KIEV, UKRAINE - JULY 01: Iker Casillas, Alvaro Arbeloa, Javi Martinez and Fernando Torres of Spain celebrate victory during the UEFA EURO 2012 final match between Spain and Italy at the Olympic Stadium on July 1, 2012 in Kiev, Ukraine (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Spain Celebrates Victory (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Kiev, Ukraine

Spain reasserted its lofty place in football hierarchy after hammering out a 4-0 victory over Italy in the finals of 2012 Euro Championship at Kiev Olympic Stadium.

Spain booked its second straight European championship and third consecutive major international title in swashbuckling fashion as they came up with a dominant performance against the Azzuri in the 2012 Euro Finals.

David Silva struck first in the 14th minute with a beautiful header off a cross from Andres Iniesta while Jordi Alba calmly slotted a shot pass Italy's goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon to make a 2-0 Spain lead just before the end of the first half.

Trailing by 2-0 at the break, Azzurri entered the second half with a renewed commitment on defense but the Spaniards still slipped through defenders. Fernando Torres nailed his third goal of the tournament in the 84th minute and Juan Matta capped the celebration with another in the 88th minute.

But the man of the match remains the 32-year-old Xavi, who architected almost all scoring opportunities for Spain.

Italy's striker Mario Balotelli, the hero in the Azzuri's semifinal win against the Germans, was not given even a single ounce of daylight by a phalanx of Spanish defenders.

KIEV, UKRAINE - JULY 01: Xabi Alonso of Spain during the UEFA EURO 2012 final match between Spain and Italy at the Olympic Stadium on July 1, 2012 in Kiev, Ukraine. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Xabi Alonso of Spain (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

KIEV, UKRAINE - JULY 01: Andres Iniesta of Spain in action during the UEFA EURO 2012 final match between Spain and Italy at the Olympic Stadium on July 1, 2012 in Kiev, Ukraine (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Andres Iniesta of Spain (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

KIEV, UKRAINE - JULY 01: Thiago Motta of Italy and Alvaro Arbeloa of Spain in action during the UEFA EURO 2012 final match between Spain and Italy at the Olympic Stadium on July 1, 2012 in Kiev, Ukraine (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Thiago Motta of Italy and Alvaro Arbeloa of Spain (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

KIEV, UKRAINE - JULY 01: Pedro of Spain in action during the UEFA EURO 2012 final match between Spain and Italy at the Olympic Stadium on July 1, 2012 in Kiev, Ukraine (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
Pedro of Spain (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

KIEV, UKRAINE - JULY 01: Sergio Ramos of Spain during the UEFA EURO 2012 final match between Spain and Italy at the Olympic Stadium on July 1, 2012 in Kiev, Ukraine (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Sergio Ramos of Spain (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)


Italy vs Spain

KIEV, UKRAINE - JULY 01: Mario Balotelli of Italy in action during the UEFA EURO 2012 final match between Spain and Italy at the Olympic Stadium on July 1, 2012 in Kiev, Ukraine (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Mario Balotelli of Italy (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

KIEV, UKRAINE - JULY 01: Iker Casillas (L) of Spain stretches for the ball in front of team-mate Sergio Ramos (R) as Mario Balotelli of Italy jumps to head at goal during the UEFA EURO 2012 final match between Spain and Italy at the Olympic Stadium on July 1, 2012 in Kiev, Ukraine (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Iker Casillas (L) of Spain stretches for the ball in front of team-mate Sergio Ramos (R) as Mario Balotelli of Italy jumps to head at goal (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

KIEV, UKRAINE - JULY 01: Iker Casillas of Spain stretches for the ball as Mario Balotelli of Italy jumps to head at goal during the UEFA EURO 2012 final match between Spain and Italy at the Olympic Stadium on July 1, 2012 in Kiev, Ukraine (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
Iker Casillas of Spain stretches for the ball as Mario Balotelli of Italy jumps to head at goal (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

KIEV, UKRAINE - JULY 01: Cesc Fabregas of Spain in action against Ignazio Abate of Italy during the UEFA EURO 2012 final match between Spain and Italy at the Olympic Stadium on July 1, 2012 in Kiev, Ukraine (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Cesc Fabregas of Spain in action against Ignazio Abate of Italy (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)


Italy vs Spain

KIEV, UKRAINE - JULY 01: Juan Mata of Spain celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal during the UEFA EURO 2012 final match between Spain and Italy at the Olympic Stadium on July 1, 2012 in Kiev, Ukraine (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)
Juan Mata of Spain celebrates scoring Spain's fourth goal (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)

KIEV, UKRAINE - JULY 01: Juan Mata of Spain celebrates after scoring his team's fourth goal during the UEFA EURO 2012 final match between Spain and Italy at the Olympic Stadium on July 1, 2012 in Kiev, Ukraine (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Juan Mata of Spain celebrates after scoring his team's fourth goal (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

 

After almost a month of matches, celebrations and tears Euro 2012 is over. In the end favourites Spain lifted the trophy, making history, as they became the first team to retain the European Championship title and win three consecutive major international titles

 

 

 

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