Spain has done it again. They have reached the soccer Olympus for the third time in a row, showing their superiority against any other national team. And they have showed in the best possible way: rolling the opponent. Both in the score and in the game play. Italy was just a toy in Spanish hands. Spain will enter into football history as the first team that got crowned champion for three times in a row in a major tournament.

We all remember the Brazil of the 70′s, the Maradona’s Argentina, or the Netherlands from Johan Cruiff. But none of them reached what Del Bosque’s kids have achieved.

Spain didn’t just win, they also overwhelmed their rival from minute one. Del Bosque started with the same eleven players that he started with when they played Italy in the group phase game. In that game they tied, but Spain has shown again that they can always be counted on in the important games. Italy, for their part, started changing some players and their system. The play went wrong for Prandelli, who failed to cancel the Spanish midfielders. And everyone knows what happens when Iniesta, Xavi, Silva and company play without pressure.

Spain did not take long to score its first goal. When the clock was marking minute 15, Spain got ahead in the score, and from there dominated the match until the end. The play began with Inesta’s boots, who looked at Fabregas, who crossed to Silva, who put the ball in the squadron with his head.

The second goal was scored by the newest player of the tournament, Jordi Alba. The brand new Barelona FC transfer, started running from his left side position, went through the defense. Xavi found an impossible hole with a great pass that left Alba alone with Buffon. He played as if he was an striker, and made the 2-0 in the scoreboard.

Thus, half time came with a clear 2-0. Spanish rule was so overwhelming, that it felt that Italy could not do anything. Pirlo, Cassano or Balloteli, the most important Italian men were completely thwarted, which resulted in an Italy unmoved by the play of the reds.

Prandelli tried a new method and got Motta and Di Natale onto the field. Midfiled Motta was injured a few minutes after entering, which ended up destroying an Italy which had already suffered the injury of Chiellini during first half.

The second half was a Spanish monologue. Few teams can boast having a midfield like Spain’s, a defense with men like Ramos, Pique and Alba, and a goalkeeper like “Saint” Iker Casillas. Del Bosque began the game without a striker, but at the 75 minute mark he put Fernando Torres in, who ended up killing the game. It was Torres who scored the third goal after a head to head with the Italian goalkeeper. From his boots were also responsible for the fourth goal, which was scored by Mata when the game was about to end.

Thus, it is clear that there is no rival who can beat Spain. Best of all is that the team is young, so there is still time for Spain to keep making history.

Image Courtesy of  Laurence Griffiths

The article UEFA EURO 2012: Spain Makes History appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

With everything still to play for in Group C, there was no chance of Spain taking Croatia lightly in their final group game at the PGE Arena in Gdansk, Poland, despite being tipped as considerable favorites.

In a tournament already renowned for its display of good attacking football, a reversal in the trends of recent European Championships, it was with some surprise that both sides came out fairly conservative, with neither team fashioning any clear chances early on. The best chance should arguably have fallen to Mario Mandzukic, who seemed to be fouled inside the penalty box by Sergio Ramos, but referee Wolfgang Stark did not penalize the Spanish defender much to the ire of the Croatian team and fans.

A lack of urgency plagued the rest of the first half, but with news arriving just before half time that Italy had taken the lead against the Republic of Ireland, a result which, if this match remained a deadlock, would confine Spain to second place in the group and Croatia to an early trip home from the tournament, events were poised for a dramatic upturn in tempo in the second half.

The realization that they would be going out of the tournament seemed to sink in for the Croatians, and they began to show real attacking intent early in the second half. This in turn opened up the game for Spain, who were pushing hard for a goal and a return to the top of the group table, only to be repeatedly denied by fierce Croatian defending.

The best chance of the game so far fell to Ivan Rakitic in the 58th minute when Luka Modric galloped away from his man on the right wing and delivered a pinpoint cross for Rakitic who, despite being unmarked, could only direct his header straight at the waiting Iker Casillas.

Despite facing the prospect of finishing second in the group, and theoretically facing tougher opposition in the quarter-final stage of the tournament, Spain seemed hesitant to push too many players forward in search of a winning goal, preferring to remain defensively disciplined and limit Croatia’s chances as much as possible.

With the minutes running out, Croatia were beginning to throw everyone forward in an attempt to keep their Euro 2012 dream alive, but as is often the way late in games, they were caught on the counter by Spain and substitute Cesc Fabregas lifted the ball over the defensive line for Andres Iniesta, who drew the goalkeeper and slipped a pass to Jesus Navas for the Sevilla player to slip into the unguarded net.

The late goal secured the top spot for Spain, whilst a 2-0 victory for Italy over the Republic of Ireland gave them the second qualifying place, with both teams eager to find out who they will face in the quarter-finals. With both England and France in a position to qualify from Group D, along with co-hosts Ukraine, there is the potential for some mouth watering clashes between Europe’s elite in the next round and all eyes will be on the matches between England and Ukraine and France and Sweden to see who Spain and Italy will face next.

Image Courtesy of  Continental AG & Claudio Villa

The article Euro 2012: Last Gasp Spain Sink Croatia in Group C appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Tournament favorite and reigning World Champions, Spain, opened their Euro 2012 campaign against Italy in a highly anticipated match at the PGE arena in Gdansk, Poland.

Some eyebrows were raised over Spain’s decision to not select a traditional striker in their lineup, playing in a formation very similar to that of prestigious club side Barcelona. With five of their starting players also plying their trade for Barcelona, Spain looked comfortable early on in the unorthodox formation and controlled the tempo of the game well.

Italy’s formation was also under scrutiny, with Italian manager Cesare Prandelli opting to use midfielder Daniele De Rossi in the rarely used sweeper position. The decision seemed to pay off early in the game as, despite Spain’s domination of possession, the Italian defense held strong against several Spanish attacks.

The first real chance of the game fell to the Italians when Antonio Cassano timed his run perfectly to collect the ball and advance into the Spanish penalty area. Although his low shot beat the diving Iker Casillas, it also drifted just wide of the post. Spain hit back with a chance of their own. After their corner was cleared by the Italian defense, the ball fell to Andres Iniesta outside of the penalty area and the midfielder hit a fierce shot towards the bottom corner of the goal, forcing Gianluigi Buffon into a good save.

As the first half went on, Italy seemed to grow into the game, threatening the Spanish goal on several occasions. Most notable was a stinging volley from Claudio Marchisio that Casillas did well to hold on to. Spain, meanwhile, seemed unable to break down the Italian defense with their Barcelona-esque style of play. The presence of Barcelona players Iniesta, Xavi and Cesc Fabregas in the midfield was seemingly not enough to make up for the lack of a player of the caliber of Lionel Messi.

Spanish manager Vincente del Bosque would not have been pleased with the performance from his side at the half, with the Spaniards lucky to still be drawing 0-0 after Emanuele Giacherinni found Thiago Motta unmarked just eight yards out with a cross. His header was fired straight at Casillas and was not a problem for the Spanish goalkeeper.

Surprisingly, Spain did not bring on any of the three strikers on their bench during the interval, but the World Champions looked more threatening after the break with Fabreas testing Buffon early on. Minutes later, Iniesta seemed destined to score after breaking into the box, only for Buffon to get his fingertips to the ball and tip it wide for a corner.

With the game approaching the hour mark, controversial striker Mario Balotelli had the best opportunity to break the deadlock in the game thus far. Beating Sergio Ramos and progressing into the area unchallenged, he inexplicably held on to the ball for too long and allowed the recovering Ramos to get back and steal the ball from the Italian.

The lead was finally taken by Italy in the minute 60. Andrea Pirlo played a superb through ball for Antonio Di Natale, who was left one on one with Casillas and expertly curled his shot around the outstretched hands of the Spanish number one.

Clearly spurred on by the Italian goal, Spain struck back immediately, leveling the scores just two minutes later. Fabreas picked up a neat pass into the box from David Silva and smashed the ball beyond the reaches of Buffon, ensuring an exciting final 25 minutes.

The two goals certainly livened up the game, with both Fernando Torres and Sebastian Giovinco wasting good chances to give their sides the lead in the aftermath. Ultimately, neither side could find that bit extra to give themselves the three points.

Although Spain was favored going into the match, both sides will likely be content with the draw. Their remaining games, the Republic of Ireland and Croatia will likely pose less of a challenge than their opponents today. Spain and del Bosque will have to analyze whether their decision to play without a traditional striker was the right one before the next match, whilst Prandelli and Italy will be thrilled they defied expectations in avoiding defeat to the Spanish. He will want to see more of the same from his team in training if they are to continue in this form.

Image Courtesy of  Michael Steele

The article Spain Fail To Beat Spirited Italians In Group C appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.