Euro 2012 Opta Stats: Spain v Italy

Opta
28 June 2012

These two great goalkeepers will captain their countries in Kiev

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It's the biggest international match of the year, and Opta have 24 stats to help inform your betting on the Euro 2012 decider...

Match odds
Over/Under 2.5 goals
Correct Score

It will be the fourth time a European Championship final takes place between teams who met earlier in the tournament. It happened in 1988 (Netherlands v USSR), 1996 (Germany v Czech Republic) and 2004 (Greece v Portugal).

Italy and Spain are facing each other for the 31st time in their history. The Italians hold the advantage with 10 wins to Spain's eight. 12 draws complete the picture.

Italy are unbeaten against Spain at major tournaments (penalties shoot-outs excluded), with three wins and four draws. Nevertheless, Spain managed to qualify in their last knockout encounter in the quarter-finals of Euro 2008 (0-0 after 120 mins, 4-2 after penalties).

Cesare Prandelli has faced Spain twice as Italy head coach and has never lost. Italy beat them in a friendly in August 2011 (2-1) before drawing in their opening game at Euro 2012 (1-1).

Spain haven't conceded a single goal in their last 900 minutes of action in major tournament knockout games, a streak which started in the quarter-finals of Euro 2008.

Spain are the second European side to reach the final of three consecutive major tournaments, after West Germany (Euro 1972, World Cup 1974, Euro 1976).

Spain could become the first team in history to successfully defend their European Championship title. They would also become the first European side to win three consecutive major tournaments.

Spain have won 75% of their finals at major tournaments (three out of four), the best ratio for European sides who have played more than one final alongside France.

This is Italy's ninth final at major tournaments (three at the European Championship, six at the World Cup). They've won 63%.

Italy are the only side who have never trailed at any point during Euro 2012.

Spain have the best defensive record at Euro 2012 with only one goal conceded. In their last two games (a quarter-final v France and semi-final v Portugal), Spain have only faced one shot on target.

Spain have conceded only 12 shots on target at Euro 2012. 50% of those were against Italy in their opening game (6).

Spain dominated possession in their seven games at World Cup 2010 and five games at Euro 2012. Germany, in the final of Euro 2008, were the last side to dominate possession against La Roja.

Italy and Spain have had the most shots at Euro 2012: 99 and 86 respectively.

Italy have picked up the most bookings at Euro 2012: 15. That's five more than Spain (10).

The Azzurri are unbeaten in 15 competitive games under Cesare Prandelli: winning ten (one by default) and drawing five.

Five Spanish players (Xavi, Xabi Alonso, Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Ramos) have completed more passes than Italy's most prolific player in that department, Andrea Pirlo (320 passes).

Mario Balotelli scored as many goals against Germany in the semi-finals as he did in his 12 previous appearances for Italy. He has scored Italy's last three goals at Euro 2012.

Balotelli has had the most shots on target at Euro 2012: 10.

Balotelli has become the first Italian player to score three goals at a European Championship.

Gianluigi Buffon has played 24 matches at major tournaments, equalling Dino Zoff's Italian record.

He is still four short of the record holder among goalkeepers, Spain's Iker Casillas (28).

Andres Iniesta is the player who has had the most shots on target without scoring at the European Championship, since 1980: 11 shots on target, no goals.

Cesc Fabregas and Santi Cazorla are the most used substitutes in the history of the European Championships (alongside Holland's Aron Winter), having been brought on seven times.