Spain vs Italy: An unexpected rematch for Euro 2012 Final

Germany may have been the team of the tournament going into the match, but they exited with a mere whimper after a hugely disappointing 2-1 loss to Italy in the Euro 2012 semifinals.

Joachim Loew’s young, explosive side lost ground early in the match, when Italy’s Mario Balotelli easily beat Holger Badstuber to score. Twice, actually (20′, 36′). Changes to the starting lineup proved as disastrous as Germany’s defending – Lukas Podolski and Mario Gomez were all-but-absent during the first half. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one wondering what kind of favors were called in to get Podolski back in the starting XI for a semifinal. Both were benched at half, in favor of the much more effective Miroslav Klose and Marco Reus.

Late in the second half, Germany finally recovered some of the spark that helped them go unbeaten for 15 games. But Italy’s solid defense, the Gianluigi Buffon and a bit of luck kept them firmly out of the goal. So, instead of the Euro 2008 final rematch we all expected between Spain and Germany, the final will feature a 2012 group stage rematch between Spain and Italy.

Euro 2012 Final: Spain vs Italy — Sunday, July 1 at 2:30p (ESPN)

Spain made it to the final by the tip of Iker Casillas’ fingers, barely edging out Portugal in the first semifinal. Italy is still riding a wave of momentum stemming from Andrea Pirlo’s excellent Panenka penalty against England in the quarterfinals. However, there is little reason to expect a vastly different match from their 1-1 group draw.

Both teams have tough defenses that are playing in front of the two best goalkeepers in the world. Unfortunately, Spain’s been missing something on offense throughout the tournament – and that something looks a little bit like David Villa. Jesus Navas and Fernando Torres are half-hearted stand-ins with a quarter of Villa’s forward prowess. On the flip side, Balotelli is a wildcard and Spain’s defenders are much, much better than Germany’s.

It’s difficult to see this game becoming a high-scoring affair; it will be a battle of midfield strength and possession. And that is just where Spain likes it. They might not win big, but they know how to win big games.

Prediction: Spain 1 – Italy 0.

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FRIDAY, JUNE 29

Time League or Competition Teams Network Live or Replay?
12:00a World Masters 2012 Masters vs. Stars Fox Soccer Plus Replay
3:00a UEFA Champions League AC Milan vs. FC Viktoria Plzen Fox Soccer Replay
3:00a Argentine Soccer All Boys vs. Boca Juniors GolTV Replay
4:00a English Premier League West Brom vs. Tottenham Fox Soccer Plus Replay
9:00a UEFA Champions League KRC Genk vs. Chelsea FC Fox Soccer Plus Replay
11:00a English Premier League Blackburn vs. Tottenham Fox Soccer Plus Replay
1:00p UEFA Champions League FC Barcelona vs. FC Viktoria Plzen Fox Soccer Replay
3:00p English Premier League Manchester City vs. Arsenal Fox Soccer Replay
3:00p Brazilian Soccer Corinthians vs. Palmeiras GolTV Replay
5:00p UEFA Champions League SL Benfica vs. Chelsea FC Fox Soccer Plus Replay
5:00p Argentine Soccer All Boys vs. Boca Juniors GolTV Replay
8:00p English Premier League Liverpool vs. Newcastle Fox Soccer Replay
8:00p Argentine Soccer River Plate vs. Almirante Brown GolTV Replay
8:00p MLS Soccer Chicago Fire at Sporting Kansas City NBC Sports Network Live
11:00p UEFA Champions League FC Barcelona vs. FC Viktoria Plzen Fox Soccer Replay

SATURDAY, JUNE 30

Time League or Competition Teams Network Live or Replay?
3:00a World Masters 2012 Masters vs. Stars Fox Soccer Replay
3:00a Brazilian Soccer Corinthians vs. Palmeiras GolTV Replay
10:00a UEFA Champions League SL Benfica vs. Chelsea FC Fox Soccer Plus Replay
11:00a World Masters 2012 Masters vs. Stars Fox Soccer Plus Replay
11:00a UEFA Women’s Champions League Lyon vs. Frankfurt GolTV Replay
12:00p UEFA Champions League AC Milan vs. FC BATE Borisov Fox Soccer Replay
1:00p UEFA U-17 Germany vs. Netherlands GolTV Replay
1:30p Women’s Soccer: International Friendly United States vs. Canada NBC Live
3:00p English Premier League Fulham vs. Manchester United Fox Soccer Replay
3:00p International Friendly Brazil vs. Denmark GolTV Replay
5:00p International Friendly Argentina vs. Brazil GolTV Replay
6:00p Football Rivalries Boca Juniors vs. River Plate and Austria vs. Rapid Vienna Fox Soccer Replay
7:00p MLS Soccer New York Red Bulls at Toronto FC Galavision Live
7:00p Argentine Soccer All Boys vs. Boca Juniors GolTV Replay
8:00p English Premier League Aston Villa vs. Everton Fox Soccer Replay
9:00p Argentine Soccer River Plate vs. Almirante Brown GolTV Replay
10:00p MLS Soccer Los Angeles Galaxy at San Jose Earthquakes ESPN2, ESPN Deportes Live
11:00p UEFA Champions League AC Milan vs. FC BATE Borisov Fox Soccer Replay

SUNDAY, JULY 1

Time League or Competition Teams Network Live or Replay?
3:00a UEFA Champions League Valencia CF vs. Chelsea FC Fox Soccer Replay
9:00a UEFA Champions League FC Basel 1893 vs. Manchester United FC Fox Soccer Plus Replay
10:30a German Bundesliga Augsburg vs. Borussia Dortmund GolTV Replay
11:00a English Premier League Manchester United vs. Sunderland Fox Soccer Plus Replay
12:00p UEFA Champions League PFC CSKA Moscow vs. FC Internazionale Milan Fox Soccer Replay
12:30p Argentine Soccer River Plate vs. Almirante Brown GolTV Replay
2:30p 2012 UEFA European Championship Spain vs. Italy ESPN Live
3:00p English Premier League Newcastle vs. Manchester United Fox Soccer Replay
3:30p UEFA Women’s Champions League Lyon vs. Frankfurt GolTV Replay
4:00p UEFA Champions League FC Bayern Munich vs. FC Basel 1893 Fox Soccer Plus Replay
4:00p Women’s College Soccer: 2011 College Cup Championship Duke vs. Stanford ESPNU Replay
5:30p Brazilian Soccer Gremio vs. Atletico MG GolTV Live
6:00p English Premier League Blackburn vs. Manchester City Fox Soccer Plus Replay
7:30p Spanish Super Cup Barcelona vs. Real Madrid GolTV Replay
8:00p English Premier League Swansea City vs. Arsenal Fox Soccer Replay
9:30p Brazilian Soccer Gremio vs. Atletico MG GolTV Replay
11:00p UEFA Champions League FC Viktoria Plzen vs. FC Barcelona Fox Soccer Replay

MONDAY, JULY 2

Time League or Competition Teams Network Live or Replay?
3:00a UEFA Champions League PFC CSKA Moscow vs. FC Internazionale Milan Fox Soccer Replay
7:00a Football Rivalries Barcelona vs. Real Madrid and Olympiakos vs. Panathinaikos Fox Soccer Plus Replay
9:00a Beach Soccer: World Cup Qualifier Moldova vs. Portugal Fox Soccer Plus Taped
10:00a UEFA Champions League FC Viktoria Plzen vs. FC Barcelona Fox Soccer Replay
11:00a Beach Soccer: World Cup Qualifier France vs. Czech Republic Fox Soccer Plus Taped
12:00p Beach Soccer: World Cup Qualifier Norway vs. Spain Fox Soccer Plus Taped
1:00p UEFA Champions League Manchester United FC vs. FC Otelul Galati Fox Soccer Replay
1:00p Women’s College Soccer: 2011 College Cup Championship Duke vs. Stanford ESPNU Replay
2:00p Beach Soccer: World Cup Qualifier Azerbaijan vs. England Fox Soccer Plus Taped
2:30p College Soccer: 2011 NCAA Cup Charlotte vs. North Carolina ESPNU Replay
3:00p English Premier League Liverpool vs. Newcastle Fox Soccer Replay
3:00p Argentine Soccer All Boys vs. Boca Juniors GolTV Replay
5:00p International Rivalries Holland vs. Germany Fox Soccer Replay
5:00p Brazilian Soccer Gremio vs. Atletico MG GolTV Replay
6:30p The FA Classic Collection: 2005/06 Liverpool vs. Manchester United Fox Soccer Replay
7:00p Football Rivalries Barcelona vs. Real Madrid and Olympiakos vs. Panathinaikos Fox Soccer Plus Replay
8:00p English Premier League Everton vs. Blackburn Fox Soccer Replay
11:00p UEFA Champions League Manchester United FC vs. FC Otelul Galati Fox Soccer Replay

TUESDAY, JULY 3

Time League or Competition Teams Network Live or Replay?
3:00a UEFA Champions League FC Viktoria Plzen vs. FC Barcelona Fox Soccer Replay
3:00a Argentine Soccer River Plate vs. Almirante Brown GolTV Replay
8:00a Beach Soccer: World Cup Qualifier Portugal vs. Greece Fox Soccer Plus Taped
9:00a Beach Soccer: World Cup Qualifier Italy vs. Israel Fox Soccer Plus Taped
10:00a UEFA Champions League AC Milan vs. FC BATE Borisov Fox Soccer Replay
11:00a Beach Soccer: World Cup Qualifier Switzerland vs. England Fox Soccer Plus Taped
11:30a UEFA U19 Serbia vs. France GolTV Live
12:00p Beach Soccer: World Cup Qualifier Russia vs. Germany Fox Soccer Plus Taped
1:00p UEFA Champions League Villarreal CF vs. Manchester City FC Fox Soccer Replay
1:30p UEFA U19 Estonia vs. Portugal GolTV Live
2:00p Beach Soccer: World Cup Qualifier Spain vs. Netherlands Fox Soccer Plus Taped
3:00p English Premier League Wolverhampton vs. Chelsea Fox Soccer Replay
6:30p Premier League Archives Blackburn Rovers vs. Norwich City Fox Soccer Replay
8:00p English Premier League Manchester City vs. Tottenham Fox Soccer Replay
8:30p Premier League Archives Leicester vs. Sunderland Fox Soccer Plus Replay
11:00p UEFA Champions League Villarreal CF vs. Manchester City FC Fox Soccer Replay

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4

Time League or Competition Teams Network Live or Replay?
3:00a UEFA Champions League AC Milan vs. FC BATE Borisov Fox Soccer Replay
6:00a Women’s College Soccer: 2011 College Cup Championship Duke vs. Stanford ESPNU Replay
8:00a Beach Soccer: World Cup Qualifier Russia vs. Poland Fox Soccer Plus Taped
8:00a College Soccer: 2011 NCAA Cup Charlotte vs. North Carolina ESPNU Replay
9:00a Beach Soccer: World Cup Qualifier Portugal vs. Ukraine Fox Soccer Plus Taped
10:00a UEFA Champions League Chelsea FC vs. KRC Genk Fox Soccer Replay
11:00a Beach Soccer: World Cup Qualifier Romania vs. France Fox Soccer Plus Taped
12:00p Beach Soccer: World Cup Qualifier Italy vs. Hungary Fox Soccer Plus Taped
1:00p UEFA Champions League Olympique Lyonnais vs. Real Madrid CF Fox Soccer Replay
3:00p English Premier League Fulham vs. Arsenal Fox Soccer Replay
3:00p UEFA U19 Serbia vs. France GolTV Replay
5:00p Football Rivalries Ajax vs. Feyenoord and Flamengo vs. Fluminese Fox Soccer Replay
5:00p Beach Soccer: World Cup Qualifier Italy vs. Hungary Fox Soccer Plus Replay
5:00p UEFA U19 Estonia vs. Portugal GolTV Replay
6:00p Beach Soccer: World Cup Qualifier England vs. Belarus Fox Soccer Plus Taped
7:30p Premier League Archives Leicester vs. Sunderland Fox Soccer Plus Replay
8:00p English Premier League Arsenal vs. Manchester United Fox Soccer Replay
11:00p UEFA Champions League Olympique Lyonnais vs. Real Madrid CF Fox Soccer Replay

THURSDAY, JULY 5

Time League or Competition Teams Network Live or Replay?
3:00a UEFA Champions League Chelsea FC vs. KRC Genk Fox Soccer Replay
3:00a German Bundesliga Schalke vs. B. Leverkusen GolTV Replay
10:00a UEFA Champions League FC Barcelona vs. FC Viktoria Plzen Fox Soccer Replay
1:00p UEFA Champions League FC Bayern Munich vs. SSC Napoli Fox Soccer Replay
3:00p English Premier League Newcastle vs. Manchester United Fox Soccer Replay
3:00p UEFA U19 Estonia vs. Portugal GolTV Replay
5:00p Brazilian Soccer Gremio vs. Atletico MG GolTV Replay
7:30p The FA Classic Collection Portsmouth vs. Arsenal Fox Soccer Plus Replay
8:00p English Premier League Everton vs. Manchester City Fox Soccer Replay
8:00p ECNL Championship Teams TBA GolTV Taped
11:00p UEFA Champions League FC Bayern Munich vs. SSC Napoli Fox Soccer Replay

 

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