Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon admitted Spain were the better team on the night while coach Cesare Prandelli said tiredness was a big factor in his side's 4-0 loss to Spain in the final of Euro 2012.
"Tonight, there was no contest, they were too superior -- so the bitterness at losing this final is only relative," The Juventus goalkeeper told Rai Sport.
"It's ended badly because we faced a great team who deserved to win. Sometimes in life you need to be able to accept defeat and compliment opponents who were better.
"They have a lot of players who are accustomed to playing certain type of games, important games like the final of a European Championship.
"I think at the start we paid for this because we were not the same Italy as we have been.
"We have nothing to complain about. Spain were the better team and we congratulate them."
Prandelli said his side struggled with their fitness levels after failing to recover from the semi-final.
"It could be seen from the beginning that Spain were fresher than us," the Italian coach said.
"We hadn't had time to recover our strengths during the last week.
"Immediately we knew to close better spaces. We have suffered a lot on a physical level.
"We must grow and arrive at these important competitions with the right space during and after the Italian championship."
Despite the loss, Prandelli said he was proud of his side, after nobody gave them a chance to make a mark at the start of the tournament. "They totally dominated this evening," Prandelli admitted.
"You can grow from the experience. I am very proud of my team."
Italy went down to 10 men in the last 30 minutes after their final substitute Thiago Motta had to be stretchered off with a hamstring injury. Spain, leading 2-0 at that time with goals from David Silva and Jordi Alba, took advantage with Fernando Torres and Juan Mata adding the icing on the cake.
"Perhaps we could have got back into the game at the start of the second half, we had two chances but of course once Thiago Motta went off injured, we didn't have anything left in the tank," the 52-year-old said.
"You have to hold your hands up and say the opponents were better, accept defeat.
"We have to congratulate a great side for their victory."
Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini added: "We're sorry because we hoped to win and end the tournament in another way.
"We were tired, very tired, and the injuries show that. Some of our players on the pitch could hardly walk.
"In the end we have to congratulate Spain. They deserved to win and tonight they proved to be better than us. When Thiago Motta got injured we were down to ten men but they'd almost closed the game out in the first 60 minutes with their ball possession.
"Then in the last half-hour they exploded, thanks in part to having more players.
"Everyone's sad about the loss, but it can't erase a tournament in which we played well and we dreamt with millions of Italians. In my opinion that has to be the starting point for our future."
