Italy and Spain, two world class powerhouses, will square off in Euro 2012's final, after Italy upset favorites Germany 2-1, with "Super Mario", Mario Balotelli, scoring twice for the Azzuri. Spain knocked Portugal out on penalties, winning 4-2.
Spain played messy soccer for 120 minutes. The chances were pretty even for both sides. Portugal had the upper hand for most of the first half, with Spain only one really good chance the whole half, when Negredo put the ball back into the box, but Arbeloa blasted the ball of the bar. The second half produced some dull play, with only a few real chances. Spain dominated extra time, but Riu Patricio had other ideas; Spain couldn't put the ball past him. Now we hit the penalties. Xabi Alonso and Joao Moutinho each had their penalties saved, and then Iniesta, Pepe, Pique, Nani and Sergio Ramos all put their shot past the keepers. Now Bruno Alves, who was forced to wait to kick after Nani replaced him in the walk up, drove his shot straight into the bar, leaving Cesc Fabergas the chance, which he took, to put La Rojas through.
Germany had been dominating the first twenty minutes when suddenly the Italians put a couple shots in on goal, finally resulting in Antonio Cassano turning past Mats Hummels and crossing the shot to Super Mario, Mario Balotelli, who took advantage Holger Badstubber's bad defense to head the ball past Manuel Neuer and score for the Azzuri. 16 minutes later he had doubled his delight, scoring off a counter attack that left the ragged Germans with only Phillip Lahm in a defensive position. Balotelli finished off the play with a strike that brought Neuer to his knees. Balotelli ripped his shirt off, so as to say "I know what I'm doing, and a yellow card doesn't hurt me." Mario was yellow carded for it, which led to him eventually being substituted off. In the second half, the Germans dominated again for the first twenty minutes, before the Italians again put some shots on goal, including several that nearly got past Manuel Neuer. Finally, in the 92nd minute, an Italian handball gave Mesut Ozil the chance, which he took, to put the ball past Gianluigi Buffon from the penalty spot. A frenzied two minutes then concluded the game.
A question must now be asked, and that is, can the Italians actually beat Spain? There is a possibility. Both are group C teams, and played each other in their first games. Though much has changed since that 1-1 draw, the outcome could be the same. Don't be surprised if penalties come into the mix.
My prediction: Spain wins 4-3 on penalties, drawing 1-1 in regular time.
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