Italy vs Spain: Who will win UEFA Euro 2012 Final | Kiev 1 July 2012

The UEFA Euro 2012 football final between defending champion Spain and Italy is just  day away now. The final between the two will be played after a colorful closing ceremony at the Olympic Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine.

UEFA Euro 2012 Final, Olympic Stadium, Kiev: Italy vs Defending Champion Spain [wallpaper courtesy: OleOle ]

The defending champion Spain should be thankful to their stars as the Portuguese gave them the toughest resisitance on earth during their semi final match. With two teams remaining goal-lee in the prescribed time, could not decide even the extra time. It was only in the penalties that Spain won 4-2. By all accounts and analyses, Spain played a rather dull and boring game, unworthy of a world and defending champion.

On the other hand, Italy stood true to their traditions of never losing a major tournament and stunned Germany by a 2-1 win. Germans, which were highly and hotly favourites, with no one taking side of the Italians, looked rather over confident rather than presenting a game of some worth. The paid the price for the dullness and inactivity and lost.

Now who will win?

Well Spain, though marched into the finals by mere luck and chance, have not lost 19 matches they have played since 1-0 loss to Switzerland in 2010 World Cup. They also have players like Iker Casillas, Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Fernando Torres, Cesc Fabregas, Santi Cazorla, Xabi Alonso, Sergio Ramos and David Silva featured in the Euro 2008 finals, playing for them tomorrow's final - this is something unique as hardly any other player has played two Euro finals.

On the other hand, Itlay has not won many games, but they haven't lost in any major tournament either, something that over-awed the Germans and made them lose in semis. Italy has Mario Balotelli, who not only became the second Italy player to score twice in one Euro match, he also became the only player to have scored three goals in a single European Championship tournament, equal to Antonio Cassano's national record at all Euro finals he has played. It was Balotelli who scored the decisive two goals to oust the Germans from Euro 2012 race.

So who then?

Well Italy lost to Spain in a penaltry shoot out in the quarters of Euro 2008 - but that was four years ago. Today, Italy has the best defensive record in qualifying, conceding only two goals in eight games. and remember, Spain barely made it to final against Portugal in the semis, while Italy beat Germany with two solid goals.

Let us keep our fingers crossed then, with Italy as favourite and watch the UEFA Euro 2012 final between defending champion Spain and Italy, scheduled for Sunday, 1 July 2012 at 18:45 GMT

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Watch Germany vs Italy live stream free - EURO 2012 Semi Final, 28 June

While the first semi final of Euro 2012 is being played between the defending champion Spain and Portugal Wednesday evening, Germany gets ready for its semi final against Italy on 28th June at National Stadium, Warsaw Poland.

Courtesy: Ronaldo.net

Italy marched into the semi final as luck favoured the Azzurris in the penalties aginst their match with England. But would they be lucky against the Germans too? Remember, Germans are win-less against Italy in the Euros and World Cup.

It may be added that the German-Italy duel would remind many of their duel in the semi finals of the 2006 World Cup, when the Azzuris beat Germany 2-0 in the extra time. Italy then went onto win the World Cup five days later while a German victory of 3-1 victory over Portugal have them finish third.

Although the Germans prevailed upon their group matches and won all of the matches, it took them a while and face tough Greek resistance in the quarterfinal - though they finally won over the Greeks 4-2.

Germany have won three World Cups and are trying to win their fourth European trophy. as for Italy, they have four World Cup trophies and are for their second Euorpean title.

Meanwhile it is learnt that the German coach Joachim Loew has told his team to forget past disappointments and just focus on beating Italy - or shall we say that the German hunt for a first tournament win over the Azzurri has just started?

So who wins Thursday night? Well Germans are favourites - but they have never been able to outscore Italy. So let us watch the match and see who previals and marches into the finals.

Watch the exciting semi final between Germany and Italy on Thursday, 28 June 2012 at 18:45 GMT live from National Stadium, Warsaw, Poland.

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Semi Finals Euro 2012: Portugal vs Spain 27 June

The Euro 2012 has finally came to the semi finals stage with four top teams contesting to lift the cup this year. These include the defending champion Spain, Portugal, Germany and Italy.

Getting ready for Euro 2012 semi final: Portugal's midfielder Ronaldo [left] and Spain's defender Ramos [right] 

The first semi final being played on Wednesday, 27 June is between the defending champion Spain and Portugal from Group B, followed by the second semi final between Germany and Italy on 28th June.

Portugal finsished second in Group B behind Germany. They only lost to Germany1-0, while they overpowered Denmark and Netherlands. Portugal then played against Czech Republic in the quarterfinals and beat them 1-0 with a solitary goal by Ronaldo.

The defending champion Spain is almost on a winning spree since they have not lost a single game this Euro. While they defeated Ireland, Croatia and France with clear margin and getting no goal from the opponents, it was only Italy that scored a goal and levelled their match 1-1.

The match thus will be a treat to watch between the defending champions and a team that 'dared' to score a goal against them: Italy. Portugal's Ronaldo will be the main man to take Portugal to final much to the dismay of the Spaniards. 

But would Sergio Ramos of Spain let Portugal beat Spain?

Watch the exciting semi final between Spain and Portugal on Wednesday, 27 June 2012 at 02:45 PM ET at Donbass Arena Donetsk, Ukraine. 

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