Jul 01, 2012 02:10 AM EDT
Euro 2012 Final: Spain vs Italy Preview: Battle of Minds as Europe's Best Face Off

Spain and Italy know what it takes to win trophies. Between them, they have won the last three major championships and it will be four out of four on Sunday.

When the tournament started, nobody would have imagined Italy would be here, one win away from being called the best team in Europe. Corruption and match-fixing dogged the country yet again and nearly jeopardized their place in the tournament itself.

But, if there is one thing Italy are good at, it is fighting adversity. Italy know how to win -- and until these European championships in Poland and Ukraine - win ugly.

Nothing has been more enjoyable than watching an Italy team that likes to attack. They play passing soccer, starting from the goalkeeper to the strikers. There are no long balls and no more back-to-the-walls stuff. This Italy team can play, and play with the best in the business.

Entertain, is something that the Spanish team, on the other hand, are finding hard to do. Spain, defending European and World champions, have been repeatedly criticized for playing a boring brand of soccer. Where there are no strikers and you slow down the game and pass the ball to death, almost lulling your opponent to sleep before striking at the opportune moment.

There will be detractors to the Spanish style, but it is a style that has brought them unprecedented success. It is a style which is hard to stop and even harder to replicate.

Spain will not be bothered by the criticism, they will come out and play how they know best. Perhaps, the Spanish team haven't been at their best, because the masterful Xavi hasn't reached his exceptionally high standards. The Barcelona playmaker is one for the big stage though, so do not be surprised if the 32-year-old brings his best performance on the most important match of the tournament.

Another, who brings his A Game at the biggest stage, is Andres Iniesta. The diminutive midfielder has the uncanny knack of scoring a match-winning goal out of nowhere. Expect the Barcelona playmaker to have the most impact for the Spanish side; if it does happen, Spain will be in the driver's seat for much of the game.

For the Italians, it all begins with one person - Andrea Pirlo. The 33-year-old has been irresistible in this tournament and is the lynchpin in the Italian side. Every attack that Italy will make, will begin from the feet of the Juventus man.

After the semi-final performance, it is impossible not to mention Mario Balotelli. At his best, the Manchester City striker can be unstoppable. He does seem to have toned down his attitude - thanks largely to the excellent leadership of Cesare Prandelli - and looks primed to set the final alight.

When these two teams met in their first group game, Spain started with the now much talked about 4-6-0 formation, while Italy played a 3-5-2 formation. The match turned out to be closer than expected, with Italy opening the scoring, but eventually settling for a point after Cesc Fabregas' equaliser.

Spain looked more threatening in that game, after Vicente del Bosque brought on a proper striker in Fernando Torres. That is something del Bosque will definitely factor in before making a decision on the starting line-up.

However, he is more likely to start with Fabregas and pack the field with six midfielders; he will probably look to bring on Torres in the final stages and take advantage of a tiring Italian team.

Italy have nothing to lose - nobody expected them to make the final. But the Italians are never satisfied with second best, as the team's old heads Gianluigi Buffon and Pirlo pointed out plenty of times.

Spain, though, are the ultimate winners. They are trying to create history, by winning the third-straight major tournament. If there is one thing that has been evident over the last four years, is Spain do not like to lose and they very rarely do.

Sunday's final will be as much a battle of minds as a battle of the feet. Winner of the former will call themselves champions of Europe.

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