Kiev: Spain would enter the Euro Cup 2012 final against Italy at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev with a bid to complete a unique treble. Spain, who won the Euro cup 2008, World Cup 2010 would vie to become the first side ever to pick up three consecutive major titles and if they achieve it, surely they be would regarded  as the best footballing nation ever.

The La Roja have not been able to play their best football but call it luck or destiny, they still are at it and now they have a real good chance at completing this unique feat. But then what would bother coach Vicente Del Bosque ahead of the match is their formation. Spain’s ambitious 4-6-0 formation has not been a huge success at they would have wanted it to be.

Bosque, who tried playing Cesc Fabregas as a false number 9, did offer some success but it has not been that significant for him to stick to the same strategy in the finals. And if he goes with his 4-5-1, his biggest dilemma would be who to promote as the striker.

With Fernando Torres putting up an ordinary show in the tournament, it is highly unlikely that he would start the match. Alvaro Negredo had a horrible last match and their other striker Fernando Llorente is yet to feature in the tournament.  If he can get that right, than rest of his side is expected to stay the same.

Spain put up a strong performance in the quarterfinals against France to beat them 2-0, but then they labored it out in the semis against Portugal and could win only through a penalty shoot-out, which has made a lot of people to think that their signature ‘tiki-taka’ has become sterile. Xavi Hernandez’s form has also taken a dip in the tournament and that is a big worrying sign for Spain. That would concern the La Roja’s but then making to the finals of three major championship is enough to shed all inhibitions and get back to what they do best.

Meanwhile for Italy, no one actually expected them to come so far in the tournament, but they will start as a real contender for the titles. Italy has won the title back in 1968 and since then it is their second final appearance. Last time they were in the finals in 2000, they lost.

Now the man behind the semifinal success Mario Balotelli would not be let off so easily by Spain. But then if he gets going, he could be really difficult for the defending champions.

Antonio De Cassano is sure to start to match considering the way he played in the last match and in the mid-field it would be Riccardo Montolivo who is expected to start ahead of Thiago Motta. What would please Azurri’s coach Cesare Prandelli is that defender Ignazio Abate, who missed the semi-final win over Germany with a muscle injury, is likely to return to full fitness, whereas  Christian Maggio, who was serving an one match ban, would also available for the selection, which give Prandelli more option with the defence. Italy is expected to deploy a 3-5-2 formation with Andrea Pirlo in the centre and his duel with Xavi would be the key battle in the match.

Italy, who came in to the tournament with match fixing cloud looming back in their country, look very much on course to win the championship considering their 1982 and 2006 World Cup win were prefaced by match fixing scandals.

Now their head to head count in the competitive event does favour Italy as in 11 matches they met at major competition, Italy won five, while losing once and drawing five times. But then they know past stats would hardly come into consideration as they would have to play their skin out to win the title for the second time.

Keys facts:

Spain are undefeated in their last 19 competitive games and have won their last nine knockout matches at major tournaments without conceding a goal.

Italy and Spain are going head to head for 31st time with the Azurri’s winning 10 matches, drawing 12 times, and losing on 8 occasions.

Italy have won just two of their last eight matches in regulation time, but are still undefeated under Cesare Prandelli

Mario Balotelli became the first Italian to score three goals at a single European championship.



By Indian Sports News Network