Euro 2012: Spain vs Italy

Antonio Di Natale scores Italy's goal in the second half (AP Images)

Sunday afternoon saw the defending Euro champions take the stage in Gdansk as Spain took to the pitch against Italy.  These two teams had also won the last two FIFA World Cups: Italy in 2006 and Spain in 2010.  However, nobody gave the Italians much of a chance in the shadow of their match-fixing scandal, but they put on a pretty decent show in the face of a slightly underwhelming Spain performance.

Spain came out in what announcer Ian Darke labeled a "false number 9" formation, featuring a 4-3-3 type with no actual strikers.  They had some success with this formation in the qualifiers, but it didn't seem to phase the Italians.  The Spaniards had a tough time getting good lucks at goal without a focal point up top. Manchester City man David Silva had the first two looks, sending a drive over the bar in the 9th minute and forcing a save out of Gianluigi Buffon in the 11th.

However Italy got more possession than you might expect an opponent to get against Spain, especially in the first half.  In the 22nd minute Antonio Cassano drug a shot across the face of goal that went just wide of Iker Casillas' far post.  Then in the 36th minute Claudio Marchisio sent in an absolutely blistering volley that would have given the Italians the lead, but he hit it right at the Spanish 'keeper.

The goals didn't come until the second half.  In the 56th minute Italy subbed Antonio Di Natale of Udinese for Mario Balotelli.  Balotelli had just royally mismanaged a look right in front of the Spanish goal, and the Italians had seen enough.  However Di Natale paid immediate dividends.  In the 60th minute Andrea Pirlo played him into the area and Di Natale scorched a shot past Casillas into the far end of the goal to give Italy the 1-0 lead.

Spain didn't panic though, and just 4 minutes later they showed exactly what their players were capable of in the "false number 9" formation.  David Silva slid a gorgeous little pass to Cesc Fabregas and the Bareclona man powered his strike past Buffon to tie the match at 1-1.  

After that Spain finally inserted a striker to try and force a winner against the fatigued Italian defense.  Unfortunately that striker was Fernando Torres, and he did not do well.  Actually, he looked pretty sharp on the ball, but one could tell his confidence in goal is not totally back yet.  His best chance came in the 85th minute.  He and Xavi did a nice little 1-2 that resulted in a great look, but Torres' chip shot not only floated over Buffon, but over the crossbar to consign the defending champs to the 1-1 draw at full time.