A shattered dream

Spain are the undisputed kings of football.

Prandelli did a superb job in leading a modest Azzurri side to their first Nations Cup final since 2000- Antoine Dalli

There were never doubts on that before Euro 2012 got underway in Poland and Ukraine last month but their status was confirmed on Sunday when Vicente Del Bosque’s men retained their European title, an unprecedented achievement, after trouncing Italy 4-0 in the final in Kiev.

That feat also meant Spain became the first team in football history to win three main tournaments in succession after the Euro title of 2008 and the World Cup in 2010.

The Euro 2012 outcome amply testifies the huge gulf in quality that exists between Spain and the rest.

On Sunday, they exposed Italy’s frailties in no small way, namely, a blunt attack, a precarious physical condition and the lack of options within Cesare Prandelli’s squad.

Prandelli did a superb job in leading a modest Azzurri side to their first Nations Cup final since 2000.

Before the first kick-off on June 8, few had tipped Italy to go all the way and finish ahead of teams like Russia, France, England and Germany in the final reckoning.

Two years ago, the Azzurri were ousted from the World Cup in early stages after finishing bottom in a group comprising the unfancied Paraguay, Slovakia and minnows New Zealand.

The build-up to Euro 2012 was even less spectacular and inspiring as Italy lost all three warm-up matches against Uruguay (0-1 in Rome), USA (0-1 in Genoa) and Russia (0-3 in Zurich).

Add another match-fixing scandal that rocked the footballing nation to the mixture and Prandelli’s job became even more complicated, prompting him to declare at one moment that for the good of the game he was ready to withdraw the national team from the championship.

So, all in all, Italian fans should be proud of their team’s fine run in Poland and Ukraine, albeit Prandelli would have done with a fitter squad for Sunday’s showdown against the slick Spaniards.

Many reckon that Sunday’s heavy defeat was of similar proportions to Italy’s 1-4 debacle to Pele’s Brazil in the 1970 World Cup final.

When Spain and Italy locked horns in Group C’s curtain-raiser on June 10, the Azzurri were very much in the game for the first hour or so.

Then, the side experienced a dip in physical condition, which culminated with Cesc Fabregas’s equaliser and another couple of close shaves at Gianluigi Buffon’s goal.

The same happened against Croatia and Ireland. Italy looked fresh and full of endeavour at first but rather poor after the break.

However, in the knock-out stages Italy earned the plaudits after reaching the final in style.

But Sunday’s match was a non-contest as Spain dominated proceedings from start to finish.

Italy were never in the game, particularly after Thiago Motta was stretchered off early in the second half, leaving his team to fight with ten men after Prandelli had already effected all his substitutions.

True, Italy had one day less than Spain to rest before the final. But, Germany also had 48 hours more to prepare for the semi-final and Italy could have won that encounter more comfortably than the 2-1 final scoreline showed.

Euro 2012 is now over and the 2014 World Cup qualifiers already loom large.

The positives derived from the tournament should not be lost but serve as solid foundations on which Prandelli will build a new team that can make a creditable quest for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.