Euro 2012 final preview - Spain and Italy go head-to-head in Kiev's Olympic Stadium

Posted Sunday, July 01, 2012 by skysports.com

Euro 2012 final preview - Spain and Italy go head-to-head in Kiev's Olympic Stadium
Mario Balotelli: Italy striker has his sights set on the Golden Boot

Golden boot

Balotelli now has three goals to his name for the tournament and if he finds the net in the final he is likely to claim the Golden Boot outright, with the equally combustible Antonio Cassano expected to partner him up front for Cesare Prandelli's side.

Andrea Pirlo is undoubtedly the man to watch in Italy's midfield, with his assured control and incisive passing against both England and Germany, not to mention his outrageously composed penalty in the quarter-final, a joy to behold.

But Spain are hardly short of players who cherish possession and in Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Xabi Alonso and David Silva they have a quartet capable of picking their way through the most tightly locked of defences.

For all their much-lauded attacking talent, Del Bosque's men are also superb at the back, with a record of nine successive clean sheets in major tournament knockout games, while Iker Casillas has not conceded since being beaten by Di Natale back in early June, a run of 419 minutes.

Christian Maggio is available to Prandelli after missing the victory over Germany through suspension, while fellow defender Ignazio Abate will come back into contention for selection following his absence from the last four success due to muscle fatigue.

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