Italy vs Spain
European Under-21 Championship: Final
Match date: 18 June 2013 - Kick Off Time: 18:00 CET
Venue: Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem, Israel
Match date: 18 June 2013 - Kick Off Time: 18:00 CET
Venue: Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem, Israel
Referee: Matej Jug (Slovenia)
After Italy and Spain have played the EURO 2012 senior final last year, we will see both countries now also in the final of the European Under-21 Championship in Israel on Tuesday evening.
Italy made it to the final with a 1:0 victory over the
Netherlands on Saturday. The Dutch were actually the dominating team in
this semi-final, hit the post and missed several chances, but then it
was striker Fabio Borini (Liverpool) who scored the 1:0 winner for the
'Azzurrini' eleven minutes before the end. Italy had beaten England 1:0
in the first game of the tournament, also defeated host Israel 4:0 and
drew with Norway 1:1 in the last group match. Devis Mangia's side
continues Italy's strong defence tradition, the goal they conceded
against Norway was the only goal Italy's U21 conceded in the whole year
2013.
Spain ran over Norway and won fully deserved 3-0. The only point of
criticism was their conversion of chances, as they had missed several
great opportunities in the first half. They beat Russia 1-0 in their
opening match of the tournament before going on to beat a well fancied
German side by the same scoreline thanks to a Morata winner. Morata
continued his record of scoring in every game of the tournament with the
opener against Holland on the way to a 3-0 victory.Meanwhile for Spain, their single alteration is likely to see Alvaro
Morata, the competition's top scorer with four strikes to his name in
Israel, return to the XI at the expense of the goal-shy Rodrigo. With no
fresh injury worries to report, Spain will be at full strength for the
final.
Possible line-ups:
Italy (4-2-3-1): Bardi; Donati, Bianchetti, Caldirola, Regini; Verratti, Florenzi; Saponara, Insigne, Borini; Gabbiadini.
Spain (4-3-3): De Gea; Montoya, Bartra, Martinez, Moreno; Illarramendi, Koke, Thiago Alcantara; Isco, Morata, Tello.
Spain (4-3-3): De Gea; Montoya, Bartra, Martinez, Moreno; Illarramendi, Koke, Thiago Alcantara; Isco, Morata, Tello.