Pasodoble on the left hand side: Spain win the trophy

Spain 4 Italy 0

Olé! Olé! Olé! Olé! — Spain finally removed their specs, put down their script, and came out from behind their desk like Angela Rippon on the Morcambe and Wise show.

It was a magnificent display that blew away all nagging doubts about a stuffy, goalless, technical Spain, passing teams (and fans) to death. No. This was an irresistible team playing the perhaps the most exquisite football ever seen.   

Don't take my word for it, take a look at the BBC’s “overhead tactical camera” coverage of the entire game.

In the build up to the first goal, Xabi Alonso plays a sudden crossfield pass to Silva with such speed and accuracy to change the play that it looked like a giant had put his fist on the pitch, capsizing the entire Italy team.

Elsewhere, Xavi, Iniesta and Fabregas are doing footballing needlepoint, threading passes through narrow gaps; tying the Italians in knots. 


For Spain’s second goal, Xavi hit an impossibly perfect laser guided pass to Jordi Alba who stormed into the box to create the kind of iconic Carlos Alberto goal that will symbolise Spain’s performance as Alberto’s goal forever represents the Brazil team of 1970.

It wasn’t all pasodoble passing and possession though. Spain conceded more of the ball to Italy and were far more direct than they had been for three or four years, which made Spain more dangerous in attack. Fabregas played more as an out-an-out forward than a false nine, while Iniesta and Silva made vertical instead of horizontal runs. A tired Italy couldn’t cope.

You’ve got to feel sorry for Cesare Prandelli’s team. Forced to play the final after only two rest days, Italy suffered two crucial injuries during the game and were left playing most of the second half with ten men. When injury time came, Spain’s captain Iker Casillas was seen asking the ref to call time “out of respect for the opponents”, which doesn’t sound that respectful to me.

After the game, the weeping Italians (including Andrea Pirlo) were surrounded on the pitch by joyous Spanish midgets decked out in full kit — the sons and daughters of the Spanish squad; which is all you need when you’ve just lost 4-0 in a major final. A distraught Balotelli was seen grappling with his own handlers trying to exit the scene.

Casillas raised the trophy to crown an enjoyable tournament. Plus, it was the first cup trophy ceremony this year not to be hijacked by John Terry’s awful mug. Just as well with all those kids everywhere. 

Back in England, it’s time for a major rethink. And end to limited thinking. Out with the old — in with the new. But I don’t mean Gerrard, Terry and co. I mean no more Alan Hansen, Shearer, Adrian Chiles, Martin Keown, and certainly no more Mark Lawrenson. Ever.  

Screen shot of the BBC's "Tactical View". Iniesta about to
pass to Fabregas to set up the first goal. You can watch
a repeat of the entire game from this position.