The mad energy of Mario Balotelli and the wizardry of Andrea Pirlo were consumed too early in the tournament.
The Italians may have been made to look like a bunch of school kids in front of a marauding Spain, but they have plenty to take heart from, and more crucially, nothing to be ashamed of.
The knackered European powerhouse were forced to play the last third of their match with 10 men, but they put up a spirited display to even get there, especially considering the kind of pre-tournament disaster they had to face with match-fixing allegations in their league back home.
In the final, neither 'Super Mario' Balotelli, who thumped probably the tournament's two most memorable goals in the semifinal against Germany, nor the wizard Andrea Pirlo could inspire Italy one last time. They probably, like the rest of their teammates, ran out of gas at the most crucial moment.
The result may have been the most lopsided final in European Championship history, eclipsing West Germany’s 3-0 win over the Soviet Union in 1972, but a team that came into this event sans any expectations, Italy can hardly be disappointed with finishing second best.
Coach Cesare Prandelli may still rue his team's performance. He had adopted an attacking mentality much like Spain and Germany, but after squandering 33 shots on goal over 120 minutes against England in the quarterfinals, and having to overpower Germany in a physical contest, they seem to have tired too soon.
They nonetheless dominated play in the brief period between Spain's first and second goals, but were laid low physically and psychologically after JOrdi Alba's goal.
In any case, not many teams can survive trying to press this Spanish side for long periods -- ask Portugal -- and the Italians had to pay the price for their profligacy in the final third of the pitch, something they got away with against England in the quarter final.
However, they had proved once and for all that Italian sides could do better than sit back and defend. For that alone, they deserve to go back home with their heads held high. Bravo!
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