Spain has created history by beating Italy 4-0 in the Euro 2012. They became the european champions for the second time in a row—a feat never achieved before.They dominated the proceedings here at kiev tonight, dictating the pace and fate of the game marching to a 4-0 victory over hapless italians.
David Silva put Spain ahead on 14 minutes with a close-range header from Cesc Fabregas’ cross.
Left-back Jordi Alba made it two just four minutes before half time, slotting past Gianluigi Buffon on Xavi’s through pass.
Xavi then fed Fernando Torres, who had replaced Fabregas with 15 minutes to go, to slot into the corner for 3-0; before Torres set up another substitute, Juan Mata, to score into an open net.
Italy went closest with Antonio Di Natale’s second-half shot on the turn that was saved by Iker Casillas.
The Italians, winners in 1968, had to play the final half hour with 10 men after third substitute Thiago Motta limped off with a hamstring strain.
Spain, criticised for decades as football’s nearly men, become the world’s first nation to claim three European championship or World Cup titles on the trot.
They beat Germany 1-0 in Vienna to win Euro 2008; and took their maiden World Cup title two years ago in Johannesburg, edging the Netherlands 1-0 on Andres Iniesta’s extra-time strike.
The result is also the highest margin of victory recorded in either a European Championship or World Cup final.
“My team mates made history before and now I am doing so together with them in my first European Championship,” said Spain’s fullback Alba. “I am struggling to believe it but it seems to be sinking in little by little.
“I told my friends and family I was gong to score tonight and that’s the way it turned out.”
Teams
Spain: 1-Iker Casillas; 17-Alvaro Arbeloa, 15-Sergio Ramos, 3-Gerard Pique, 18-Jordi Alba; 16-Sergio Busquets, 14-Xabi Alonso, 8-Xavi; 6-Andres Iniesta, 21-David Silva, 10-Cesc Fabregas
Italy: 1-Gianluigi Buffon; 7-Ignazio Abate, 15-Andrea Barzagli, 19-Leonardo Bonucci, 3-Giorgio Chiellini; 21-Andrea Pirlo; 8-Claudio Marchisio, 18-Riccardo Montolivo, 16-Daniele De Rossi; 9-Mario Balotelli, 10-Antonio Cassano
Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal)