Soccer

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Spain looks to cement its place as dynasty

Chasing third straight major championship

By: Paul Logothetis

Posted: 07/1/2012 4:15 AM | Comments: 0

Cesare Prandelli (CP)

KYIV, Ukraine -- And so they meet again at Euro 2012. This time, however, Spain and Italy are playing for the European Championship and a place in the history books.

The Mediterranean rivals meet on Sunday in Kyiv's Olympic Stadium, three weeks after they drew 1-1 in their opening match of the tournament's group stage.

As the defending champion and World Cup holder, Spain is bidding to win a third straight major title and to cement its place as one of the greatest national sides of all time. It would also match Germany's record of winning three European Championship titles.

Only the unpredictable Mario Balotelli and a surprising Italy team -- orchestrated by Andrea Pirlo -- stand between Spain and what many see as its destiny.

Even Italy coach Cesare Prandelli reckons that Spain is the best bet to lift the trophy.

"At the moment, even if I open my eyes, I am still dreaming," Prandelli said after his side's 2-1 victory over Germany in the semifinals, where Balotelli scored both goals.

However, he added that "Spain remain favourites because of the years of hard work that they have put in. They have been dominant in every game they've played so far."

Spain hasn't lost in a European Championship game in eight years and has already matched West Germany as the only defending champion to return to the final after winning the World Cup. The West Germans managed it in 1976, but subsequently lost to Czechoslovakia following Antonin Panenka's famous chip shot in a penalty shootout.

This final brings together teams with players who are brazen enough to have successfully copied Panenka's audacious spot kick during their sides' penalty shootouts in the knockout rounds. Spain defender Sergio Ramos used it in the semifinal win over Portugal, after Pirlo employed it against England in the quarter-finals.

It also features the tournament's best defensive team against one of its most exciting attacking sides.

Spain has not conceded since that opening draw with Italy and hasn't conceded a goal in nine elimination games at major tournaments. Balotelli, Antonio Cassano and Pirlo are meanwhile leading one of Italy's most attack-minded teams in recent history.

-- The Associated Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 1, 2012 C8

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