Hope you enjoyed the three Euros live blogs from the Championship. Pre-season starts in two weeks' time, and then the madness of domestic football will commence faster than a Jordi Alba run. Well, not quite.
¡Buenos noches!
Despite Michel Platini doing his John Terry schtick and unnecessarily holding on to the Henri Delaunay silverware.
After ending 44 years without a major trophy in 2008, Spain have now won three out of three to set an unprecedented level of success at international level. They can bore, but they can be brilliant, and they are the best.
Deserved winners, coach Del Bosque has now won both the World Cup and the Euros, as well as two Champions Leagues with Real Madrid.
The man advantage ensures this scoreline mildly flatters La Roja, but this was an anti-climactic final and they deserved their win.
It's carnage in Kiev. Torres lays off a tap-in for Mata, who scores with his first touch. The Italian defensive line is being exposed again by their Spanish bĂŞte noire, who was unselfish enough to assist his team-mate.
The outstanding Iniesta departs for Juan Mata, who gets his first run out at the Euros. Torres is now the sixth joint-top scorer at these finals.
Possibly. Especially since Italy have played with 10 men since Thiago aggravated his hamstring strain. However they have been the superior side, comfortably so.
Torres makes it a third, as he gets his second European Championship final goal.
Hard to foresee any of these Spanish players not being at Brazil for the next World Cup. Xavi has already said he's still eager to go on, so could it be the swansong for the likes of him, Casillas, Alonso and Puyol?
But he's offside. Alba laid on the assist, emerging like Mr Incredible's son. He's been superb.
It's an exhibition match now, like the majority of Barcelona-Manchester United Champions League finals, so Spain go radical and bring a striker on. Torres gets a run-out at the expense of FĂ bregas.
The last time a team scored first in a European Championship final and lost was Italy against France in Rotterdam 12 years ago. The last two finals had ended 1-0 before tonight.
But he wasn't. And he would have been one-on-one. If only, yada yada yada.
It's times like these he usually tries to amputate someone's leg, but he's been very controlled for all but one moment this tournament. His conduct has improved since his afternoon at the Arsenal on Easter Sunday.
That's how it feels now. Italy look spent - especially having made all their subs - and that Di Natale chance symbolic of them waving the white flag.
He's 33 years are showing tonight. Harried regularly by Spain, they've adopted Ji-Sung Park's template.
Air of resignation for the Italians after Motta's injury (he's still on), but here comes Pirlo...
David Silva is replaced by Pedro. It's a Clásico XI for Spain now.
The 21-year-old shanks one wide after Casillas again poorly punches away a Pirlo free-kick.
Thiago Motta comes on for Riccardo Montolivo. An insurance policy against any Spanish counter-attacks, Motta knows Busquets very well...
Incredibly lazy. Balotelli is so infuriated by his strike partner he advises him to watch the line. Veteran Mario.
Renowned for Serie A's best finisher, the Italian fluffs his lines again. In acres of space after beating the Spanish offside trap, he can't float the ball over Casillas, who saves a generic finish.
Xavi swings in a free-kick from the touchline and Ramos' header is clearly blocked by Bonucci's hand. Would have been a penalty if 0-0. Should have been a penalty at 2-0.
Showing a dribbling ability rarely seen at Arsenal, Fabregas is thwarted by Buffon after a brilliant run inside the Italians' box.
Clive Tyldesley just said "Buscuits". There are many who'd like to dunk a commentator into steaming tea.






The Huffington Post UK | By Samuel Luckhurst Posted: 01/07/2012 18:30 Updated: 01/07/2012 19:03