Spain v Italy- Group B (Euro 2012)
Sunday, June 10th – 6.00pm

Spain arrive at these championships as slight favourites at 13/5, with Germany second favourites at 3/1 and in truth, there can be little argument with that particularly tag having won the last two major championships in 2008 and 2010.

Their squad looks in imperious form, on the back of 14 consecutive competitive victories since their surprise defeat to Switzerland in their opening group game of the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

They absolutely cruised through qualifying for this tournament, winning all eight games, scoring 26 goals in the process. Of course, Spain have always had a reputation for breezing through the qualification process and freezing at finals but that cannot be said of this golden generation of Spanish footballers.

Indeed, Spanish head coach, Vicente Bel Bosque has an embarrassment of riches from which to choose from. Realistically, he could name two squads and still be in with a chance of winning with both.

From one to eleven, it’s a who’s who of world class talent; starting with Real Madrid custodian, Iker Cassilas in goals with a back four expected to be made up of Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos, Alvaro Arbeloa and Jordi Alba at left back.

In midfield, Xabi Alonso will more than likely partner Sergio Busquets in the engine room with his Barcelona colleague and Euro 2008 player of the tournament Xavi Hernandez pulling the strings ahead of them; ably supported by Man City maestro David Silva and the ever mercurial Andreas Iniesta.

He’s not without some problems though; a striking dilemma chief among them. With Barcelona’s David Villa still massively doubtful due to a broken leg and Fernando Torres having one of the worst seasons of his career in terms of a goal return, Del Bosque might have to put his trust in Valencia’s Roberto Soldado or Basque bruiser, Fernando Llorente to spearhead the attack.

Soldado probably suits the current system a little better in truth, with his eye for a goal and his fantastic movement perfect for the type of fluid, attacking football this Spanish side produces.

That’s not to say Llorente doesn’t suit it either. The big target man has been absolutely outstanding for Athletic Bilbao this season: especially in their remarkable run to the Europa League final.

Either way, Del Bosque might have a dilemma but it’s the kind of dilemma any manager in the world would want to contend with.
Italy will arrive at the PGE arena in Gdansk as massive 4/1 underdogs but they should not be discounted so lightly. Not only do they arrive at this tournament with one of the finest pedigrees an international side could have but they also breezed through qualified, coming through their group unbeaten; winning eight and drawing another two.

They have gone 13 games without a UEFA European Championship defeat over 90 minutes since losing 3-0 to the Netherlands in their opening match at EURO 2008.

They also have a fairly decent head to head record against their Spanish counterparts. In fact, Spain’s record in 29 games against Italy is W8 D11 L10, but seven of those victories have come in friendly games.

In the teams’ nine competitive fixtures, Spain’s record is W1 D4 L4, though those statistics include a EURO 2008 quarter-final that Spain won on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes, but which is obviously classified as a draw. That sole outright Spanish victory, a 2-0 win, came in the sides’ first meeting at the 1920 Olympic Games.

In reality though, I’ll be honest and state that, in my eyes, this team is not a patch on previous Italian sides. They do possess quality but not enough in the areas that will hurt teams like the Spanish.

The core of the side does have a world class feel to it, with the likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Pirlo and Antonio Di Natale all to be counted on but it’s in the peripheral areas where I have my doubts.

Are the likes of AC Milan’s Ignazio Abate and Antonio Nocerino, Juve’s rising star Claudio Marchisio or the enigma that is Mario Ballotelli good enough when faced with the challenge of a star studded Spain?

You could say these types of games are the making of some players and it certainly doesn’t get any bigger than the European and World Champions in the opening group game of a major tournament.

Verdict
It’s hard to look past Spain in this particular clash and at 5/6 for the win; you could say that represents fairly good value. This Spanish side is absolutely thronging with quality and in all the right areas. From back to front, they can count on title winning players in all positions. And if the imaginable happens, and they fall behind; they have a bench that would grace any other team’s starting eleven in world football.

If there is one team that do have the ability, the patience and the pure doggedness to stop them; it’s Italy.CesarePrandelli’s side will be no pushovers and I expect this to be a fairly tight affair. A possible backs to the wall type performance from the Azzurri – with Spain, who will no doubt dominate possession, nicking a slender win some time in the second half.

Whatever the eventual result, you can expect a match of the utmost intensity but I expect Spain’s overall quality to shine through in the end.

Back Spain to win at 5/6 and if you’re feeling particularly plucky, why not have a punt on a 1-0 win to the Spaniards at 9/2.