time of our

:59:53.:59:57.

pressing is not perfect and again, we should have done better. The

:59:57.:00:07.
:00:07.:00:07.

pass is magnificent. He actually put it on to his foot. A lovely

:00:08.:00:14.

touch. Fantastic. Xavi and Iniesta, what a combination! For goodness

:00:14.:00:24.
:00:24.:00:35.

sake! And a great first touch from got pressure on Pirlo. The weight

:00:35.:00:41.

of pass. Torres comes on, not been on the pitch very long, he can

:00:41.:00:46.

smell the Golden Boot! He needed a goal and an assist and he managed

:00:46.:00:53.

it. A excellent finish. I think that tonight, they played much more

:00:53.:00:59.

open. They have been very effective. The this is what got Torres the

:00:59.:01:08.

Golden Boot. Into Mata. He was only on for two minutes. At this moment,

:01:08.:01:18.
:01:18.:01:25.

coming on and scoring goals. Yes. Brilliant. You can only imagine

:01:25.:01:32.

what that feels like! Must be wonderful. It is a great feeling.

:01:32.:01:39.

And they deserve it. Thoroughly deserve it. They are still enjoying

:01:39.:01:46.

their celebrations. That trophy has been in the hands of the entire

:01:46.:01:52.

squad. Llorente is another player we did not even see. You look how

:01:52.:01:57.

good the Italians were against England and against Germany, but we

:01:57.:02:02.

have never seen anything like that tonight. That is because of the way

:02:02.:02:05.

Spain pressed them, because of the way they got the ball back, because

:02:05.:02:12.

of the way they passed the ball, created chances, scored goals.

:02:12.:02:18.

you win the first trophy, you want you win the first trophy, you want

:02:18.:02:26.

more and more. Let's get another view, the view of Martin Keown.

:02:26.:02:32.

Thank you. There are a few thousand Italian fans who might use some

:02:32.:02:36.

handkerchiefs this evening. Heartbreakers. History makers if

:02:36.:02:40.

you are Spanish. What a pleasure to be here and watch that display from

:02:40.:02:45.

Spain. Wow! The way they passed the ball, such imagination and

:02:45.:02:50.

expression. They have got on-board navigation systems, the way they

:02:50.:02:55.

pass the ball. The perfect decision every time, running at pace,

:02:55.:03:00.

delivering brilliant passes. Today it was their running off the ball.

:03:00.:03:04.

They got them around the throat and they would not let go. You look at

:03:05.:03:08.

Jordi Alba coming from deep, Cesc Fabregas coming from deep, and they

:03:08.:03:13.

just applied the finish. When you are watching it, it looks so

:03:14.:03:17.

complicated, but you said to me it is a simple way to play football.

:03:17.:03:22.

It is. They control it and pass it and moved. It was those runners

:03:22.:03:27.

from deep. They were not passing the ball for the sake of it, this

:03:27.:03:31.

was top-level football. They have set the bar high now. In four years,

:03:31.:03:35.

no international manager has got anywhere near them. I think they

:03:35.:03:39.

will dominate for a few more years. Where do they rank in terms of the

:03:39.:03:44.

greatest teams ever? We have heard Brazil 1970 mentioned a few times,

:03:45.:03:49.

you're quite proud of Arsenal 2004, but where do you put this team?

:03:49.:03:54.

They have to be the best. Any young player watching these guys, you

:03:54.:03:58.

think you can do more by running with the ball, you can do more by

:03:58.:04:03.

doing less. Make the ball do the work, pass and move. Beautiful to

:04:03.:04:08.

watch. Seeing Mata come off the bench, and Torres finally getting

:04:08.:04:12.

the goal he deserves, so many players, there's a specialness

:04:12.:04:17.

about this team. Barcelona, a lot of disappointments this year. Real

:04:17.:04:21.

Madrid, the same. They came back because they are a group of winners

:04:21.:04:26.

and they are hungry for us a text - - success. You might not think the

:04:26.:04:30.

managers and players of the world can match the side, but surely they

:04:30.:04:34.

can take inspirations and lessons. They can take lessons, but I don't

:04:34.:04:38.

think anyone can get close. They still have time on their side. One

:04:38.:04:43.

or two might have to go, Xavi, Torres needs to find form, but you

:04:43.:04:49.

look at their two central defenders, Ramos and Pique, brilliant players.

:04:49.:04:54.

They could almost play up front. The goalkeeper, sq Casillas, he

:04:54.:04:59.

plays like a sweeper. They have reinvented football. Thank you for

:04:59.:05:03.

your company. Lovely to spend a tournament with you.

:05:03.:05:08.

Congratulations once again to Spain, they can enjoy their holiday. The

:05:08.:05:11.

Italians will need a break after that!

:05:11.:05:21.
:05:21.:05:27.

Thank you. The T-shirt reads, "always with us". He was

:05:27.:05:34.

magnificent tonight, Ramos. We keep saying how great they were. Him and

:05:34.:05:38.

Pique were the best defensive partnership in the tournament.

:05:38.:05:43.

is sometimes the thing you do for - - forget about Spain. Defensively,

:05:43.:05:48.

they are strong. That record of not conceding a goal in major knockout

:05:48.:05:53.

football is remarkable. It probably comes firstly because they keep the

:05:53.:05:56.

ball for 89 minutes! It is difficult for the opposition to

:05:56.:06:01.

come up with any threat. Astonishing. Two defenders, eight

:06:02.:06:05.

midfielders, no strikers, and they still don't concede. And when they

:06:05.:06:10.

get through the defence, they have a great goalkeeper. They needed him

:06:10.:06:14.

once or twice in the second half and he came up trumps with a save

:06:14.:06:21.

from Di Natale. You could go through that game and find so many

:06:22.:06:24.

examples of mercurial Spanish play. examples of mercurial Spanish play.

:06:24.:06:30.

It was relentless. They pick it up and play it, they pass and move,

:06:30.:06:35.

they make angles, you've got options, alternatives. This is

:06:35.:06:41.

sensational play. They are so patient... The Xavi has the first

:06:41.:06:47.

shot, then they come out and start again. Iniesta has the next shot,

:06:47.:06:54.

let's start again. It is so difficult to get through that

:06:54.:06:57.

barrier, two Banks of four, but we will play it wide and bring it back

:06:58.:07:04.

in the middle. Do we have the ability to get through? To write.

:07:04.:07:11.

Absolutely phenomenal. Eventually an opening will happen, if we keep

:07:11.:07:17.

passing it with pace and precision. They did that all night. When they

:07:17.:07:21.

are playing, it seems as if they are having so much fun so they are

:07:21.:07:28.

not getting tired, they are just keeping the ball. It is great on

:07:28.:07:33.

the eye for Spain, but if you why Italian, this is so demoralising.

:07:33.:07:37.

You are not touching the ball for long periods. Even when they were

:07:37.:07:41.

not at their best, against the Portuguese, they didn't have any

:07:41.:07:46.

efforts on target, the Portuguese. I felt for Pirlo. He has had such a

:07:46.:07:48.

I felt for Pirlo. He has had such a wonderful tournament.

:07:48.:07:51.

difference was in the previous games that he had time and space

:07:51.:07:56.

and nobody could get near him. They were hunting him in the right areas,

:07:56.:08:01.

where he could hurt you. There's no way he can hurt you too deep.

:08:01.:08:08.

could see it hurt him. He is 33. Playing five or six games in a

:08:08.:08:14.

short time is not easy. That is why del Bosque took off his Xavi a few

:08:14.:08:17.

times in the tournament, to keep him fresh and at his best for the

:08:17.:08:21.

final. The park from when they played Croatia, they got Mandzukic

:08:21.:08:26.

around him, but tonight if it wasn't Busquets, it was Xavi, if it

:08:26.:08:31.

wasn't Xavi, it was Iniesta, it was wasn't Xavi, it was Iniesta, it was

:08:31.:08:33.

Fabregas. Three major trophies for Spain. Let's remind ourselves of

:08:33.:08:37.

the goals that have led to those trophies. This was four years ago

:08:37.:08:47.

and Torres. A similar run tonight. Shoulder of the last defender.

:08:47.:08:54.

was against Germany. Torres became the first player to score in two

:08:54.:08:59.

consecutive European finals. Iniesta, what a World Cup he had in

:08:59.:09:09.

2010. Great first touch. Pick that out. And then four more this

:09:09.:09:16.

evening, an emphatic victory against the Italians. Every time

:09:16.:09:21.

you see it, it gets better and better. The passing, the movement,

:09:21.:09:29.

the finish. Sensational. It is football at its very, very very

:09:29.:09:33.

best. Have I been hearing things this tournament, people calling

:09:34.:09:39.

this boring? You've not been hearing things. But they have

:09:39.:09:43.

answered those critics emphatically. That is what great teams do. When

:09:43.:09:47.

someone asks a question, come up with the right answer. To be fair,

:09:47.:09:52.

they have not played as well as this in the previous games. Against

:09:52.:09:56.

Portugal in the semi-final... Against Ireland they were very good.

:09:56.:10:02.

Yes. But tonight... I don't know how you could set to team up to

:10:02.:10:07.

play against that. I think you can frustrate them sometimes if you sit

:10:07.:10:12.

back with 11 players behind the back with 11 players behind the

:10:12.:10:17.

ball. Like Chelsea. Exactly. Tonight we were a bit to break. The

:10:17.:10:21.

back four was sometimes too high up on the pitch. That is why it was a

:10:21.:10:25.

great night for football. If you can play that way and win major

:10:25.:10:28.

championships, everybody should follow you. Have you enjoyed the

:10:28.:10:34.

tournament? Thoroughly. Do you have a highlight? I would say beating

:10:34.:10:42.

England in the quarter-final! a great man. The Germany game was

:10:42.:10:47.

fantastic. A great tournament, I loved it. A lot of negativity

:10:47.:10:49.

beforehand, but it has been brilliant and the highlight was

:10:49.:10:55.

tonight. There were concerns about the tournament, but they never

:10:55.:10:59.

Rotier -- materialised. It has been a fantastic tournament, but the

:10:59.:11:03.

highlight has to be the performance of Spain in that first half. It is

:11:03.:11:08.

as good as you can get. Player of the tournament? Probably Pirlo. I

:11:08.:11:12.

felt sorry for him tonight, but he controlled every other game.

:11:12.:11:17.

would say Pirlo, but it will be very tight with Iniesta. Iniesta

:11:17.:11:23.

was fantastic. I would go with Iniesta. I would go with him as

:11:23.:11:29.

well. We are giving him the player of the tournament, Iniesta. I think

:11:29.:11:34.

we will know the team of the tournament and that is what counts.

:11:35.:11:39.

Thank you very much indeed. It is bitterly's pain as the reign of

:11:39.:11:44.

Spain continues in Ukraine. Spain remain world and European champions.

:11:44.:11:54.
:11:54.:11:55.

From all of us here, a very good Darkness falls across the land. The

:11:55.:12:03.

Midnight hour is close at hand. Creatures crawl in search of blood.

:12:03.:12:10.

To terrorise your neighbourhood. Though you fight to stay alive.

:12:10.:12:19.

Your body starts to shiver. For no mere mortal can resist the evil of

:12:19.:12:29.
:12:29.:12:29.

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:12:29.:13:35.

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