Euro 2012 Final Live!

Under an hour to kickoff and this is probably the last review you will see for the Euro 2012 finals. About fifteen minutes ago the Italians stepped onto the pitch, took a look around the fantastic Olympic Stadium in Kiev. Super Mario Balotelli lingered the longest, taking time to soak in the atmosphere. I could talk about what’s going on in his head, but that would be pretense at its most pointless.

The Italians will start this game very much the underdogs, against a Spanish team that is still the best in the world. 1992 Euro winner Peter Scheichel put the talk of Spain being boring into very good context in Warsaw a couple of days ago when he told me, “You have to have a pretty vivid imagination to call Spain boring, or to criticize the way they play.” The only thing predictable about Spain is the regularity with which they get positive results.

Had Croatia’ Ivan Rakitic found the target with his header in the group stages, the Spanish might not have had this chance to rewrite history as they aim to be the first team to win back-to-back Euros. Now the only thing that stands in their way is eleven Italians who have been a revelation at these Euros. 

And here is how they will line up in just about an hour—Spain staring the game with Cesc Fabregas ahead of Fernado Torres. Spain lineup: Casillas; Arbeloa, Ramos, Pique, Alba; Busquets, Alonso, Xavi; Silva, Fàbregas, Iniesta.

In another surprise, Milan’s Ignazio Abate will start ahead of Frederico Balzaretti, who had a phenomenal semifinal against the Germans in Warsaw at right back. Italy lineup: Buffon; Abate, Bonucci, Barzagli, Chiellini; Marchisio, De Rossi, Pirlo, Montolivo; Cassano, Balotelli.

The two squads have just taken to the pitch to warm up, and the official VIP list includes Prince Felipe of Spain, PM Mario Monti of Italy, Ukrainian pole vault legend Sergey Bubka, Davor Suker, Christian Karembeu and God knows how many others.

The stadium is filling up here in Kiev. It is almost 9 p.m. and the sun is still up on a beautiful Sunday evening. Its pretty hot, partly because of the weather and mostly because there are more good looking women per square kilometer here than anywhere else I’ve ever been. Hopefully the football will heat things up even more.