SECURE EURO DONE

Spain 4 Italy 0: Silva, Alba, Torres and Mata the heroes as La Roja create history in Kiev  

Sensational Spain trampled all over those boring jibes and marched straight into the history books with a magnificent Euro 2012 final victory over Italy in Kiev.

First-half goals from David Silva and Jordi Alba and late efforts from substitutes Fernando Torres and Juan Mata confirmed La Roja as the first team to record three successive major tournament victories, including a World Cup, with the biggest ever win in a European Championship final.

Champions! Casillas holds the trophy aloft after watching his side ease past Italy in Kiev

Spain v Italy - match facts

Spain: Casillas, Arbeloa, Pique, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Xavi, Busquets, Alonso, Silva (Pedro Rodriguez 59), Fabregas (Torres 75), Iniesta.

Subs not used: Valdes, Albiol, Javi Martinez, Juanfran, Negredo, Mata, Llorente, Santi Cazorla, Jesus Navas, Reina.

Booked: Pique.

Goals: Silva (14), (Alba 41) Torres (84), Mata (88).

Italy: Buffon, Abate, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini (Balzaretti 21), Pirlo, Marchisio, Montolivo (Thiago Motta 57), De Rossi, Balotelli, Cassano (Di Natale 45).

Subs not used: Sirigu, Maggio, Ogbonna, Giaccherini, Borini, Giovinco, Diamanti, Nocerino, De Sanctis.

Booked: Barzagli. 

Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal)

And they did it with the most awesome display of passing power, which made a mockery of all those who had questioned them beforehand.

It was all too much for Mario Balotelli, who marched straight down the tunnel at the end and angrily shrugged away efforts from Italian officials to get him to stay, before returning for the presentation ceremony.

Yet the thing was, Italy were not disgraced and would have held out hopes of a comeback until Cesare Prandelli's final replacement Thiago Motta was stretchered off within four minutes of his arrival, leaving his team-mates to battle through the final half hour with 10 men.

Ultimately though, Spain's display was a fitting end to the best European Championships in almost three decades.

Four players in particular, Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Andres Iniesta and Xavi deserve a special mention after starting all three finals, in Vienna, Johannesburg and now Ukraine.

But, as 'Ole' rang around this magnificent stadium, it was a night to glory in tiki-taka - and the players who put it into practice.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/euro2012/article-2167328/Euro-2012-results-Spain-4-Italy-0.html#ixzz1zPWXqC7T