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Half-Time Report: Spain 2-0 Italy

Half-Time Report: Spain 2-0 Italy
© PA Photos
Goals from David Silva and Jordi Alba give holders Spain a 2-0 half-time lead over Italy in the Euro 2012 final in Kiev.

Goals from David Silva and Jordi Alba have given holders Spain a 2-0 half-time lead over Italy in tonight's Euro 2012 final at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev.

The defending champions started brightly and had their first attempt at goal after only five minutes when Sergio Ramos blasted a free kick over the crossbar.

If that effort was wayward, the defender came much closer minutes later when he headed narrowly over from a corner.

Spain continued to dominate and nearly took the lead through Xavi Hernandez, but the midfielder fired high after a neat passing move around the penalty area.

They were eventually rewarded for their pressure in the 13th minute as Silva got across his marker to head in Cesc Fabregas's clever cross.

It got worse for Italy soon after as the injured Giorgio Chiellini was taken off in place of Federico Balzaretti.

Despite going behind, Italy began to force the issue as Antonio Cassan had two shots saved by Iker Casillas.

The first was a tame drive through the defender's legs, but his second had to be pushed away down low by the Spanish captain.

However, Spain doubled their lead five minutes before the break when Jordi Alba calmly slotted after collecting Xavi's incisive pass.

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Euro 2024 fixtures header
Tuesday, July 2
 
8pm
Friday, July 5
 
5pm
Quarter-Finals
Spain
vs.
Germany
 
8pm
Quarter-Finals
Portugal
vs.
France
Saturday, July 6
 
5pm
Tuesday, July 9
Wednesday, July 10
Sunday, July 14
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


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