2012 Euro Final: Spain and Italy, Who Wins?

This depends on your jersey doesn’t it? Or, your passport. Or, what dinner dish your grandma makes. Is she all about paella and sangria? Tapas? Or, does she roll out the pasta, pizza, and lasagna?

Jersey Shore, or a Telenovela?

Is this about Italy’s ascendancy (or re-ascendancy) or is it about Spain’s fall back to Earth? Because, and let’s be real here, Spain has not been as dominant in this Euro as they were before. They look normal. They were outplayed by Portugal, and are fortunate to be in their third straight title game. History says it will catch up to then, but will it be today?

As for Italy, they’re always the easiest team to bust or boom. They’ll win when they’re not supposed to, and they’ll crash and burn when they’re meant to thrive.

Today, Gian Luigi Buffon gets a shot at his only Euro. Mario Balotelli can win the Golden Boot. Andrea Pirlo is making his name known in North America, where they toss soccer stars out ever two or four years and then forget about them forever. Cannavaro, Henry, or Torres. We’ve seen it all before.

As for Spain, are they stronger without a go-to guy? Sergio Ramos and Cesc Fabregas have been noticeable, and Xavi and Andres Iniesta are studs. Fernando Torres has scored two goals, even as he plays Cody Hodgson-type minutes.

So, who wins?

Vegas says Spain. We say the Pizza Pies.

Italy 2, Spain 1.