SPAIN WINS EURO 2012 IN SCINTILLATING FASHION
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 02 Jul 2012
Spain won the Euro 2012 in scintillating fashion putting on a magical display of control and possession, precise passing and overall superiority to outclass Italy 4-0 in the finals telecast by Solar Sports in the Philippines beginning at 2:30 a.m. Monday.
It was a historic moment for Spain with back-to-back triumphs in Euro and a 2010 World Cup victory in South Africa.
Although badly beaten the score didn?t give Italy the credit they deserved playing with ten men in the second half after third substitute Thiago Motta had to be stretchered off with a hamstring injury.
It was an almost impossible task against Vicente del Bosque?s side that is regarded as probably the greatest international team in the history of football.
Fernando Torres whose switch from Liverpool to Chelsea hadn?t produced the expected results came in as a late substitute with an emphatic third goal and then set up his Chelsea teammate Juan Mata with a delightful pass to score Spain?s fourth goal against a tired and listless Italian team.
While it was a heartbreaking night for the Italians with their ace striker Mario Balotelli who scored two cracking goals in the semi finals against fancied Germany, storming into the dugout the moment the final whistle sounded.
The Spaniards attacked like an armada from the kickoff, obviously wanting to prove some of their critics who classified their style as dull and boring.
They surged forward with remarkable zest at every opportunity.
When the MVP of the tournament Andres Iniesta laid on a pass to Cesc Fabregas who outsmarted Giorgio Chiellini before delivering a superb cross to Sila who thundered the pall into the top of the net beyond the reach of Italian keeper and captain Gianluuigo Buffon, it set the tone for a night of exquisite football.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Jerusalem Leads Five Pinoys in Ring's Ratings; Japan Dominates the Lower Weights Class
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 29 Apr 2025Dableo Second in Sydney Standard Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 29 Apr 2025Dreamland: Where Filipino Fists Lit Up San Francisco Nights
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Mon, 28 Apr 2025IM Concio wins Victoria Sports Club Rapid Chess Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 28 Apr 2025Tapales bags WBC International Silver super bantamweight title
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 28 Apr 2025Boston, NY and Minnesota One Win Away; Push Orlando, Detroit and LAL on Brink
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 28 Apr 2025Sasaki Guns for Japan's First World Welterweight Title, Honor as Asia's Best Asian Boxing Nation
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 28 Apr 2025Raga beats Bañares in SBA Philippine Open, pockets ₱400,000 cash prize
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 28 Apr 2025OK-C You Next Season, Memphis
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sun, 27 Apr 2025Eubank Jr. Edges Benn in Thrilling Grudge Match for the Ages
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 27 Apr 2025Due to Illness, H2O Syve Withdraws from Tonight’s Bout
Sun, 27 Apr 2025Filipino FM Ivan Travis Cu runner-up in Budapest First Saturday Chess Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 27 Apr 2025Home Teams Rule the Day
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sat, 26 Apr 2025Marlon Tapales Makes Weight for WBC International Title Fight in Gensan
Sat, 26 Apr 2025WELTERWEIGHT ERIC TUDOR TAKES UNANIMOUS DECISION OVER KEVIN JOHSON IN MAIN EVENT OF ‘LA FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS’ FROM THUNDER STUDIOS AND LIVE ON DAZN
Sat, 26 Apr 2025