Euro 2012 final prediction

So here we are. With fourteen teams eliminated and thirty games played, tomorrow we reach the Euro 2012 final to be contested by Spain and Italy.

We'll start with Italy. The surprise team of the tournament, some predicted Croatia would qualify above them in the group stages. There were even rumours they wouldn't take part due to the match fixing scandals back home. To be fair the one man they have to thank for making this all happen is Andrea Pirlo, personally my player of the tournament. The midfielder has got better and better throughout the tournament with his vision and pure technical ability. He tore both England and Germany apart and has inspired the Italians to the final. His cheeky penalty against England in the quarter-finals will live long in the memory, and I hope that he plays as well tomorrow night as he did in the previous two games. Now for a player who shocked the whole of Europe with his performance in the semi final against Germany, one of his best games ever. 'Super' Mario. Mario Balotelli. Known for his off-field antics and shenanigans last season, he had a pretty poor start to the tournament, and against England missed a lot of chances but against Germany put in a near perfect forwards performance, and showed the form that Roberto Mancini and all Manchester City fans want to see next season. A mature and controlled performance up front and he tore Hummels and Badstuber apart and is now the favourite to win the Golden Boot. If he plays like that against Spain tomorrow night, Pique and Ramos will have to be at their best to stop him and Cassano who has also been a very good player in these championships. 

Now to Spain. The main aim for the Spanish was to get to the final, and they have done that, however been criticised for their lack of ambition going forward. 'Squeezing the life out of football' has been a term describing the Spainiards. This hasn't affected them, as they've only conceded one goal and scored eight, joint second in the tournament. 

The key player for Spain in my opinion is Andres Iniesta. For me he is Spain's best player and has lived under the shadow of Xavi for far too long, he is to Spain what Pirlo is to Italy and to see them go up against each other in the form that their both in should be fascinating. But for me Spain have to play with a striker, because Torres has been threatening in the games he has played and has the pace to outrun the Italian centre-backs and gives Spain another dimension going forward, something that Fabregas doesn't offer the Spanish team. 

Now to the game itself. For Spain to stop Italy from playing, they HAVE to stop Pirlo from having time on the ball.  Both England and Germany didn't do it, and punished them so Spain will need someone like Iniesta to stop him from playing the ball. When the two teams met in the group stages they didn't control Pirlo or understand the threat he really did possess and he set up Antonio Di Natale's opener in the one-one draw. For Italy it's a case of defending well and making sure the Spanish don't pass their way around you, and when you get the ball attack the full-backs because they are the weakest point of the Spanish team. 

In conclusion I think that Italy will win the final and be crowned European Champions in a 2-1 victory over the Spanish. Pirlo has been so incredible that his passing can split the defence open and if Balotelli puts in a mature performance then the Spanish defence will be in big trouble. 

Thank you for reading my blog.