Un, Dos, Tres: Spain’s victory at Euro 2012 makes them the first nation to win three major tournaments in a row.
By Alex Norwood and Joe Baiamonte
An unpredictable three weeks ended with an unsurprisingly predictable climax as Spain were crowned European Champions for the third time in Kiev on Sunday after annihilating a plucky Italy 4-0 in the Euro 2012 final.
It meant a place in the record books for Xavi, Iniesta and co as they became the first nation to lift major tournament silverware on three consecutive occasions, making this Spanish team the most successful international team in history. And all in spite of the fact that they seldom played with a striker and were labelled as ‘boring’ by the footballing philistines among us. Oh, and they were without the injured Carlos Puyol and David Villa for the tournament as well.
As well as the all conquering Spaniards, the 2012 European Championships will be remembered as being one of the best international tournaments of all time, wonderfully hosted by Poland and Ukraine, who quelled the hysterical pre tournament fears served up by Panorama to deliver a fine spectacle. From the calamitous Irish and Dutch to the resurgent Italy and Portugal to the phenomenal bevvy of international Francesco (Totti . . . ba-dum!) caught by eagle eyed camera men, the last 16 team Euros (merci Mr. Platini, we think not) served as a reminder to recent World Cups of how an international tournament should be done.
So it was with tremendous difficulty that we set about deciding our ‘best of’ list. No easy task when you’ve been treated to the likes of Iniesta, Pirlo, Ronaldo, Ozil and erm, Milner day in day out for three weeks.
PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT
Al: Despite strong claims from Georgios Samaras and James Milner, I would, rather surprisingly, have to ignore their fluttering eyelids and portfolio of fuckwittery, to instead, opt for the sheer brilliance of Cesc Fabregas. His outstanding movement in the ‘false 9’ position was a real education. And he showed Craig Levein that you can play a 4-6-0 formation withought using 10 defenders and a goalkeeper.
Joe: You could choose almost anyone from Spain’s team and be justified in doing so without much of an argument, but I’m instead going to opt for Andrea Pirlo. It’s hard to believe Milan allowed him to join Juventus for nothing last season given the way he effortlessly dictated the pace of every game he played in this tournament (with the exception of the final, of course). His performance against England will perhaps be the one that lasts longest in the memory, but for me his exhibition against the fantastic German team in the semis was just as impressive, if not better. An ageless player with an outstanding head of hair.
GOAL OF THE TOURNAMENT
Al: Zlatan Ibrahimovic vs France. Turns out he isn’t complete dogger after all and can actually play a bit. If I had limited football knowledge and was sad enough to watch Soccer AM, this despite the fact that, much like female co-host Helen Chamberlain, its best days are firmly lodged in the early noughties, I would say it was an example of ‘Unbelievable Tekkers’. That said, I just loved Jordi Alba’s goal in the final. Absolutely unbelievable from a left back and on such an important occasion. So I shall plump for that one.
Joe: This wasn’t a tournament of long range screamers, but what we did get was a terrific assortment of well crafted team goals and breathtaking counter attacking efforts. Alba’s goal in the final is of course up there, as is Ronaldo’s second against the Dutch and Kuba’s against Russia but I can’t see past Balotelli’s winner in the Semi Final against Germany. Mainly for it’s lightning quick simplicity; Buffon palms away a German corner, the ball breaks to Montolivo deep inside his own half who pings a beauty of a ball over the top of a static German defence. But even then Mario still had a lot to take care of, and he did it with devastating effect, shrugging off the attentions of an oncoming Philip Lahm to slam a half volley past Manuel Neueur and almost clean through the net.
MATCH OF THE TOURNAMENT
Al:Spain vs Italy. The final of Euro 2012. This game will go down in history, and, despite the numerous examples of Spanish brilliance during their last four years of domination, I believe this game demonstrated their true brilliance and I hope, will alter the mindset of a generation in terms of technique, ball retention, tactical understanding and subsequent application.
Joe:Italy vs Germany. The final was too one sided an affair to be considered ‘Match of The Tournament’, as inhumanly great as Spain were. Therefore I’m going for the Italy/Germany semi final. The parallels of this game and their semi final in the 2006 World Cup were uncanny. An unfancied Italian side coming into a tournament with a match fixing scandal brewing back home up against a strong, confident German team. Cue 90+ minutes of non stop exhilarating drama, the Italians heroically attacking and defending in equal measures, celebrating every last ditch tackle as if it were a winning goal as the Germans attempted to launch Blitzkreig on Gianluigi Buffon’s goal. The result? The same as in 2006. Auf Wiedersehn.
MANAGER OF THE TOURNAMENT
Al: Vicente Del Bosque. For two reasons. One, being the following quote, courtesy of BBC Sport “I didn’t really want to be the coach who wins but the coach who educates. I want to keep preparing them for the future.” And secondly, because during the tournament, I found out an unemployed Del Bosque applied for the vacant West Ham managers position in 1999, but was overlooked in favour of Glenn Rodent..ahem, I mean, Glenn Roeder.
Joe: Paulo Bento. Not the most obvious choice but Portugal surprised a lot of people this tournament, myself included as they weren’t given much of a chance of advancing past Germany and Holland in the group stages. However, by giving Cristiano Ronaldo the supporting cast he’s been longing for at international level for so long, Bento’s Portugal produced some of the finest attacking football at the Euros which saw them come within a lick of paint of putting an end to Spain’s record breaking campaign. Bento’s brought the Figo era flair back to Portugal which should see them be a force to be reckoned with in Brazil in two years time.
DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE TOURNAMENT
Al: Panorama. Was all that pre-conceived paranoia and scare-mongering actually necessary?
Joe: Holland. You’d think the Dutch would have come out all guns blazing to eradicate the memories of the ‘De Jonging’ of the Spanish in 2010. Instead they bickered between themselves and limped out of the tournament without a single point.
BEST MOMENT OF THE TOURNAMENT
Al and Joe: Andrea Pirlo and his perfectly answered penalty in the face of, well, Joe Hart and his stupidly pulled faces.
surprisingly, have to ignore their fluttering eyelids and portfolio of fuckwittery, to instead, opt for the sheer brilliance of Cesc Fabregas. His outstanding movement in the ‘false 9’ position was a real education. And he showed Craig Levein that you can play a 4-6-0 formation withought using 10 defenders and a goalkeeper.
Pulled Off At Half Time 