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Four years and nine days ago, at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna, Cesc Fabregas whistled a penalty past Gianluigi Buffon's lugs, and Spain started to believe. The spot kick put Spain into the semi finals of Euro 2008, securing victory over bogey side Italy in a major tournament for the first time since their first-ever meeting, at the 1920 Olympics. The rest is recent history, with Spain going on to win Euro 2008, then following it up by scooping the World Cup.
Today, one way or another, Spain's journey comes full circle. If they see off Italy again, the quest is complete: they become the first country to retain the European Championship, and the first to win three major international tournaments on the bounce. But if they don't - and Italy land their second European Championship title, their first since 1968 - the story finishes with a bittersweet symmetry, an almost perfect narrative arc.
There's also a delightful role-reversal riff being played out. Spain, for years haphazard modernists, are all about control these days. Meanwhile, as they've been honing tiki-takanaccio almost to absurd perfection, the Italians, so long the masters of the dark arts of defence, have taken to sashaying around upfield in the swashbuckling style, individualists to the fore. Attackinaccio? It's all very strange, whatever it is. It's Bizarro Football.
There's one other factor to be taken into consideration, and it could have an influence on tonight's match. There's an increasing sense that while Spain are respected for their brilliance, they're rarely loved. Do they fancy winning a few hearts and minds as well as the silverware? No reason why they should care what anyone else thinks, of course - the pots are reward enough - but perhaps they fancy a few hugs, kisses and admiring glances, too. If all their talent comes out accordingly with attacking intent, we could be about to witness a signature performance for the ages - the one and only thing their pot-gathering reign is lacking.
So, basically, I'm looking for a few reasons to believe this could become a stone-cold classic. Now can you blame anyone for that?
Kick off: 7.45pm BST, 9.45pm EEST (local time in Kyiv).
History: It's on Italy's side. They might have been knocked out of Euro 2008 by Spain, but it was only after a penalty shootout, so the official records still show that the Spanish have only registered one victory in a major finals over the Azzurri: their first-ever meeting at the 1920 Olympics. Italy responded to that loss by thrashing Spain 7-1 at the 1928 Games. They then knocked Spain out of the 1934 World Cup, the legendary Inter striker Giuseppe Meazza scoring the winner in a quarter-final replay. They beat Spain 1-0 in the Euro 88 group stages, Gianluca Vialli the scorer. And two-goal Roberto Baggio did for them in the quarter finals of the 1994 World Cup in Boston, with a little help from Julio Salinas. Not only that, when lots were drawn to decide whether Spain or Turkey would go to the 1958 World Cup, a small blindfolded boy selected the Turks. The lad was, needless to say, Italian. That victory at Euro 2008 was a load off, that's for sure.
More recent history: The well-matched 1-1 draw in the groups, three weeks ago to the day. Read More
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