Spain crushes Italy 4-0 in Euro 2012 final

KIEV, Ukraine — Certainly the best in the world and maybe the best ever. Definitely not boring.

Spain opened a fresh debate on its place in world football history after sweeping to a majestic 4-0 victory over Italy in the European Championship final on Sunday.

For the third consecutive major tournament, Spain’s outstanding goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas was there at the end to lift the trophy. After Euro 2008 in Vienna and the 2010 World Cup in Johannesburg, Casillas and Spain completed an unprecedented hat trick for a European nation.

“To win three titles is almost impossible. Congratulations to the players,” said Spain coach Vicente del Bosque, who followed Luis Aragones as coach after Euro 2008.

And this was the same team that critics had called boring at Euro 2012?

Spain emphatically shut down that discussion, providing the perfect response with the most one-sided final in European Championship history.

No team has ever won a World Cup final by four clear goals, either. Even Pele’s Brazil only managed a three-goal margin a couple of times.

“It was more difficult when people didn’t believe in us,” Spain playmaker Xavi Hernandez said. “The bar was very high, but they are nice challenges.”

Pity poor Italy, who leave Euro 2012 showered with popular acclaim as the most watchable team in some years from a country renowned for defensive tactics.