Boring boring Spanish eh! Well, if that's boring then I can't wait for exciting. Spain take the plaudits and a third straight international honour and in the process breaking the record for largest final winning margin after the 4-0 thrashing of Italy. If that's not boring enough for you the Spanish were missing key players David Villa and Carles Puyol who sat texting in the stand's as their team-mates waved 'arrivederci' to the Italians.
Earlier in the tournament before all the Spanish bravado came co-hosts Poland, complete with passionate support and a few hidden gem's from Borussia Dortmund in their midst, looking to cause upset on home soil by beating 2004 winner's Greece. Robert Lewandowski's header sent the Poles into dreamland as Warsaw rejoiced until Salpingidis decided to hush the capital with a timely equaliser.
The Ukraine fared better in their opener against Sweden with evergreen striker Andriy Shevchenko living up to legendary status by bagging two clinical header's to give the co-host's their first three points of the group. The pre-tournament hype focusing on hooliganism in the two countries soon flared up in Poland as Russian thug's decided to attack Polish supporter's in thankfully an isolated incident when all-out war was predicted pre-tournament from Panorama's 'Stadium's of hate' documentary. A minor victory for the authorities.
Roy Hodgson's England side produced tactics no doubt inspired by Chelsea's game-plan in the latter stages of the Champion's League playing on the counter attack against a technically far superior French team, the tactic's paid off and England earned a draw. In the process looking solid and dangerous on the counter attack.
The Dutch were the surprise package of the competition, surprisingly they failed to turn up! Embarrassed in the opening game by a well-drilled Danish side despite having numerous opportunities to get the three points. The orange army soon dispersed as Holland headed home in the shadow of Germany and Portugal, both qualifying impressively.
Mad Mario never fail's to entertain and his Italian team-mates were in the mood as they comfortably saw off Ireland and held Spain and Croatia yet to peak until the latter stages. Spain confused early on with Vincente Del Bosque opting to set his team out without a striker, drawing with Italy early on lead to doubts about the system.
With the Czech's pinching the qualification spot in group A ahead of Russia in a dramatic climax to the group they were rewarded with a tie against Ronaldo and co, in a tense close game the Portuguese pin-up stooped low to nod past Petr Cech sending Portugal into the semi's. In the other quarter final the German's easily blew away Greece with goals from Klose, Lahm, Khedira and favourite of Bar and In, Marco Reus.
As Spain saw the French off 2-0 in Donetsk, prompting coach Laurent Blanc to resign, attention turned to who they would face, England or Italy? The unfancied or the serial bottlers? It seemed unglamourous and in truth, it was. Defensive football from England and a passing masterclass from Andrea Pirlo resorted in the game being settled the English way, penalties. Predictably it was England's undoing but not before the Italian's mis-fired giving England advantage. Sadly it was a tale of two Ashley's as both Young and Cole failed to convert giving Italy passage to the semi-final's and England wondering just what they have to do to win a penalty shootout at a major tournament, score perhaps?
The semi's proved tense affair's with the Spanish narrowly defeating the Portuguese via penalties and Mario Balotelli blowing away the German's with two sensational strikes to set up a second meeting with group-rival's Spain in the final held in Kiev.
Up to now the Spanish had looked good, but not THAT good, many fancied Pirlo and co to pass them to death with on-form Balotelli to expose the cracks in the Spanish back-line. In truth Mario barely got a sniff with the Spanish using the ball in place of a red-flag with Italy playing the part of the confused bull. David Silva's early strike settled Spanish nerves, if indeed there were any, whilst the magician Iniesta found passes many in the ground couldn't see with Xavi playing the puppet-master, pulling the strings in midfield.
Barcelona's latest signing Jordi Alba found himself up from left-back and one-on-one with Gigi Buffon to cooly slot home like a seasoned centre forward. Italy shell-shocked and Spain rampant, not quite the close final we'd all predicted. Cesare Prandelli's team talk at half time did little to raise his troop's spirits as Spain passed,moved and taunted the boy's in blue showing off their back catalogue of footballing wisdom. Fernando Torres finally got in on the action late on and bagged an expected third before setting up team-mate Juan Mata to smash the record of a winning margin in the final. Spain confirmed as champions once again, Balotelli storming off the pitch, the end to a superb two-weeks.
Euro 2012 was everything South Africa and Switzerland/Austria lacked, two stale tournaments with very little entertainment. Attacking football (with the exception of England) and passionate support from the host nation's in particular, talking points and goal's galore, it really did have it all. Spain are deserving winner's and it's hard to see a team capable of displacing them in this kind of form. As for England it may sound harsh reading what has been written so far but I genuinley believe that Roy Hodgson has something, that tactical nous at international level that we have needed for so long. The strong hope now is that the F.A don't take this as a tournament failure and look at the positives that have come out of this two-weeks, there are plenty of them. With a little more quality added to the side and with two years until the next major tournament it could be exciting times ahead for England.
As for Poland and Ukraine, many were sceptical about their ability to host a major tournament and UEFA and the organiser's have done a respectable job of ensuring the smooth running and quality of venue throughout the tournament.
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