Euro 2012: Spain v Italy – player ratings
Jordi Alba gets our man of the match award after a superb display at left-back as Spain demolished Italy in the final
by Marcus Christenson 10 months ago
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Spain

Iker Casillas 7 Had to deal with several corners, crosses and shots from long range but, unsurprisingly, had the answers to all of them

Alvaro Arbeloa 6 A solid game by the Real full-back and threatened when he went forward. Pushed back a bit more when Balzaretti came on

Gerard Piqué 7 Another assured display by the former Manchester United defender. Booked for a first-half lunge on Cassano

Sergio Ramos 7 Who needs Carles Puyol? Well, Spain don't. Last night Ramos and Piqué did not give Cassano or Balotelli a sniff of a chance

Jordi Alba 9 (man of the match) Lung-bursting run for his goal – his first for Spain – and what a cool finish for a left-back. No wonder Barça have signed him

Xavi Hernández 9 Set up two of the goals with inch-perfect passes. Another wonderful performance by a wonderful player

Sergio Busquests 7 Worked tirelessly, as always, with one particular intervention standing out, against Balzaretti down the right in the second half

Xabi Alonso 8 Contributed heavily towards keeping Italy's main threat, Pirlo, out of the game with his constant harrying and pressing

Cesc Fábregas 8 Too quick for Chiellini to set up Silva for the first goal. A superb performance and went close with a long-range shot after the break

David Silva 7 The City forward saved his best display for the final, stealing in between Barzagli and Bonucci to score an alert opener

Andrés Iniesta 7 Displayed remarkable energy as he burst forward as often as he found himself tracking back to check the forward runs of Abate

Italy

Gianluigi Buffon 6 Cannot be blamed for any of the goals and had to be alert on several occasions to avoid a rout as Spain pushed forward

Ignazio Abate 6 Struggled to contain Iniesta on his flank and was wasteful with some of his passing. Looked better when going forward

Andrea Barzagli 5 Italy's back four was completely exposed by Spain's speed and passing.Barzagli was hopelessly outpaced by Alba for Spain's second

Leonardo Bonucci 5 Struggled alongside his Juventus team-mate in central defence. Lost Silva in the buildup to the first goal

Giorgio Chiellini 3 Endured a nightmare 20 minutes, during which Fábregas flew past him to set up the first goal, before going off with a knee injury

Andrea Pirlo 6 Did not play badly but did not reach his normal standard on a night when his hopes of winning Ballon d'Or all but disappeared

Claudio Marchisio 6 Fairly ineffective but then he did not see the ball much, stranded out on the right where Iniesta was running riot

Riccardo Montolivo 7 Was behind most of Italy's good moves, including setting up Balotelli with a backheel, but made way for Thiago Motta

Daniele De Rossi 6 Decent first half by the Roma midfielder, when he battled bravely against a sea of red, but anonymous in the second half

Mario Balotelli 6 Firmly in the pocket of Ramos and Piqué, the match-winner against Germany was restricted to wild shots from distance

Antonio Cassano 5 Had one chance but shot lacked power and bobbled into Casillas's hands. Not at his effervescent best and replaced at half-time

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For sure Spain was...DOPPED!
Step up ....... UEFA and FIFA!
Poor defense and getting their midfield shut down by Spain.
Played right into Spain's hands.

They should've focused more on the famous Italian defense, it seems a strong defense is what flusters Spain most.
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