Roar Guru
After a month of competition, we’ve finally reached the final of EURO 2012 and it will be between Group C opponents Spain and Italy.
Three weeks after they contested a 1-1 draw in the group stage, the two will meet again and this time it’s for all the marbles.
Whilst the majority of people expected the Spaniards to be gracing the final with their presence again, few predicted Italy would be joining them; in fact, there was a significant portion of people that believed Croatia would advance from the group at the expense of Prandelli’s men.
That was not to be, and after a penalty shootout victory over England and a virtuoso performance against Germany, the Azzurri are just one game away from clinching another major honour, with next to nobody believing in them.
Spain too had to deal with the lottery of penalties en route to the final, seeing off Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portuguese team in the semis.
Before that, they dominated France in the quarter-finals after topping the group that their opponents in the final were the runners-up in.
Many would argue that Italy were the better team in that opening match, and with the magnificent Andrea Pirlo pulling the strings and the enigmatic Mario Balotelli (fresh off a brilliant brace against the Germans) leading the line, who wouldn’t give them a chance now?
For Spain, it’s less about individual brilliance and more about another clinical team performance if they want to claim their third tournament success in six years. They are of course the reigning World and European Champions.
Regardless, it’s been a fantastic tournament so far and let’s hope for a thrilling final.
See you all just before 4:45am for all the line-ups, team news and formations.