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