Italy vs. Spain - Euro 2012 Final Schedule Where to Watch Online Live Stream
Italy vs. Spain in the Euro 2012 final takes place Sunday to see who will be crowned European soccer champions. Spain are pushing for an unprecedented third major tournament win in a row, and to become the first side to retain their European Championship crown. However, 2006 World Cup winners Italy will be looking to stop them and at the same time claim their second Euro crown. The match will be televised live on ESPN and can be watched online through live stream (details provided below).
Spain's midfielder Cesc Fabregas has spoken in the build up to the final of the potential threat Italy's strike force will provide. Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano have been influential in Italy's surprise success in the tournament to date, and Fabregas recognized the threat posed, saying: "They have a lot of variety up front. They have strong players like Balotelli, tricky players like Cassano."
He also highlighted Italy's midfield strength: "In midfield they have special players like [Claudio] Marchisio and [Andrea] Pirlo, who's had a great tournament. It will be a tough game."
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Balotelli scored two spectacular goals in the semi final to break German hearts and knock out the much more highly favored side 2-1. The skilled Manchester City striker has been lauded for his prolific talents but has also been equally criticized in the past for his indiscipline and for getting himself into needless controversies. However, many are now saying this is his opportunity to set the record straight and claim his place among the world's best strikers by performing in a major tournament final against one of the best soccer team's in history.
Spain are the favorites against every team they play, and their slick passing and possession style soccer has once again seen them take the sting out of opposition who simply cannot find a way to score when they are starved of the ball for such extended periods. Spain have not conceded a goal in the knock out stages of a major tournament since 2006.
However, Italy is a country known for playing a relaxed style of possession soccer themselves, and against the Germans in the semi finals they proved they are not worried about the opposition keeping the ball for periods in the game. Italy is renowned for consistently having one of the best defenses in the world themselves, and they will be hard for the Spanish side to break down. It would not be a surprise if the game was forced into extra time and even penalties. Both teams have come through penalty shoot outs on their way to the final, but something will have to give if it goes all the way to penalties in today's final.
Spain vs. Italy will kick off at 2.45 p.m. EST. It can be watched live on ESPN or online through live streaming on ESPN3 by clicking HERE.
