Spains progress to the UEFA EURO 2012 showpiece was derided as boring by some commentators, but Vicente del Bosques side rounded off with a memorable final feast. UEFA EURO 2. 01. 6 History UEFA. YNVZEsYz4AA/UELaWI9TWwI/AAAAAAAAByw/eG-B_HjlSs8/s1600/FIFA+12+UEFA+Euro+2012.jpg' alt='Game Uefa Euro 2012 Full Version' title='Game Uefa Euro 2012 Full Version' />UEFA Euro 2. Final Wikipedia. The UEFA Euro 2. Final was a football match that took place on 1 July 2. Olympic Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine, to determine the winner of UEFA Euro 2. Spain, who defeated Germany. Euro 2. 00. 8, successfully defended their title with a 40 win over Italy, becoming the first team to win two consecutive European Championships, and the first team to win three consecutive major tournaments Euro 2. World Cup and Euro 2. It was the greatest margin of victory in the history of the European Championship finals, and the fourth time that teams who played each other in the group stage played each other again in the final 1. Usually, the winner of the European Championship gains entry to the Confederations Cup, which was played in Brazil in 2. However, since Spain already qualified as the 2. World Cup champions, Italy qualified automatically as the UEFA representative, with their win in the semi final against Germany, despite losing in the final to Spain. The Olympic Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine, the largest stadium of the eight Euro 2. Ukraine on 2. 5 June 2. UXWBF9vlOmA/T65aN2_1x4I/AAAAAAAAAME/ow64pJZmwbQ/w1200-h630-p-k-nu/uefa-euro-2012-cover.jpg' alt='Game Uefa Euro 2012 Full Version' title='Game Uefa Euro 2012 Full Version' />BackgroundeditPrior to the tournament, the two sides had previously met each other 3. Italy winning ten games and Spain eight. Italy won the last meeting, a 21 friendly on 1. August 2. 01. 1 at the Stadio San Nicola in Bari. Italy had won the European Championship once in 1. The 2012 UEFA European Championship, commonly referred to as UEFA Euro 2012 or simply Euro 2012, was the 14th European Championship for mens national football teams. Europes football website, uefa. UEFA, the Union of European Football Associations, and the governing body of football in Europe. UEFA. Yugoslavia while Spain had won it twice in 1. Soviet Union and in 2. Germany. In 2. 00. Italy reached the final for a second time, losing 21 in extra time against France, while Spain also reached it in 1. France 20. Spain, who began the tournament as one of the favorites,1. FIFA World Rankings, while Italy ranked twelfth overall, and eighth among UEFA teams. Route to the finaledit. Game Uefa Euro 2012 Full Version' title='Game Uefa Euro 2012 Full Version' />Spains starting line up in the Final. Spain were drawn in Group C alongside Italy, Croatia, and Republic of Ireland, opening against Italy on 1. June 2. 01. 2. Italy took the lead through striker Antonio Di Natale in the 6. Mario Balotelli. 1. Three minutes later Spain found an equaliser with midfielder Andrs Iniesta assisting Cesc Fbregas, who slotted the ball past goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. In their next match on 1. June against Republic of Ireland, striker Fernando Torres opened the scoring early in the fourth minute, retaining the ball after Republic of Ireland defender Richard Dunnes unsuccessful tackle, before scoring from ten yards past defenceless goalkeeper Shay Given. In the 4. 9th minute, after Given had blocked an Iniesta shot, David Silva collected the rebound and extended the Spanish lead, after nutmegging three defenders. Pl2303 Usb To Serial Driver For Windows 7. With 2. 0 minutes remaining, Torres scored his second goal, taking a pass from Silva and chipping the ball over Given. Fabregas scored the final goal after receiving a Silva corner and shooting from a difficult angle. Their third and final group stage match against Croatia on 1. June, proved to be more difficult, and Croatia had several goalscoring chances, notably from Ivan Strini and Ivan Perii, which Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas had no problems dealing with. The match looked like it was heading for a draw, until the 8. Jess Navas struck the winning goal, from an Iniesta assist. Auto Parts Software'>Auto Parts Software. Spain exploited their depth of talent, often starting games with international stars like Torres, Fabregas and Pedro on the bench, and bringing them on for tactical reasons, to great success. In the quarter finals, on 2. June 2. 01. 2, Spain took on France. Spain opened the goalscoring, with defender Jordi Alba running to the touchline under pressure and sending a pinpoint cross to unmarked midfielder Xabi Alonso, who drove a powerful header past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. Spain completed their win late in the second half with Alonsos penalty kick after France defender Anthony Rveillre brought down Pedro inside the penalty area. Game Uefa Euro 2012 Full Version' title='Game Uefa Euro 2012 Full Version' />In the semi finals on 2. June, Spain faced Portugal, who had previously beaten the Czech Republic in the quarter finals, courtesy of a late Cristiano Ronaldo goal. The match was hotly contested, with Portugal pressuring the Spanish tiki taka possession game high up the pitch, and creating numerous goalscoring chances. However, Spain managed to hold on, which required the match to go into extra time. Game Uefa Euro 2012 Full Version' title='Game Uefa Euro 2012 Full Version' />Spain began to take control of the match with the introduction of Pedro and Fabregas, but failed to score over both halves, leading to a penalty shoot out. Alonso, who had previously taken a penalty kick against France, had his spot kick saved by Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patrcio. Portugal looked to take the advantage, with midfielder Joo Moutinho as the next penalty taker. However, Casillas produced a tremendous diving save. Iniesta took his penalty with precision. Portuguese defender Pepe struck the ball just past Casillas fingertips. Defender Gerard Piqu calmly scored in the same corner of the goal as Pepe. Another defender, Bruno Alves stepped up to take the third penalty for Portugal, however, midfielder Nani encouraged Alves to let him take the penalty, which Nani struck high in the left corner of the goal after sending Casillas the wrong way. The fourth Spanish penalty was taken by defender Sergio Ramos, who chipped the ball past Rui Patrcio, in the style of former Czech footballer Antonn Panenka. At this point, star striker Cristiano Ronaldo was yet to shoot for Portugal, but their fourth penalty was taken by defender Bruno Alves, who struck the crossbar with a sharp rising shot. Spains final penalty taker was Fbregas, who scored Spains fifth goal, as the ball went in via the left post. Spain emerged victorious, and headed to the UEFA European Championship final for the fourth time, since 1. Italys starting line up in the Final. As well as Spain, Italy were placed in Group C in the group stage, starting their group stage match against Spain on 1. June 2. 01. 2. Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo provided the assist to Di Natale, who opened the goalscoring, as he pipped Piqu and Ramos to the ball, before striking it inside the right corner of the goal. It took just three minutes, before Spain found an equaliser through Fbregas. Italys next fixture was against Croatia on 1. June. Italy were dominant in the first half of the match, and had numerous chances to score. A foul from Croatia midfielder Ivan Rakiti on Balotelli, meant Italy were awarded a free kick. Pirlo stepped up, and struck the free kick,2. Croatia goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa, inside the left side of the goal. However, just minutes before the end of the second half, Croatia striker Mario Manduki headed in an equalising goal, after an assist from Strini. Their third and final match against Republic of Ireland was on 1. June. Striker Antonio Cassano struck the first goal, from a Pirlo corner, which Republic of Ireland defender Damien Duff failed to clear. Near the end of the match, centre midfielder Keith Andrews was booked for the second time, after committing a foul on Pirlo, resulting in a sending off by Turkey referee Cneyt akr. As the match headed its way into the 9. Balotelli struck a volley past Given, assisted by attacking midfielder Alessandro Diamanti. In the quarter finals, Italy faced England. Both sides were dominant and had possession in the first half. Italy players, such as midfielders Riccardo Montolivo, Pirlo, Balotelli, and Cassano had chances to score, but failed to do so.