Alonso, making his 100th appearance for Spain, headed them in front from an Alba cross after Iniesta had opened up the play on the left. By the time he joined Manchester City, aged 19, he was already a three-time Scudetto winner and had helped Inter to the 2010 UEFA Champions League title. After a number of volcanic clashes between the Barcelona and Real Madrid players in recent El Clásico and Champions League matches, there was an icy tension between their respective players in the Spain squad that had to be managed in order for the team to work together. The limit of the Croat ambition was to nick one chance where possible; they missed a couple of good chances and had justifiable appeals for a penalty waved away. Now coach at Al Saad. Spain defeated Italy 4–0 in the final, thus becoming the first nation to defend a European Championship title and the first nation to win three major international tournaments in succession (Euro 2008, 2010 World Cup, Euro 2012). Fábio Coentrão (Portugal)Capped an exponential rise with a €30m switch to Real Madrid in summer 2011 having returned to Benfica from a season on loan at hometown club Rio Ave two years earlier. my team of the tourney, in a simple 4-4-2 system; Listened to Talk Sport radio's Micky Quinn/ Ray Tuohy (I think ex BBC)driving to work this morning. They were now dominating possession so thoroughly in games that it was becoming impossible to see how a team could get enough of the ball, with enough energy left to use it, and beat them. Outside of those clubs, midfielder Juan Mata had just won the Champions League final with Chelsea while David Silva had helped to guide Manchester City to their first league title in 44 years. In August 2008, he was also a master of timing; the quiet ones have a knack of picking their moment. The UEFA Euro 2012 tournament was co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine. I agree, he is a quality player, and a great Team player. Four more European crowns followed, plus EURO and UEFA Nations League glory with Portugal. The only exception was when Di … Iniesta, who scored in the 1-0 win over Holland in the final of the 2010 World Cup, played every game for Spain in the tournament. Liverpool miss him so much and have mever replaced him. As he ran away in celebration Iniesta stripped off his shirt, to reveal a vest bearing the handwritten message: “Dani Jarque siempre con nosotros” (“Dani Jarque, always with us”). Both José Mourinho’s Inter Milan in 2010 and Roberto Di Matteo’s Chelsea in 2012, both in semi-final second legs at the Camp Nou, somehow managed to survive an overwhelming disadvantage in possession and territory to stun Barcelona and knock them out. A UEFA Champions League winner in 2015, the full-back has also hauled in five Liga titles and four Copa del Reys. Pirlo dominates the game against us so we think because Shearer et al say he's a genius, we can't form an original opinion. Sami Khedira (Germany)Since making his breakthrough in hometown club Stuttgart's 2007 title-winning side, Khedira, with his unique brand of speed, stamina, technique and aerial ability, has been instrumental wherever he has played. His passing ability is just as good as Pirlo's, but his quick change of pace [with the ball], deft turning and dribbling skills make him stand out on the pitch - and he showcased this last night once again. Xavi Hernández (Spain)Joined Barcelona aged 11, picked up his first league title in 1999 and debuted for Spain in 2000, but his talents really came to the fore at the 2006 World Cup. Maybe we needed a game like the final to leave a good taste in our mouths. Started all six games for Spain at Euro 2012. By 2012 Barcelona’s domination of football was reflected more than ever in the Spanish national side. Player of the Tournament in 2006, he was the linchpin as Spain won the 2010 World Cup and UEFA EURO 2012, where he laid on two goals in the final. Joined Real Madrid from hometown side Sevilla at 19, enjoying astonishing success ever since. On it were stories of great Spanish sporting stars who had overcome adversity to win at the highest level. His intelligent, simple use of the ball contributed immensely to the success enjoyed by Barcelona and Spain. Won multiple league titles with Porto and Madrid, domestic cups with both too, and played his part in three victorious UEFA Champions League campaigns for the Meringues. who scored in the 1-0 win over Holland in the final of the 2010 World Cup. UEFA EURO 2020 - EURO 2012 Team of the Tournament - News, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo was one of six players to score three times at UEFA EURO 2012, Pepe held the Portugal defence together at UEFA EURO 2012, Sergio Ramos is now the most-capped Spain player of all-time, Sami Khedira is the sole Germany representative in the XI, Andrea Pirlo showed his usual poise and grace for Italy at UEFA EURO 2012, Andrés Iniesta and Xavi Hernández were formidable in the victorious Spain midfield, Mario Balotelli scored three times for Italy at UEFA EURO 2012. That was the headache for their manager Vicente del Bosque on a harmonious level; a thornier issue was how the team were going to score.