Euro 2012 Final Live: Spain vs Italy as it happened

It was a one-sided final as Spain brought their best game to the fore to slaughter a 10-man Italian unit. A look at how the match was played out.

2338: SPAIN DEFEAT ITALY TO CLAIM THE EURO TITLE AGAIN!

2329: GOAL! Spain 4, Italy 0 (Mata.) Three minutes of stoppage time.

2323: GOAL! Spain 3, Italy 0 (Torres.)

2317: It's now looking easy for Spain. The Italians have been passed into submission. They look exhausted and the Spanish are playing at a walking pace. Fabregas, who's had a great game, is replaced by Fernando Torres. Time to show that strikers aren't a thing of the past, Fernando?

2312: PhillipsIan: Damage limitation for Italy at Euro 2012. They were adventurous early on but with 10 men look like they're trying to keep the score down (via Twitter)

2306: Big blow for Italy. Thiago Motta, just minutes after coming on, goes off with what looks like a hamstring injury. That means Italy is now down to 10 men because all substitutes have been used.

2300: Credit to the Italians. They're taking the game to Spain but they're just not finding the final pass or shot. Silva replaced by Rodriguez for Spain.

2253: Another chance for Di Natale but his shot goes straight at Casillas. Just before that, Italian defender Abate made a last-gasp interception to deny Spain a third. Iniesta was there to pounce but the Italian managed to stab it clear. Exciting game!

2248: Di Natale on for Cassano and has an immediate chance seconds after the re-start but he heads over the bar. The Italians are going to need to do something really special to get back into this game.

2235: THAT'S THE WHISTLE FOR THE BREAK. Spain lead Italy (2-0) at half time.

2232: Italy's Andrea Barzagli gets the second yellow of the day in the 45th minute.

2229: GOAL! Spain 2, Italy 0. Jordi Alba SCORES the second for Spain vs Italy, minutes before the end of first half.

2214: The midfield is packed with bodies but both teams are managing to break away with piercing attacks. Spain having the better chances but Casillas just gets fingertips to a cross to prevent Balotelli from adding another to his tally.

2212: It's a yellow for Pique for a crude challenge on Cassano.

2205: Italy straight onto the attack after Spain's opening goal. A Pirlo corner is flicked on but Sergio Ramos gets a head to it to clear for a second corner, which is punched clear by Casillas. The game is opening up nicely.

2203: It's a lovely flowing move from Spain after they'd threatened for a few minutes. Iniesta releases Fabregas with an inch-perfect pass down the right. Fabregas, squeezed by a defender, still manages a perfect pass back to Silva, who heads in from 10 yards into the roof of the net. Fourteen minutes gone here. Let's hope the Spanish continue this attacking display.

2200: GOAL! Spain 1, Italy 0 (Silva.)

2157: Lovely passing by Spain to find space. The ball comes to Xavi on the edge of the box who blasts just over the bar. Spain showing some real attacking intent tonight.

2152: Ramos has his eye on Balotelli here - and an arm. A cross comes over and the Spanish defender annoys Balotelli during a physical aerial challenge. A good open start to the final, with both teams attacking. If they play without the handbrake on, this could be a great game.

2145: And they're underway at the Olympic Stadium, Spain kicking off.

2143: Both goalkeepers tonight - Casillas and Buffon - are captaining their teams.

2106: A magnificent closing ceremony takes place in the National Stadium in Kiev

2105: Spain's passes per shot last three tournaments: Euro08 = 33, World Cup 2010 = 44, Euro 2012 = 58.

2050: Spain has never beaten Italy in regulation time. That is a fact that may boost the confidence of the Azzuris.

And here are the lineups:

Spain: Iker Casillas, Alvaro Arbeloa, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, David Silva, Cesc Fabregas.

Italy: Gianluigi Buffon, Ignazio Abate, Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli, Giorgio Chiellini, Claudio Marchisio, Andrea Pirlo, Daniele De Rossi, Riccardo Montolivo, Antonio Cassano, Mario Balotelli.

2030: PaulLogoAP (via Twitter): Spain, Italy players out to inspect the Olympic Stadium turf; Xavi stares down on that grass, is it watered enough?

GDunbarap (via Twitter): How tough is Italy's task vs Spain? Last player to score past Iker Casillas in a knockout game - Zinedine Zidane, and he retired 6 years ago.