By Fitzgerald Cecilio

Euro 2012 Finals Preview: Italy vs Spain - Xavi Hernadez of Spain head to head against Daniele De Rossi of Italy (Source: Adidas)

Xavi Hernadez of Spain head to head against Daniele De Rossi of Italy (Source: Adidas)

The Italians meet the Spaniards in the UEFA Euro 2012 Championship Finals in Kiev, Ukraine.

Defending champion Spain advanced to the final of the European Championship for the second straight time after edging Portugal, 4-2, in a penalty shootout. Striker Mario Balotelli scored twice in the first half as Italy continued its mastery over Germany with a 2-1 win to advance to the European Championship final for the first time since 2000.

Spain and Italy have already faced each other in Group play. Their first encounter in Group C ended in a 1-1 draw.

The Italians, four-time World Cup champions, look to end a 44-year title drought at the European Championship as they last won the event in 1968. The Italians made it to the Euro final in 2000 but were beaten by France, 2-1.

The Spaniards are trying to become the first team to win three straight major international tournaments, following Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010 titles.

"We're living a dream along with millions of Italians," Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini said. "We're going to enjoy this victory a little longer, then we'll think about Sunday, because we want to continue dreaming."

Italy will seek to exploit chinks in the armour of defending champions Spain when the teams meet in the Euro 2012 final on Sunday. Spain, however, will be going all out to become the first team ever to win three major international championships in a row

Spanish soccer fans travel to Ukraine for the Euro 2012 final as their team takes a walk in the park ahead of the match against Italy. Lindsey Parietti reports

Reigning world and European champions Spain are seeking to become the first team in history to win three consecutive major titles when they go head-to-head against Italy in Sunday's final of the European football championship

 

Euro 2012 Top Stories

Euro 2012 Group Stage Results

Date Group Team Result Team Venue Start
Fri June 8thAPoland1 - 1 GreeceWarsaw5:00pm
Fri June 8thARussia4 - 1Czech RepWroclaw7:45pm
Sat June 9thBHolland0 - 1DenmarkKharkiv5:00pm
Sat June 9thBGermany1 - 0PortugalLviv7:45pm
Sun June 10thCSpain1 - 1ItalyGdansk5:00pm
Sun June 10thCRepublic of Ireland1 - 3CroatiaPoznan7:45pm
Mon June 11thDFrance1 - 1EnglandDonetsk5:00pm
Mon June 11thDUkraine2 - 1SwedenKiev7:45pm
Tue June 12thAGreece1 - 2Czech RepWroclaw5:00pm
Tue June 12thAPoland1 - 1RussiaWarsaw7:45pm
Wed June 13thBDenmark2 - 3Portugal Lviv5:00pm
Wed June 13thBHolland1 - 2GermanyKharkiv7:45pm
Thu June 14thCItaly1 - 1CroatiaPoznan5:00pm
Thu June 14thCSpain4 - 0Rep of IrelandGdansk7:45pm
Fri June 15thDSweden2 - 3EnglandKiev5:00pm
Fri June 15thDUkraine0 - 2FranceDonetsk7:45pm
Sat June 16thACzech Rep1 - 0PolandWroclaw7:45pm
Sat June 16thAGreece1 - 0RussiaWarsaw7:45pm
Sun June 17thBPortugal2 - 1HollandKharkiv7:45pm
Sun June 17thBDenmark1 - 2GermanyLviv7:45pm
Mon June 18thCCroatia0 - 1SpainGdansk7:45pm
Mon June 18thCItaly2 - 0IrelandPoznan7:45pm
Tue June 19thDEngland1 - 0UkraineDonetsk7:45pm
Tue June 19thDSweden2 - 0FranceKiev7:45pm

 

Euro 2012 Quarterfinal Results

Date Group Team Result Team Venue Start
Italy Advances on Penalty Kicks 4 - 2
Thu June 21stQF 1Czech Republic0 - 1PortugalWarsaw7:45pm
Fri June 22ndQF 2Germany4 - 2GreeceGdansk7:45pm
Sat June 23rdQF 3Spain2 - 0FranceDonetsk7:45pm
Sun June 24thQF 4England0 (2) - 0 (4)ItalyKiev7:45pm

 

Euro 2012 Semifinal Results

Date Group Team Result Team Venue Start
Spain Advances on Penalty Kicks 4 - 2
Wed June 27thSF 1Portugal0 (2) - 0 (4)SpainDonetsk7:45pm
Thu June 28thSF 2Germany1 - 2ItalyWarsaw7:45pm

 

Euro 2012 Final Result

Date Group Team Result Team Venue Start
Sunday July 1stFinalSpain4 - 0ItalyKiev7:45pm

 

Soccer - Euro 2012 Finals Preview: Italy vs Spain