So much for boring. Slated for their displays in the lead-up to last night’s game, Spain silence the critics and produce a masterclass to sweep aside Italy and storm to victory in the Euro 2012 final. Jordi Alba, Xavi and Fernando Torres are the main protagonists for Fantasy managers as the 4-0 win proves just a step too far for Cesare Prandelli’s side.
Spain 4 Italy 0
Vicente Del Bosque made just one change to his first XI for last night’s game against the Azzurri. Cesc Fabregas returned to the first-team in the “false nine” position, with Alvaro Negredo dropping to the bench. Spain’s backline once again produced the goods and picked up their fifth successive clean sheet – their defensive unit proved incredible value over the tournament. Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas earned an extra point for recovered balls and saves respectively to end on 35 points, the same tally as Alvaro Arbeloa. Gerard Pique finished with 37 points but it was Alba who stole a march on his team mates – a brilliant 14 point haul boosted his total to 46, far and away the best in the competition.
Xavi created five goalscoring opportunities and produced a couple of assists last night. Having failed to pick up any attacking points in his first five, the Barca playmaker was the least popular of Spain’s starting midfielders heading into the Italy clash but proved to be a relative differential; a nine point haul was second only to Alba. Cesc Fabregas’ assist and David Silva’s goal helped the pair to six and five points respectively – along with Xabi Alonso and the back five, they represented eight of Del Bosque’s players in the McDonald’s “Dream Team” for points accrued. Fernando Torres needed just 15 minutes to get amongst the points, with a goal and assist near the end ensuring a fairer reflection of Spain’s complete dominance. Finishing the tournament with three goals and an assist, El Nino grabbed the Golden Boot despite starting just one of his nation’s six Euro 2012 fixtures.
Cesare Prandelli made a single alteration to his starting lineup, with fit-again Ignazio Abate replacing Federico Balzaretti at right-back. The Italy boss had rolled out a 3-5-2 for the Group C game against the Spanish but last night maintained the 4-2-3-1 formation that had seen the Azzurri concede just one goal in the previous three matches. Fate seemed to conspire against Italy early on, with Giorgio Chiellini limping off after only 20 minutes on the clock and Prandelli’s personnel woes continued in the second half. Having made his full quota of substitutions, the Italy boss was left with just 10 men on the pitch after Thiago Motta was stretchered off with a hamstring injury only four minutes after replacing Riccardo Montolivo.
Under the cosh from start to finish, Italy were a major let-down for those Fantasy managers who invested heavily in their assets. Many had picked up a variety of Italian options as an all-or-nothing option but the 4-0 defeat meant it didn’t quite go to plan. Their most popular Fantasy option, Andrea Pirlo, provided a couple of goalscoring opportunities and fired three attempts at goal but his only contribution was an extra point for recovered balls as Spain hounded him out of the game. A three point return boosted his total to 29, leaving Pirlo as the highest scoring midfielder in the McDonald’s game – along with Mesut Ozil and Pepe, he was one of three non-Spanish players in the overall Dream Team of Euro 2012.
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