Euro 2012 final

Monday 2 July 2012 10:08, UK

Image: Spain have won the 2012 European Championships after a stunning 4-0 win over Italy in the final.
Image: Flying the flag or rather wearing it... Italian fans have flooded into Kiev's Olympic Stadium as they prepare for Spain vs Italy in the Euro 2012 final.
Image: Spanish fans are hoping to see their side make history by picking up a third successive major trophy and will be praying that 'tiki-taka' triumphs tonight
Image: Spain have reached the final after topping Group C before going on to defeat Laurent Blanc's France and Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in the knockout rounds
Image: Despite drawing with Spain in their Group C clash, Italy qualified as runners up. Wins over England and Germany booked their place in tonight's final.
Image: Euro 2012 mascots Slavek and Slavko pose with the Henry Delauney trophy prior to kick-off. Will it be Casillas or Buffon who lifts the cup after full-time?
Image: As the closing ceremony reaches its conclusion the teams make their way onto the pitch for the national anthems.
Image: Italy start with a familiar line-up; with Pirlo and Balotelli certain to be the two men that they turn to for inspiration.
Image: Spain make one change from their triumph over Portugal, replacing Avaro Negredo with Cesc Fabregas, once again reverting to the 4-6-0 formation.
Image: The game is underway, and Italy are making it clear very early on that they don't intend to give Spain much time on the ball.
Image: Spain have been far more positive than was expected, as they surge forwards from the off, not afraid to shoot from distance or run at the Italian defence.
Image: Spain dominate the early exchanges, looking willing to shoot from range. Fabregas breaks into the box and picks out Silva who heads past Buffon. 1-0 Spain!
Image: A truly brilliant goal to really kick start the Euro 2012 final. The Italians look deflated having conceded after just 13 minutes.
Image: Italy have responded well, with Balotelli and Cassanno looking particularly dangerous, as Spain narrowly survive a succession of dangerous corners.
Image: Italy continue to dominate, but Spain break forward on the counter. A pin point pass from Xavi finds Jordi Alba who beats Buffon one on one and it is 2-0!
Image: It will be hard for Italy to swallow afterseemingly settling into the game, but Spain are two up at half-time thanks to a breath-taking move.
Image: Disaster strikes early in the half for Italy, as having already made all three substitutions, Thiago Motta is forced to retire with a hamstring injury.
Image: With Italy down to ten men and two goals behind Spain begin to take total control. Camped inside the Italian half and in constant posession of the ball.
Image: A defence splitting pass finds substitute Fernando Torres clear through on goal. He takes the ball in his stride and slots it home to make it 3-0.
Image: The goal makes the Chelsea man the joint top scorer at the tournament, and also equals the record for the largest win at a European Championships final.
Image: Torres is involved again as Spain add a fourth. El Nino finds fellow Chelsea man Juan Mata who scores in his first game of the tournament to make it 4-0.
Image: Mata's goal sees Spain break the record for the most goals in a European Championships final and puts their win beyond any doubt.
Image: The final whistle goes and Spain remain European Champions and have made history by becoming the only side ever to win the competition on three occasions.
Image: It is contrasting emotions for Italy however, as they will feel hard done to after plyaing most of the second half with ten men.
Image: Casillas lifts the Henry Delauney trophy for a second time and fireworks fly at the Olympic Stadium to mark the end of a memorable European Championships.

Euro 2012 final

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