The Frenchman revealed planning work, including construction and renovation of the 11 mooted venues, was well ahead of schedule in comparison to last year's hosts Poland and Ukraine at the same stage.

"For UEFA, things are progressing well," he told reporters. "Today there were plenty of green lights, and some that were more amber.

"Four years ago with Poland and Ukraine all the lights were at red.

"I was very happy that the colours this time were different.

"In Ukraine, stadiums were supposed to be finished in 2010 and some of them were completed in March 2012.

"I hope the stadiums in France are ready as quickly as possible."

Lille's new 50,000-seater Grand Stade Metropole, which was completed last year, is one of two stadia already ready for the tournament along with the Stade de France in northern Paris.

President of the organising committee Jacques Lambert said that stadiums in St Etienne and Marseille were halfway through renovation with work on grounds in Bordeaux, Toulouse, Lens and the Parc des Princes in Paris to start soon.

A new stadium in Nice is due to be completed next year while Lyon's 58,000-capacity Stade des Lumieres is scheduled to open for the 2015-16 season.

"There is no situation that is currently out of our control," Lambert said.

It was also announced that a logo for the tournament, which will be expanded to include 24 teams, would be unveiled on June 26.

UEFA on Friday announced the bidding guidelines for the tournament, which is being held in 13 different countries across Europe, and said only "token gifts" valued at less than 300 Swiss francs ($300) would be permitted.

England is bidding for the final and semi-finals, with Wales, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland aiming to bid for group games.

The guidelines aim to stop some of the practices that took place during the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

For example, England 2018 paid $50,000 to pick up the tab for the Caribbean Football Union's gala dinner and Qatar 2022 spent $1.5 million sponsoring the Confederation of African Football's congress and Australia 2022 around $450,000 on a grant to the CONCACAF centre of excellence in Trinidad.

UEFA's bidding regulations state: "UEFA member associations are prohibited from offering, making or conferring any gift or benefit (whether direct or indirect) to or upon UEFA or any of its employees, representatives, contractors (including experts), agents or partners during or in connection with the bidding procedure."

The exception is "non-cash gifts having only a token value (not exceeding CHF 300) as a mark of respect and friendship".

The rules add: "Upon any request from UEFA, a UEFA member association must declare and substantiate the value of any gift made or offered during or in connection with the bidding procedure."

Any UEFA official offered a gift or benefit other than a token present is obliged to report the approach.

Cities can bid for either three group matches and a quarter-final, or the semi-finals and final. Bids must be submitted by September 11, bid dossiers submitted by April 25 next year and a decision will take place the following September.

The decision to raise the number of finalists from 16 to 24 countries means that almost half of the 53 European nations will qualify for the tournament in France.

UEFA president Platini defended the decision but conceded that it will mean some "less interesting matches", with many of the qualifying groups seeing three of the six teams going through - and that is an issue for the European governing body which is now selling the TV rights centrally.

Platini told a news conference in Sofia, Bulgaria: "This was a decision of the UEFA Congress to go to 24 teams after a request made by Ireland and Scotland - vast majority of national associations wanted us to go to 24.

"I thought about it a great deal to see if the quantity would affect the quality and I think that we could have 24 very good teams in Europe more or less of the same calibre, so I don't think it will change the quality.

"The only small challenge has to do with the qualifiers as there will be some less interesting matches. There will be groups of six with two or three going through so the qualifying will be less decisive, but the tournament will be just as interesting."

Europe has 13 places for FIFA World Cup finals and Platini said that having almost twice as many for the European Championships was "extremely important for the general happiness of the national associations in terms of promoting football in their countries".

UEFA's executive committee agreed the bidding rules and timetable for Euro 2020, which is being held in 13 different countries across the continent.

Cities can bid for either three group matches and a quarter-final, or the semi-finals and final. The full bid regulations will be published on April 26, bids submitted by September 11, bid dossiers submitted by April 25 next year and a decision the following September.

The FA has said it will bid for Wembley to host the semi-finals and final, while Cardiff, Glasgow and Dublin are all set to bid for group matches.

The candidates for UEFA's executive committee were also confirmed and Manchester United's outgoing chief executive David Gill will be one of nine candidates for eight seats. Six of these are standing for re-election with the new candidates being Gill, Germany's Wolfgang Niersbach and Portugal's Fernando Gomes.

European football's governing body announced in December that it had taken the unprecedented step of hosting the event in several cities throughout Europe.

In an interview with German sports publication Kicker, Blatter revealed a similar idea had been proposed to him for the 2010 World Cup by former Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, but he discarded it as 'unthinkable', with South Africa granted sole hosting rights.

Blatter is surprised that UEFA president Michel Platini has presided over the adoption of such a format for 2020, and has accused the governing body of 'wasting' the tournament.

"A tournament belongs in one country," Blatter said. "That way, you create identity and euphoria. Like, for example, the 'summer fairytale' in Germany [the 2006 World Cup].

"The 2020 tournament has been wasted; it's no longer a European championships. It has got to be referred to as something else, only I don't know what.

"A European championships like this lacks a heart and soul.

"I told Michel Platini that the former Libyan head of state Colonel Gaddafi had spoken to me when the 2010 World Cup was awarded about the event taking place in 53 countries of Africa, with the final taking place in South Africa.

"He believed in that idea, and I told him it was unthinkable. So I told Platini, his idea is not novel."

Platini is one of the candidates to replace Blatter as FIFA president, and the Swiss admitted that could well happen in 2015.

"When it is certain that FIFA will continue to be run the way it is now, remaining global, and that the pyramid will not collapse, then I would be happy to pass the baton onto a new president in 2015," he said.

"He (Platini) has his ideas for the future of FIFA which he wants to explain to the other continents, but he has not yet made up his mind."

Uncertainty therefore continues over Blatter's own future, and he has not ruled out standing for re-election once again.

"What can you rule out if you don't even know what the future will bring?" he said.

Wembley Stadium is to bid to stage the climax of the tournament, which will be played in 13 countries across Europe, and is expected to face rival bids from Rome, Berlin, Madrid and Istanbul.

Host countries will not qualify automatically but if they do, their national team will be guaranteed to play at least two of the three group matches at home, UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino told a news conference in Nyon, Switzerland.

Infantino said: "The matches of the Euro will be split into 13 packages - 12 cities who will have three group stage matches and one knock-out round match and one city will host the two semi-finals and final.

"There will be only one venue per country, and it means the semi-finals and final will be played in the same venue."

With 13 cities involved the European governing body is anxious to ensure that air travel will not be an issue.

One of the criteria laid down by planners is that each host city must have two airports or at a minimum two terminals so the two sets of fans can be kept apart.

That is likely to be something of a headache for Cardiff - its airport has a single terminal, and the Welsh FA would have to argue that Bristol or even airports further afield could be used as an alternative for fans.

Dublin and Glasgow are also expected to bid to host group matches at EURO 2020, which for the first time is to be held across Europe instead of in one or two countries.

The Football Association is to bid to host the semi-finals and final at Wembley, or group matches and quarter-finals if that is unsuccessful.

Rival bids for the final are expected from Istanbul - the favourite if it is unsuccessful in its 2020 Olympic bid - plus Madrid, Berlin and Rome.

Two cities with smaller-capacity stadiums will be among the 13 chosen as EURO 2020 hosts in an effort to broaden the reach of the tournament, according to sources close to the process.

Officials drawing up plans for the tournament have decreed that two host cities can have a stadium capacity as low as 30,000, that 10 stadiums will have a 50,000 minimum capacity and four of those hosting the quarter-finals to have grounds of at least 60,000.

The stadium that hosts the two semi-finals and final will have to be able to seat more than 70,000 fans.

UEFA's executive committee is expected to agree to the plans at its meeting on 28 March.

The idea in having two 30,000-seater stadiums means smaller countries will be able to enter the bidding - only 21 of the 53 UEFA member nations have stadiums of 50,000 or more.

Tournament planners believe that host countries will be able to play at least two of their group matches at home. UEFA will also try to arrange groups on a geographical basis to avoid long journeys across Europe for fans.

Nearly six months after Germany fell short of its third major final in 10 years, Low says thoughts of the 2-1 defeat to the superior Azzurri continue to haunt him.

"There have been many evenings when I wake up in a real panic and start remembering some of the moments which keep coming back to me in fragments," he told the German Football Association's (DFB) website.

"It is almost like a horror film. I get goosebumps when I see games like that, in a negative sense."

Nevertheless, Low still looks back on a positive 2012 in which his side broke a record of consecutive victories prior to the Italy defeat, and made a convincing start to 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification.

Only a 4-4 draw with Sweden after leading 4-0 ranks up there with Low's biggest regrets after the Italy reverse.

"We have had many good situations, but we just missed out on our big goal of winning the Euros or reaching the final," he said.

"The 4-4 draw with Sweden was also not the best of moments either, but we are heading in the right direction.

"Sometimes things really do have to hurt you so that you can learn from them.

"What happened to us against Sweden will probably never happen to us again. The alarm bells would ring and we would stop and deal with it differently."

"It's a blank page at the moment," said the former France captain.

"I can't tell you where we're going to go. We haven't yet gone into the details. It's a one-off decision."

Platini first mooted the idea of holding the 60th anniversary of European football's premier competition in a number of countries before the final of this year's edition in Poland and Ukraine, which was won by defending champion Spain.

On Thursday, UEFA's executive committee was virtually unanimous in supporting the idea, which Platini said had been circulating for a number of years and had been the subject of numerous meetings and discussions with national associations.

Many fans suggested that the decision, opposed only by Turkey which had previously submitted a bid to host the tournament in eight years' time, would lead to increased costs and could destroy the atmosphere of the competition.

But Platini, who has argued that a Europe-wide competition would relieve pressures on one or two host nations given the current parlous financial climate in many countries, said more work was required to thrash out the detail.

"There are political decisions and geographic decisions," he told reporters in Nyon, Switzerland, where UEFA is based.

"It's not a case of a fan watching his team in Cardiff (Britain) then in Astana (Kazakhstan) and then in Sweden.

"Nothing is decided at the moment. I put forward the idea, the associations voted. I propose things and the executive committee decides."

UEFA secretary-general Gianni Infantino said that the project would be re-examined in January or March next year and that host cities would be chosen in early 2014.

"We're looking at something bigger and more united," Platini said. "Countries that would never have had the chance to host the Euros will be able to participate in this festival of football.

"The situation is difficult in Europe. It's hard to ask one country to invest in 10 stadiums like in Ukraine. There's also the idea of belonging to a European country. It's a great idea to mark the anniversary.

"The Euros will go to the fans. It'll meet supporters. In previous years, they had to go to the Euros. Everything will be done so that the fans are able to get to games."

England's Football Association (FA), meanwhile, registered its interest early in staging the semi-finals and finals at London's Wembley stadium, while the Scottish FA also said it would be keen to participate.

The host cities bidding process will begin in March, with decisions on venues set to be made in early 2014.

The next European championships in 2016 are to be held in France, with an increase in the number of teams from the current 16 to 24.

Platini said UEFA had held talks with fans group Football Supporters Europe and convinced them the format of holding games in 13 matches across Europe would benefit the majority of supporters.

He admitted the plan sounded "zany" but that it would also serve to deliver a low-cost tournament to a continent struggling with the economic crisis.

The Football Association will bid for Wembley to host the final while Wales and Scotland will also bid for Euro 2020 games.

Platini told reporters at a briefing in Nyon: "We have talked to the fans. They were against it originally but we told them we are going to help them and suddenly they had a much more positive attitude.

"Certainly it will be easier for the English to go to Wales and Scotland to watch a match instead of having to travel the world.

"We have some decisions to make now - some political, some geographical - for example we cannot have an English fan going to Lisbon, Kazakhstan and Sweden.

"We will have an intelligent solution - not chasing the fans all over Europe.

"The Euros are coming to the fans and taking matches to quite a number of countries.

"We have met with supporters' associations recently and have reassured them we will do whatever is possible to make sure fans get the necessary support when they travel."

Platini himself came up with the idea of staging the tournament but he said it had been supported by every European country apart from Turkey, who had hoped to host the Euros on its own.

He added: "I just bring forward ideas and then national associations have their own meetings and workshops and 52 out of 53 said 'yes', I don't decide, the national associations have decided.

"Poland and Ukraine was a great Euro but it was very expensive, almost as expensive as the Olympic Games.

"It is perhaps a bit of a zany idea but it is a good idea.

"It won't be like Poland and Ukraine, with 50 French supporters here and 70 Spanish supporters there.

"It was difficult to go to Poland and Ukraine and I would like to congratulate the British supporters who went there but perhaps they now have the possibility to go to another country that's closer."

Platini added that he wanted the finals and semi-finals to be in one city - and the FA will put London forward as a candidate.

He said: "I'm in favour of the final phase being in one city to give it more importance, that's my idea. The executive committee will decide whether it's a good or bad idea.

"I think this would create a very special atmosphere among the supporters and it will be a week of national teams and it could be a great party."

Platini said FIFA president Sepp Blatter had congratulated him on the Euro 2020 idea - and that he is succeeding where the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi failed.

Gaddafi had suggested moving the African Nations Cup around the continent, and Platini said: "I got congratulations from the president of FIFA, he said it is a marvellous idea. He said somebody wanted to do it a few years ago with the African Nations Cup and it was Gaddafi."

He also hit back at criticism from FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke pointing out that the world governing body had ratified Japan and Mexico playing in South American competitions.

"FIFA accepts Mexico and Japan taking part in the Copa America and that is much more against the spirit than what we are suggesting," said Platini.

The UEFA president also insisted he wants to support the Europa League rather than scrap it - an interview he gave to a French newspaper last week led to reports UEFA is considering getting rid of the tournament and having a 64-club Champions League.

He added: "All I said is that there is a reflection going on to figure out what shape we want - we are discussing it, nothing is decided.

"I never said I am going to stop the Europa League. We have to look at all 53 countries and I believe the Europa League is great and that we need to support it and continue with it. It is a very popular competition.

"I am never going to organise competition for money's sake, only in the interests of football."

Platini said UEFA had held talks with fans group Football Supporters Europe and convinced it that the "zany" format of holding games in 13 matches across Europe would benefit the majority of supporters.

The Football Association will bid for Wembley to host the final while Wales and Scotland will also bid for EURO 2020 games.

Platini told reporters at a briefing in Nyon: "We have talked to the fans. They were against it originally but we told them we are going to help them and suddenly they had a much more positive attitude.

"Certainly it will be easier for the English to go to Wales and Scotland to watch a match instead of having to travel the world.

"We have some decisions to make now - some political, some geographical - for example we cannot have an English fan going to Lisbon, Kazakhstan and Sweden.

"We will have an intelligent solution - not chasing the fans all over Europe.

"The Euros are coming to the fans and taking matches to quite a number of countries.

"We have met with supporters' associations recently and have reassured them we will do whatever is possible to make sure fans get the necessary support when they travel."

Platini himself came up with the idea of staging the tournament but he said it had been supported by every European country apart from Turkey, which had hoped to host the Euros on its own.

He added: "I just bring forward ideas and then national associations have their own meetings and workshops and 52 out of 53 said yes, I don't decide, the national associations have decided.

"Poland and Ukraine was a great Euro but it was very expensive, almost as expensive as the Olympic Games.

"It is perhaps a bit of a zany idea but it is a good idea."

Platini added that he wanted the finals and semi-finals to be in one city - and the FA will put London forward as a candidate.

He said: "I'm in favour the final phase being in one city to give it more importance, that's my idea. The executive committee will decide whether it's a good or bad idea.

"I think this would create a very special atmosphere among the supporters and it will be a week of national teams and it could be a great party."

The FA will bid for the final and semi-finals in London, with the final at Wembley, in an eye-catching tournament finale.

Wales and Scotland have also confirmed they will bid for matches - including a possible bid for a final in Glasgow to rival Wembley's - and the Republic of Ireland are also expected to follow suit.

FA chairman David Bernstein said recently that it would 'push' to have Wembley Stadium, which is hosting the UEFA Champions League final for the second time in three years in 2013, considered for the semi-finals and final.

Bernstein said: "Clearly Wembley is incredibly highly thought of by UEFA and it is something we will push for.

"UEFA want to hold the semi-finals and the final on the same ground, or in the same city and I think we would be on their shortlist - but there would be some strong competition.

"The public want it and we'd want it and it would be wonderful to have it here."

If Wembley were to host the final it could be that the semi-finals might take place at other stadia in London, such as the Olympic Stadium and the Emirates.

UEFA's executive committee took the decision at a meeting in Lausanne on Thursday, but there was one dissenting voice from Turkey's member Senes Erzik - his country had bid to host the tournament alone.

The pan-continental EURO 2020 will be a one-off rather than a model of future events, and aimed to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the tournament and provide opportunities to those countries who would usually be unable to be hosts.

The format and number of cities that will be involved will be decided by UEFA's national teams committee but initial plans involve 12 cities hosting the group and knock-out games, with a 13th for the semi-finals and final.

UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino told a press conference: "UEFA EURO 2020 will be staged across the continent, in various major cities, following a decision taken today. A 'Euro for Europe' follows an initial idea by UEFA president Michel Platini.

"The response has been extremely positive from all the national associations."

Infantino confirmed there would be no automatic qualification for host countries and that some hosts may even fail to qualify.

He said UEFA would attempt to ensure that host nations played at least some of their matches in their home cities.

"It would be difficult to understand for the fans for a host country if there is no match of their team in their country," Infantino added.

There are logistical issues involving tax laws and fan transport, and UEFA will consider having regional 'hubs' such as Scandinavia for group games.

Jonathan Ford, chief executive of the Football Association of Wales, confirmed it would make a bid with the Millennium Stadium - perhaps as part of a British/Irish hub.

Ford told the Press Association: "This rules us very much in. We now have to see how can this work on a logistical basis.

"If we are part of a hub including Glasgow, Dublin and an English city this could be very exciting."

Ford added that Wembley was 'today's first choice' for the final.

He said: "I think they will take that to one of the major, major stadiums and Wembley is today's first choice but 2020 is a long time away."

Wembley could face competition from the Scotland for the final however - but it is more likely Glasgow would bid for group games.

Scottish FA chief executive Stewart Regan told the Press Association: "We would be interested in the final but we first have to find out UEFA's minimum criteria for capacity - if they are looking for stadiums with greater capacity then of course we would be interested in hosting group matches."

Celtic Park has the largest capacity in Scotland at just over 60,000 with Ibrox and Hampden Park also holding more than 50,000.

Regan added: "This is a one-off idea as a 60th celebration of the tournament and will bring football to a number of key cities across Europe. As something different and innovative it does carry a lot of merit."

Infantino said the bidding process for the host cities would start in March and would take a year with decisions made in the spring of 2014.

UEFA also decided that the 2013-2014 European women's Under-17 tournament will be hosted in England.

Meanwhile, UEFA has announced that the third-party ownership of players will be banned in its competitions - as already happens in English football - by 2016.

The practice, widespread in Portuguese and Spanish football, sees individuals owning the 'economic rights' of players and often securing a large percentage of transfer fees.

UEFA's executive committee meets on Thursday and could agree in principle to support President Michel Platini's multi-nation hosting plan, which he floated during this year's European championship.

Germany football association president Wolfgang Niersbach told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the idea has been supported during recent consultation meetings with UEFA's 53 member countries.

"This is the general trend around these meetings," Niersbach said at UEFA headquarters. "That UEFA should do it as an exception on the occasion of celebrating the 60th birthday of the European championship."

Platini also said in June that he wanted to ease the financial and logistical demands on one or two host countries of the expected 24-nation, 51-match tournament - given difficult time for European economies.

The UEFA leader's proposal has even won support from Georgia, which was one of the few likely candidates - in a joint bid with Azerbaijan - if UEFA held a traditional hosting contest for EURO 2020.

"I think it's an interesting idea for Georgia," its football president Domenti Sichinava told AP through a translator. "We had a few meetings around Europe and many countries are supporting this idea."

With the tournament divided into six groups of four teams, one idea for hosting a multinational event would be for each group to stage its matches in two cities. Ideally, those two cities would be relatively close to each other, so as to limit travel demands on teams and fans alike.

With 12 knockout matches scheduled in the second round and quarter-finals combined, each host could get one, to complete its four-match allocation. The action could then shift to a single host which would stage the semi-finals and final, probably over a five-day period.

Georgia would be prepared to share a group with Azerbaijan, or other near neighbours such as Belarus, Russia or Turkey, said Sichinava.

One attraction of the multinational idea would be to include countries which could never hope to host a major championship alone.

"We feel that a lot of small countries should have a chance," said Netherlands official Harry Been, who was chief executive of the Netherlands-Belgium bid to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

"Romania is a good example. They have built a new, big stadium and they will never get a tournament like that by themselves," Been said.

Roxburgh - who during his management career steered Scotland to the finals of EURO 1992, which involved just eight nations - underlined that the same debate raged back then about the supposed watering-down of the showcase tournament.

"That was the last of the eight-team tournaments. And of course everybody said at the time, 'Oh, what will it be like now we're doubling the numbers to 16 teams'," he told reporters after a three-day meeting of European coaches in Warsaw.

"Well, the Euro that was played in England in 1996 with 16 teams was very good. So the fears weren't founded. And all I would say here is that we're now going to this increased number as standards in Europe are rising all the time," he added.

Roxburgh - on the point of retiring from the UEFA post he had held since 1994 - said that football's powers that be see clear benefits to adding eight more teams at EURO 2016 in France.

"Benefits first of all to allow more teams to experience that, because they think the standards are high enough to cope with that number of teams in the final. And clearly there's the whole packaging, the marketing," he said.

The quadrennial European championship is UEFA's main income-driver, in particular from broadcast rights.

But with 53 nations making up UEFA's membership, critics suggest it will be too easy for undeserving to get under the wire, leading to poor-quality matches.

Roxburgh rejected that.

"If you ask I think nearly any coach, when they go to play in some of the so-called smaller countries now, they don't look forward to doing it," he said.

"Some of the small countries will never be Spain. But coach education and development, and player development, and all these things going on in Europe, all of that is helping to raise standards."

Bayern topped the table of about 575 clubs being paid after it sent 12 players, including eight of Germany's squad that reached the semi-finals, with five different teams to EURO 2012. UEFA also gave clubs daily-rate payments for releasing players to qualifying matches in 2010 and 2011.

The ECA said Real Madrid received almost 3 million euros ($3.69 million). Madrid sent 11 players to Poland and Ukraine, including five from eventual champion Spain and three from semi-finalist Portugal.

Barcelona received 2.21 million euros ($2.71 million), Manchester City earned 2.07 million euros ($2.54 million) and Juventus collected 2.02 million euros ($2.48 million).

Bendtner was fined 100,000 euros ($121,167) for revealing underpants bearing the name of Irish bookmaker Paddy Power after scoring in Denmark's 3-2 Group B defeat to Portugal in Lviv, Ukraine.

Paddy Power agreed to pay the fine, while Bendtner lodged an appeal against his one-match international ban for 'improper conduct', which was rejected.

The 24-year-old, who plays his club football for Arsenal, will now miss Denmark's opening 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Czech Republic in Copenhagen on 8 September.

The 25-year-old Zenit St Petersburg defender was named in Cesare Prandelli's squad for the tournament in Poland and Ukraine but pulled out after investigators searched his room at the Azzurri's training camp.

Criscito was left out of Italy's squad for last week's friendly against England and he blamed the fallout from the corruption affair for his exclusion, despite him being cleared of any involvement.

"I have not talked to Prandelli since I left the squad's training base ahead of Euro 2012 but I hope one day I will play for my country's team again," he added.

"I went to Italy to talk to the investigators of this case and they told me that they had no further questions or claims," he said.

"But unfortunately I was involved in that case, which still is not ended...

"I want to put this all behind me."

Criscito joined the reigning Russian champion last year from Genoa after a two-year spell at Juventus between 2007 and 2009.

Zenit is currently top of the Russian Premier League but dropped points at Anzhi Makhachkala on the weekend, drawing 1-1.

"I found some of the criticism to be without purpose and tiresome," Joachim Low said at his first public appearance since Germany's 2-1 semifinal defeat to Italy.

"Before this game against Italy, we had won 15 competitive games in a row. That was a world record," he said.

The 52-year-old coach accepted responsibility for tactical mistakes leading to his side's Euro 2012 exit, but angrily rounded on suggestions leaders in the squad lacked authority, players were spoiled or that not singing the national anthem had an effect on performances on the pitch.

"The allegation against players with immigrant backgrounds is fatal. It implies that they're not good Germans. It's nice to sing the anthem, but it's far from being proof of having the qualities or desire to play for Germany," Low said.

"We're all proud - all of us - that this team is doing a huge amount for integration in Germany ...

"Even if the players don't sing the anthem, they prepare themselves differently and identify themselves with our shirt, with the national team and with Germany.

"Players like (Mesut) Ozil, (Sami) Khedira and so on have shown that often enough."

Low denied suggestions the players were spoiled, saying they were expected to deliver "top performances to win every game" and that was why he and the support staff were concerned with providing a strong team setup.

"The Spanish also have a cook and don't cook for themselves, and don't only travel by bus - other countries, too. Our players appreciate that, and I think they have given everything to be successful."

Low highlighted the increased number of chances his players created at Euro 2012, an improved defensive performance and more possession, compared to the World Cup in 2010.

"You can ask if we've become more dominant or if opponents are allowing us more space. It's probably a case of both," Low said.

However, Germany's lack of precision up front - one goal for every five chances in South Africa, compared to one for every nine chances in Poland and Ukraine - was bad, he said.

He also blamed a lack of preparation time for the semifinal defeat to Italy. Bayern Munich's participation in the Champions League final meant Low had a complete squad to work with only two weeks before the tournament.

"We couldn't do some things we planned on doing because we didn't have the time," he said.

Loew said his side has to aspire to play more like European champion Spain, "who are excellent with the ball and even more active when they don't have it".

After Wednesday's friendly with Argentina, Germany will focus on securing qualification for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

"We've set high expectations with our playing style. It's still a small step from being world class, as we are now, to world's best.

"We've taken many big steps forward. Now they'll be smaller," Loew said.

"We set the objectives ourselves. Expectations are huge and it's normally so in Germany.

"It hasn't yet worked out with a title win, but we'll keep going for it."

UEFA says its appeal panel partially upheld an appeal by the Russian football association against a provisional six-point deduction imposed in June.

Instead, Russia will be ordered to play three Euro 2016 qualifiers at home in an empty stadium as punishment for a further violent incident.

Russia fans were filmed attacking stadium security staff in Wroclaw, Poland, after their team beat the Czech Republic 4-1 on June 8.

Four stewards were treated at a hospital but were not seriously injured.

UEFA holds football associations responsible for fan behavior at national team matches.

UEFA rejected Russia's appeal against a 120,000-euro ($141,000) fine.

The former Marseille manager, who replaced Laurent Blanc after the tournament in Poland and Ukraine in June, said M'Vila and Ben Arfa were left out because of their "attitude and behaviour" during the competition.

Both were summoned before a French Football Federation commission last month and handed warnings as to their future conduct. They also had their win bonuses withdrawn.

The same commission suspended Manchester City's Samir Nasri for four international matches for his foul-mouthed rant at a journalist after France's quarter-final defeat to Spain. PSG's Jeremy Menez was banned for one match for his behaviour.

Announcing the France squad to face Uruguay in a friendly on August 15, Deschamps said: "This decision seems logical and consistent to me given what I expect from the players in terms of attitude and behaviour. It's up to them to understand this decision," he told reporters, warning other players to "take note".

Deschamps called up PSG's Christophe Jallet, Real Madrid's Raphael Varane and Etienne Capoue of Toulouse for the first time.

Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, of Ligue 1 champion Montpellier, who had been in line to go to EURO 2012, also makes a return for the match in the northern city of Le Havre.

France begins its World Cup 2014 qualifying campaign against Finland on September 7 and Belarus three days later.

Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Lyon), Steve Mandanda (Marseille)

Defenders: Gael Clichy (Manchester City/ENG), Mathieu Debuchy (Lille), Patrice Evra (Manchester United/ENG), Christophe Jallet (Paris SG), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal/ENG), Mamadou Sakho (Paris SG), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid), Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa (Montpellier)

Midfielders: Etienne Capoue (Toulouse), Maxime Gonalons (Lyon), Marvin Martin (Lille), Blaise Matuidi (Paris SG), Rio Mavuba (Lille)

Forwards: Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid/ESP), Jimmy Briand (Lyon), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal/ENG), Bafetimbi Gomis (Lyon), Dimitri Payet (Lille), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich/GER).

The 23-year-old was one of Germany's most highly praised individuals during the group stage, but he and the rest of the team crumbled in the semi-final as it was eliminated by Italy.

And Hummels is aware there is a lot of room for improvement.

"With the performances we gave at the Euros, I don't think we have a realistic chance of beating the top nations in the decisive games and becoming world champions," he said.

"We have got to get a lot better."

Germany entered Euro 2012 as one of the favourites after winning all 10 of its qualifying matches.

Reaching the semi-finals saw it set a new record of 15 consecutive victories in competitive matches since finishing third at the 2010 World Cup, but Italy laid bare its limitations like it had done in 2006.

Hummels feels he and the rest of the team must learn from such results over the next two years to finally make the step up from being close to glory to actually winning tournaments.

"The big difference was that Italy took far more risks while we placed huge emphasis on being cautious," he told Kicker magazine.

"You have got to recognise that we were the worse team in that game and we would have lost even without my mistake.

"Apart from the Greece game, we were always taking the tempo out of games."

Nasri was punished for shouting "shut your mouth" to television cameras after his goal in the 1-1 group-stage draw with England in a tirade he later said was aimed at a journalist who wrote a critical article.

He then directed a string of foul-mouthed insults at an AFP journalist after the quarter-final defeat to Spain in Donetsk.

Jeremy Menez, of Paris Saint-Germain, was given a one-match international ban after a spat with captain Hugo Lloris in the game against Spain and for insulting the referee after the same match.

In addition, Newcastle United's Hatem Ben Arfa and Yann M'Vila, of Rennes, were both issued with warnings.

Nasri, M'vila and Ben Arfa appeared personally before the FFF disciplinary commission but refused to comment after their hearing.

Lawyer Carlo Alberto Brusa, representing Menez, who is currently on tour in the United States with PSG, described the outcome as "fair" and said he would be advising his client not to appeal.

Ben Arfa, whose father and agent came to blows outside the FFF headquarters on Friday, had been called before the disciplinary committee to explain an altercation with then-coach Laurent Blanc in the changing rooms after the 2-0 defeat to Sweden.

M'Vila had been asked to explain his refusal to shake substitute Olivier Giroud and Blanc's hands when he was replaced against Spain.

A statement released by the disciplinary committee of the FFF added that all or part of the players' bonuses would be withheld.

The case came two years after France players went on strike during the FIFA World Cup in South Africa that led to the suspension of four players, including Nicolas Anelka for a record 18 games, Patrice Evra for five games and Franck Ribery for three.

The players have 10 days to appeal the decision.

The 25-year-old allegedly insulted the referee and was involved in a heated exchanged with team-mate Hugo Lloris as France exited Euro 2012 at the quarter-final stage against eventual winner Spain in Donetsk on June 23.

And, ahead of the FFF disciplinary meeting, Menez - currently on Paris St Germain's pre-season's tour of the United States - has sought to defuse the situation.

He said in L'Equipe: "I sent a letter of apology [to the FFF]. I apologised for my absence and for the accusations made against me. I am eager to turn the page.

"It's annoying to have to face the committee - it is not good for the image. But I am making, and will make, efforts to improve myself every day."

FFF president Noel Le Graet confirmed earlier this month that four members of France's squad - Menez, Samir Nasri, Hatem Ben Arfa and Yann M'Vila - would be the subject of disciplinary proceedings for various offences in Poland and Ukraine.

Menez insisted there was little in the altercation with goalkeeper Lloris, but was more remorseful about his actions towards Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli.

"The story with Hugo, this was not really anything," he said. "It is something that exploded when there was nothing at all. In any case, I did not insult him. He himself said in L'Equipe that there was no problem between us."

Of the clash with the match official, he added: "I was a bit upset. I did not start the game, we lost...

"(But) the action in question, I really did not commit any wrongdoing.

"It is true that it was not pretty. I want to apologise sincerely. Overall, in my case, it was an incident that should not have happened."

Cassano caused uproar when he said he hoped there were no homosexuals in the national team squad in Poland and Ukraine in the build-up to the Azzurri's second Group C match against Croatia.

He later said his comments had been misinterpreted and did not want to cause offence but UEFA has taken a dim view of his outburst.

"The UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body has fined Italy's Antonio Cassano 15,000 euros for a discriminatory press statement during UEFA EURO 2012," said a statement on the governing body's website.

"An appeal can be lodged against this decision within three days of the dispatch of the full written decision."

Cassano had responded to questions about reports in Italy which claimed there were two homosexual players in Cesare Prandelli's 23-man EURO 2012 group.

"The (national) coach had warned me that you would ask me this question," Cassano said.

"If I say what I think...I hope there are none.

"But if there are queers here, that's their business."

Cassano quickly apologised for his comments the day after.

"I sincerely regret that my statements have sparked controversy and protest from gay rights groups," said the statement on the official website of the Italian Football Federation.

"Homophobia is a sentiment that is not mine. I did not want to offend anyone and I can not question the sexual freedom of other people.

"I only said that it is a problem that does not concern me and it is not for me to pass judgment on the choices of others, who are all respected."

Tournament director Martin Kallen said on Monday that UEFA's profit from the Euro 2012 will be just under the 250 million euros ($A301 million) it got in 2008 because of additional funds UEFA had to spend on helping Poland and Ukraine organise the mega event.

Kallen said exact figures will be released sometime in 2013.

Ukraine and Poland had to significantly upgrade their infrastructure to host the three-week tournament that is Europe's biggest sporting event.

Republic of Ireland was comprehensively dumped out of the group stages at last month's tournament after defeats to Croatia, Italy and Spain, with Given's performances subject to some criticism.

Goalkeeper Given and centre-back Dunne currently remain on holiday and are not due to return to training with the rest of the Villa squad until next week.

Lambert has confirmed speaking with both players during Republic of Ireland's campaign, and will do so again upon their return, but does not anticipate any hangover.

"They're two experienced lads, they're not kids and they've been round the course before," Lambert told club website avfc.co.uk

"Shay has about 955 caps and Richard has a lot too. They know the game, know the high level of football it is, which is great.

"It was a great honour for them, I'm pretty sure, to have taken part in a major tournament.

"Okay, it might not have gone the way they wanted it to go, but they were still part of it, a great tournament. I am pretty sure the experience will be good.

"It was a hard tournament for them with what happened. But they've done great for Villa in the past and had fantastic football careers."

The 60-year-old coach was appointed on Friday to succeed Bert van Marwijk, who resigned after the national's team's dismal performance at EURO 2012.

Van Gaal gets a second chance of coaching Netherlands after an unsuccessful spell between 2000 and 2002 when he failed to qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan.

Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) director Bert van Oostveen said he was delighted to have reached agreement with Van Gaal.

"We were looking for a coach with a lot of experience and with personal and professional charisma. Van Gaal has left his mark nationally and internationally and we know him as a dedicated and very motivated coach," he said.

The former Ajax and Barcelona coach was without a job since April 2011 after being dismissed by Bayern Munich. His first game in charge will by a friendly against Belgium on 15 August before the 2014 World Cup qualification campaign begins against Turkey on 7 September.

Dutch fans had made Van Gaal their favourite to take over the national team which lost all three of its group matches at EURO 2012.

Fanclub Oranje said the coach 'enjoys the full confidence of the Oranje legion'.

Congratulations came in from several former players including Ruud Gullit and brothers Frank and Ronald de Boer.

Former striker Marco van Basten, now coach of Heerenveen, said he was 'surprised' at the choice. "In itself, I think van Gaal is a good choice. He is an experienced coach. I wonder how he will do," he was quoted as saying by the internet site nu.nl.

Dutch fans were, however, waiting a reaction from former playing great Johan Cruyff who has been at loggerheads with Van Gaal and had given his backing to Frank Rijkaard for the job. As a former Ajax supervisory board member, Cruyff had prevented Van Gaal being appointed as the club's director general earlier this year.

Low came in for criticism after Germany's semi-final exit to Italy at EURO 2012, but Bierhoff said Low had always 'found something' to help the team develop after every tournament.

"Jogi Low will analyse the game against Italy for himself and he will soon find the energy again for the next stretch. I am not worried about Jogi," Bierhoff told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung daily.

Low was criticised in the German media for using the wrong tactics against Italy which beat Germany 2-1.

But Bierhoff said 42-year-old Low would return from holiday with his batteries recharged and reputation intact.

"In 1999 Bayern (Munich) lost the Champions League final with Ottmar Hitzfeld and there was a big discussion. Two years later, they then won the final," he said.

La Roja thrashed Italy 4-0 in the EURO 2012 final in Kiev, winning an unprecedented third consecutive major trophy.

It made the 61-year-old Del Bosque the first coach to win the European championship, the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Champions League.

"We believe in what are called the "three P's": pressing (of the opposition to recover the ball), possession (of the ball) and profundity (in attack)," Del Bosque told sports daily AS.

"This is what we try to do in every game.

"Luckily, this approach worked well in the final.

"We never stop believing in our style, because it is this style which has given us success."

Del Bosque said he hadn't been bothered by criticism at the start of EURO 2012 for fielding a revolutionary 4-6-0 formation without an out-and-out striker.

"The debates within football are healthy and do not bother me," he said.

"Amongst ourselves, the coaching staff, we also had doubts and a few arguments about this. But a decision had to be taken ... Luckily, everything turned out well."

The coach said 'common sense' was very important in all decision-making.

"A plan was drawn up before the tournament. Then, as the tournament progressed, the decisions were taken according to the condition and form of our players.

"All the tactical decisions that we took seem to have been successful, the whole world saw that ... These were decisions that were carefully thought out."

Spanish football had progressed tremendously since 2008 - when Spain won EURO 2008, its first trophy since 1964 - Del Bosque said, but warned against over-confidence.

"Now we are the vanguard, when before we used to look at how others were working.

"But success in the past does not guarantee success in the future.

"That's why I always insist on effort, humility and hope. These are the pillars of our team.

"Our next challenge is the 2014 World Cup but first we will have to qualify for it and that will not be easy. It will be difficult."

France is in the same qualifying group as Spain.

Samir Nasri, Hatem Ben Arfa, Jeremy Menez and Yann M'Vila will be called before the FFF's disciplinary committee for a variety of offences committed during the tournament in Poland and Ukraine, which France exited in the quarter-finals.

Manchester City midfielder Nasri fell foul of the FFF after his heated argument with a journalist in the wake of Les Bleus' last-eight loss to Spain, while Newcastle forward Ben Arfa was allegedly embroiled in a dressing-room altercation after the 2-0 defeat to Sweden in France's final Group D outing.

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Menez is to be investigated after allegedly gesturing at goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, while Rennes midfielder M'Vila upset the FFF when he blanked coach Laurent Blanc after his substitution against Spain.

The unsavoury claims have brought back memories of France's disastrous 2010 FIFA World Cup, when Les Bleus crashed out at the group stage after the players refused to train after the expulsion of Nicolas Anelka.

On that occasion, Anelka, Patrice Evra, Franck Ribery and Jeremy Toulalan were hit with bans of varying lengths by the FFF.

FFF president Noel Le Graet confirmed that no members of the 23-man squad would receive their bonus, saying: "This money is blocked, which may be redistributed, perhaps not."

Speaking about the prospect of handing down punishments to the quartet called before the disciplinary committee, Le Graet added: "I don't like to punish by nature and I don't like to deliver a hasty opinion, but our players should be punished or sanctioned.

"I don't want them thinking they are victims. They are not."

Blanc at the weekend announced he had decided against renewing his contract with the FFF after presiding over a disappointing EURO 2012 campaign which saw France exit at the quarter-final stage to eventual winner Spain.

Didier Deschamps was immediately installed as favourite to succeed Blanc and he appeared a shoo-in when it was announced he had left his post at Marseille by mutual consent.

Yet reports in France suggest Deschamps, having met with the FFF, has decided against coaching the country he captained to World Cup 1998 and EURO 2000 success.

That news came as a blow with at least one executive committee member, Nancy president Jacques Rousselot, backing Deschamps for the post.

Rousselot said: "He is hardworking and competent, has great leadership qualities and is a great tactician.

"He also has a good reputation. He has it all."

It has also been reported Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger pondered combining the two roles before he too ruled himself out.

The executive committee will re-assess their options at their headquarters in Paris.

Oman boss Paul Le Guen has emerged as a contender, as has Francis Smerecki, who has worked extensively with France youth teams.

The squad was first greeted by about 200 workers Monday as they stepped off the plane at Rome's Fiumicino airport before departing on one of the four coaches reserved for the Italian delegation.

"We are still bitterly disappointed, but we know that we had a great European championship," captain Gianluigi Buffon said of the 4-0 loss to Spain in the final on Sunday (Monday AEST). "We played the final against the strongest team and not in the best conditions."

The loudest cheers were reserved for Buffon, Daniele De Rossi, Mario Balotelli, Antonio Cassano and, above all, for Prandelli, who was beaming broadly.

The squad then attended a reception hosted by Italy President Giorgio Napolitano at the presidential palace, with Buffon introducing his teammates one by one.

"Everyone knew the tension you left in and with a team that has just been rebuilt and which still has a long way to go," Napolitano said. "When I say these things people often ask me whether I'm talking about football or Italy, and I have to say they are one and the same.

"I have never played football so I can't judge your efforts, but the passion and spirit you had and the sense of national pride really hit me. It was the best gift you could give me."

Napolitano sent a letter to the Italy players and staff after the semi-final victory over Germany and invited them to a reception, regardless of the result in the final.

"Thank you for the invite because it will help everyone understand that you have to acknowledge the performance above the result," Prandelli said. "We are proud to have represented Italy with those values that you wrote in the letter, which really touched us. After every match the lads asked me if you'd called because you are our No. 1 fan."

Prandelli gave Napolitano his runner-up medal. Andrea Pirlo and Balotelli presented him with an Italy pennant and football.

The build-up had been dominated by allegations that reigning world and European champion La Roja had turned into a boring team.

Even Arsene Wenger waded into the debate, claiming Spain had not been faithful to its footballing philosophy.

Coach Vicente del Bosque insisted the negative comments played no part in motivating his team to produce arguably its best performance since EURO 2008.

But Alonso confirmed the opinions were heard inside the Spain dressing room. And, following a record 4-0 win, he thinks a revision is required.

"We heard the criticism and we saw what was written," said the 30-year-old.

"That happens. Now they will have a different opinion."

With a World Cup sandwiched between two European championships, Spain has become the first side to lift three major tournaments in a row, including the World Cup.

For that reason alone there can be no challenge to any claim of greatness.

Yet there is still much to achieve.

The feeling persists that Spain has the capability of improving still further and rivalling the Brazil team of 1970 as what is generally regarded as the best international side of all time.

In Brazil, two years from now, Spain could create more history by becoming the first European team to win the World Cup in South America.

However, for Alonso, such thoughts are for another day.

He just wants a bit of time to bask in what has already been done.

"We don't feel we have an obligation to keep winning trophies but we also knew what was expected of us," said the Real Madrid midfielder.

"Maybe four years ago we enjoyed it more because it was the first time.

"Now it will take time for it to sink in.

"It is not the time to think about the future. We can do that in the months ahead.

"But it does not feel like the end of anything."

In less than eight weeks, Silva has been crowned a Premier League champion for Manchester City and a European championship winner and history maker with Spain.

The twin accolades confirm the 26-year-old to be at the peak of his powers.

It represents a significant step forward from two years ago, when he was part of the Spain squad that lifted the World Cup for the first time but featured in just two games, for a sum total of 66 minutes.

This time around, Silva has been a central presence.

It was his goal that sent Spain on its way to a remarkable 4-0 final win over Italy in Kiev that saw them become the first side to triumph in three consecutive tournaments, including the World Cup.

Silva has much more to achieve - and that means a sustained tilt at next season's Champions League.

"I want to have my vacation because it has been a long, hard season for me," said Silva.

"But once I go back to City, I know I will be fully refreshed because I want to win more trophies with them.

"The owners of the club have spent a lot of money bringing good players to the club. We have already started to win titles, including the Premier League.

"Now I hope to show we have the quality to do something in the Champions League."

Silva admitted he could scarcely believe what he has achieved over the past few weeks.

A star performer in City's first championship for 44 years, to then back it up in such fine style in Poland and Ukraine represented an incredible effort.

"I never thought anything like this would be possible," he said.

"Of course, every time you go out onto the pitch you try your hardest, then at the end you find out where you have got to.

"But you never really think about the possibility of winning both.

"I didn't play much at the World Cup. This time I did a lot more.

"I played every game, so I am very happy with my contribution. My goal helped the team towards an easy win.

"It has been a great few weeks for me and it feels superb."

After touching down in Madrid-Barajas airport, captain Iker Casillas in a red T-shirt emblazoned with the words "Champions of Europe" stood at the door of the Iberia Airbus A319 beside team coach Vicente del Bosque.

Goalkeeper Casillas held the huge silver trophy aloft before descending the steps ahead of the squad, hailed as heroes after a 4-0 thrashing of Italy delivered an historic third straight international title.

Players were to be congratulated by King Juan Carlos before touring Madrid in an open-top bus heading to a victory party in the central Plaza de Cibeles, where a huge stage and video screens have been set up.

"Satisfied and happy for the success. It was difficult and we did it," Casillas, hailed as a key ingredient in Spain's triumph, told reporters at the airport where their plane was met by two fire engines.

"Happy because people enjoyed it," he added.

A red-and-yellow sea of fans had swamped central Madrid in an all-night party before their return.

Young and old, Spaniards burst into chants of "Champions!", detonated fireworks, danced in fountains, blared car horns and flew the national flag in their hands, through car windows and off the back of motorbikes.

Tens of thousands of beer-soaked fans packed the Plaza de Cibeles, adorned with a stone fountain of the goddess of nature on a chariot hauled by lions.

In Madrid's Puerta del Sol, a dozen people leapt into the fountain and splashed water over scores of others dancing in joy.

Goals from David Silva, Jordi Alba, Fernando Torres and Juan Mata on Sunday (Monday AEST) sparked a crescendo of joy across Spain.

Some 15,481,000 people, or 83.4 per cent of the television audience, saw Spain's win in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev - the greatest audience recorded in Spain for a football match, industry figures showed.

The victory also sparked a new sports-related record for tweets per second, Twitter said.

The final match resulted in 16.5 million tweets from fans around the world and total global traffic on the platform peaked at 15,358 tweets per second during the fourth goal, a new sports-related record on Twitter, the company said.

Spain has 10 players nominated in the squad, while apart from England and Liverpool skipper Gerrard the only other Premier League players are Manchester City's David Silva and Mario Balotelli.

UEFA's 23-man squad of the tournament:

Goalkeepers: Buffon (Ita), Casillas (Spa), Neuer (Ger).

Defenders: Pique (Spa), Coentrao (Por), Lahm (Ger), Pepe (Por), Ramos (Spa), Alba (Spa).

Midfielders: De Rossi (Ita), Gerrard (Eng), Xavi (Spa), Iniesta (Spa), Khedira (Ger), Busquets (Spa), Ozil (Ger), Pirlo (Ita), Xabi Alonso (Spa).

Forwards: Balotelli (Ita), Fabregas (Spa), Ronaldo (Por), Ibrahimovic (Swe), Silva (Spa).

Victory meant Spain became the first international side to win three successive major international tournaments.

The Chelsea striker once again started on the bench as Vicente del Bosque chose Cesc Fabregas to lead the line, but Torres made a significant impact when he came on with 15 minutes remaining as he coolly slotted home the third and teed-up Juan Mata for the fourth.

He told Marca: "You can't ask for more, but it is the work of the team and the togetherness that has brought us here.

"You always want to win more and more, but right now we have to enjoy this. We have won by a distance against a great team like Italy.

"We are very happy. This was the objective that we had at the start of the tournament.

"We knew we were the opponent to beat, that it was going to be more difficult than ever and it has been.

"We had luck in some moments of the championship but at the end we will reflect on what today means in Spanish football history.

"We have dominated from start to finish and enjoyed a magical evening. Now we can say that national teams of the future will concentrate on us to try and make history."

The goal and assist also meant Torres was awarded the Golden Boot despite only starting three of Spain's six games and scoring on three occasions.

"Football is like this," he said. "This is my third Euros, in the previous ones I played almost all the games and scored two goals. In this one I have played less but won the Golden Boot.

"Football can be just or unjust like that depending how you look at it and that is why we like it so much."

The Barcelona midfielder was named man of the match as his side romped to a 4-0 win over Italy in Sunday (Monday morning AEST) night's final in Kiev and hailed a truly historic achievement.

"This is something unique, magical and unrepeatable," he told AS. "We have to enjoy the moment."

Goals from David Silva and Jordi Alba fired Spain into a 2-0 lead at half-time and after an injury to Thiago Motta left Italy with just 10 men in the second half, substitutes Fernando Torres and Juan Mata added further goals late on.

Iniesta added: "The important thing is Spain are the champions which is what we came here for.

"It was a very complete game, we played very well with the ball and when Italy were left with 10 we pressured them very well.

"We played such a good all-round match which is what was demanded of us in this final."

The Azzurri lost 4-0 against a Spain side that made history by becoming the first country to achieve three consecutive major international titles.

Gazzetta dello Sport displayed a photograph on its front page of Italy striker Mario Balotelli in tears after the game with the headline: "Like this it hurts...."

Gazzetta conceded Spain was the better side but admitted the Azzurri was greatly hindered by injuries.

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli was forced to make a substitution early on with defender Giorgio Chiellini sustaining a hamstring injury while in the second half, midfielder Thiago Motta was carried off on a stretcher with a muscular injury, leaving Italy with 10 men for the remainder of the game.

Gazzetta added: "The game was decided in the first half.

"We were left with 10 players by the 61st minute.

"The Spaniards dominate to achieve a historic treble."

Gazzetta's editorial "Thanks anyway" applauds the Italians, who reached the final of the tournament for the first time since 2000.

Corriere dello Sport heavily criticised Prandelli for the loss.

The Rome-based sports newspaper claimed Prandelli's tactical plan and the substitutions he made proved a fiasco.

This morning's Corriere dello Sport screams: "Prandelli, but what have you done?"

Corriere considered Spain's dominance as "heavily embarrassing" and added: "Spain sinks an exhausted, unrecognisable and fried Italy to preserve the title of champion of Europe."

It's sub-headline reads: "We were in pieces, they were very strong.

"There was no story."

Corriere's editorial questioned Prandelli's decision to replace striker Antonio Cassano at half-time with Antonio Di Natale, saying: "Cassano was our best player on the pitch."

Moreover, they did not understand why Prandelli opted to replace Riccardo Montolivo with Motta: "Motta sustained a strained muscle after his first touch leaving us down to 10."

Corriere's editorial wrote: "This time the coach has made a mistake."

National newspaper La Repubblica was equally frustrated by Italy's display.

Also displaying a photograph of Balotelli in tears on its front page with the headline: "The big disappointment."

Turin-based sports newspaper Tuttosport expressed pride over the team's performances in Poland and Ukraine.

Tuttosport showed a photograph of Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon after conceding the Azzurri's fourth goal and runs a headline that says: "Italy don't cry."

A sub-headline reads: "Legendary Spain but we return with our heads held high."

Its editorial "We are champions anyway" also praises the Azzurri's efforts throughout the tournament.

Spain regained its European crown thanks to a comprehensive 4-0 win over Italy and became the first side to win three successive major international tournaments in the process.

But Alonso said there was a much calmer reaction than when they ended a run of 44 years without a trophy in 2008.

He told AS: "The sensation and euphoria is different to the last European Championship. Everything is more moderate.

"We have celebrated with our families and we are very calm. Four years ago there was more euphoria.

"We ought to feel more euphoric but that's the way things are and we can't force them. The team has a lot of humility.

"We were fighting for a common goal. We didn't want to be an example to anybody, we wanted to return to the people and transmit happiness.

"If the fans enjoyed themselves then we have done the double. To go three out of three is incredible. The first time you achieve it, it is fantastic and you don't know if it will last. This has lasted.

"This is to try and make the people happy and to the people that are suffering, like those in Valencia (where forest fires have forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes), we have to help them and dedicate this triumph to them."

Spain sealed a third consecutive tournament win on Sunday night (Monday morning AEST) by beating Italy 4-0 in the Euro 2012 final - a feat never before achieved in international football.

Remarkably Spain closed the tournament on a run of 510 minutes without conceding as it was only breached once in the entire competition.

That run also extends the world champions' run of not conceding in tournament knockout games to 10 matches.

Pique said in AS: "On a defensive level we have been very good, not only the defenders and [Iker] Casillas.

"The whole team has been very good in general. It was important not to concede and we had the luck to score because the chances always arrive."

Uncharacteristically Spain had less of the ball in the opening period than the Italians but led at half-time thanks to goals from David Silva and Jordi Alba.

And when Cesare Prandelli's side was reduced to 10 men when Thiago Motta went off injured after the break the holders rammed home its man advantage with further goals from Fernando Torres and Juan Mata.

"In the first half we didn't have so much of the ball but with the two times we threatened we scored," said Pique. "With the injury to Motta everything was much easier as they had been left with 10."

The Barcelona defender also paid tribute to former Liverpool and Real Betis defender Miki Roque who died after a fight with pelvic cancer last week at the age of just 23.

"We always had Roque and his family very much with us."

Spain retained their European Championship crown with a resounding 4-0 win over Italy in the final.

"Champions of Europe," read the headline in El Pais. "After a memorable game with the best of their style, La Roja crushed Italy and completed the triple crown of European Championship-World Cup-European Championship.

"With goals from (David) Silva, Jordi Alba, (Fernando) Torres and (Juan) Mata, Spain completed the biggest ever victory in a European Championship final."

El Mundo similarly ran with: "Legendary Champions."

Spain, they said: "had changed football with their short passing style and domination of the ball in a style that everyone now wants to copy."

"Spain wins the impossible," wrote La Vanguardia. "La Roja completed the most successful cycle in the history of international football with its third title in six years."

And there was special praise from the Catalan daily for one of their own, Xavi, who they said: "showed a magisterial direction of his teammates with two assists."

Madrid sports daily Marca thanked the players from bringing joy to the country at a time of otherwise economic gloom with their headline of "Thank You, Thank You, Thank You".

Both AS.com and El Mundo Deportivo both hailed La Furia Roja as "Triple-champions".

Barcelona based Sport declared Vicente del Bosque's men as "Kings of football and kings of Europe", adding: "The Spanish national team has its place in history and it was ruthless.

"With less suffering than expected, Del Bosque's men achieved a second consecutive European Championship."

Fabregas' old Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is one of those who condemned Spain for its negative play, adding his voice before the final to the argument that La Roja now uses its famed passing game merely to to prevent its opponent getting the ball rather than anything constructive.

Spain provided the perfect answer in Kiev, scoring twice in each half for a record-breaking 4-0 win over Italy.

And, speaking to Radio Five Live, Fabregas let rip.

"Those people who think we are playing boring, in my opinion they don't understand the game," he said.

And Fabregas admitted it was difficult coming to terms with the magnitude of becoming the first side in history to win three tournaments in a row.

"It feels really amazing, one of the best days of my life," he said.

"Three major trophies in a row has never been done before in the history of football.

"I don't think we're ready to see what we have done yet."

First-half goals from David Silva and Jordi Alba put Spain in control.

And once Thiago Motta had gone off with a hamstring injury just four minutes after his introduction, Italy was forced to play the final half hour with 10 men.

That allowed Spain to really rub it in as Fernando Torres added a third before setting up Chelsea team-mate Juan Mata to wrap up an incredible win.

"It's true we were lucky enough to play a great match," said coach Vicente del Bosque.

"Everything worked for us.

"It was an extraordinary performance against a difficult opponent."

Unlike Fabregas, Del Bosque opted to steer a delicate path through the 'boring' debate.

And he insisted the jibes had not been used as motivation.

"We played our own game," he said.

"There were no real external influences: we were faithful to what we've done in recent years."

Del Bosque expressed some sympathy for Italy, which had less preparation time after its semi-final win over Germany.

"The Italians have played a great tournament," said Del Bosque.

"They had the bad luck of the injury to Thiago Motta and that's where it all ended for them, unfortunately."

Andres Iniesta claimed the man-of-the-match award after another outstanding performance.

He is one of four players - Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos and Xavi are the others - to have started all three final triumphs.

"It's very nice to have this man-of-the-match trophy but it's especially great to be champions again," he said.

"The team played a great match and all the players were on their top level.

"We are very happy."

Iniesta backed up Del Bosque's sentiments about criticism having no effect.

The Barcelona man insisted Spain stayed true to its beliefs.

"Everybody has their opinion," he said.

"We are not here to say that our game is the most beautiful of them all.

"Everyone has a different view.

"Today, we had a great level of play and were faithful to our style.

"That they only had 10 players made things easier for us.

"This victory is unique and magical.

"It is something that cannot be repeated.

"We haven't ignored how great it is."

Tens of thousands gathered in central Madrid to watch Spain beat Italy 4-0.

Even better for Spain, the country's team became the first ever to win a European championship, then a FIFA World Cup and then another European championship.

"We needed this win to counteract the suffering caused by the crisis, which seems endless," said a smiling Antonio Ferrillo in downtown Madrid.

Spain has the highest unemployment rate in the 17-nation eurozone, is immersed in a deepening recession and recently asked for a bailout to prop up its hurting banks.

Cars drove by with passengers yelling 'Espana!, Espana!' and 'I am Spanish! I am Spanish!' as they waved the country's red and yellow flag.

The victory gave Spaniards undisputed proof the team is the best in the world, setting off celebrations in all corners of the country.

"This is the best thing in the world that could happen," Vanesa Galilea, a 32-year-old civil servant, said as she danced with friends and thousands more in Madrid's central Cibeles square.

"This generation of footballers is incredible.

"Tonight everyone can forget about the crisis, but it won't disappear, unfortunately.

"Economically this won't change anything, but at least we will be happy for a while. Half of Spain won't show up at work tomorrow, that's for sure!"

Crowds hugged each other, cried and danced with glee after they watched Spain win on a huge screen erected outside the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, the home of Real Madrid.

"This is very important for Spain and if it brings the risk premium down tomorrow, all the better,"' said Adrian Barajas, a 35-year-old bank clerk, referring to the skyrocketing risk premium level for Spanish government debt that has raised fears the nation may soon need a full-blown public finances bailout like those accepted by Greece, Portugal and Ireland.

David Silva and Jordi Alba put the holder 2-0 up before half-time and after Italy was left a man short due to an injury to Thiago Motta, Spain cruised to victory with further goals from Fernando Torres and Juan Mata.

Casillas himself broke a European championship record by extending his run without conceding a goal in the competition to 510 minutes and he is delighted to have been a part of Spanish football's golden era.

He told the Spanish Football Federation website: "This is due to the talent that we all have and the work that people don't see - the work of the past, with everyone in the academies, and the manager who has given this generational change.

"We are living in the most marvellous moment in Spanish football history.

"We have been superior thanks to the work of our players and our characteristics. With Alba's goal we almost sealed it but the third killed it off completely."

The Real Madrid goalkeeper also hopes that success on the football field can bring some happiness to those suffering in the difficult economic times currently afflicting Spain.

"I suppose the people will be happy," he said. "They were before and now even more so.

"We have made the difficult look easy. They will think it has been a walk in the park but we could have been put out in the semi-finals. We have grown, we have gone from strength to strength and we were better.

"We have to enjoy this moment with all those that have suffered. We have lived four unforgettable years."

Xavi echoed Casillas' sentiments and the Barcelona midfielder was pleased to make a telling contribution with two assists after what had been a frustrating tournament for him personally.

"Today I have been decisive," he said. "I was lacking this incisive pass that wasn't going through and today I have had two. We have had a great game and I felt very comfortable.

"The players are very happy. For all of the country it is a joy and for us it is deserved. We have enjoyed on the pitch the best of the Euros and of the final.

"We have made history and we have to enjoy that with all the people that followed us here and everyone else.

"We have been very superior. We had possession and, with the goals, more space to play in. We felt very comfortable."

The 32-year-old also stressed that he intends to continue playing international football and will hopefully be fit enough to play a full part in Spain's defence of its FIFA World Cup crown in two years' time.

However he also recognised that with even more success there will be even greater expectation in Brazil.

"The bar is very high," he said. "There is more expectation.

"We are asked to win all the time but it is better like this, before it was more difficult.

"If I feel good then I will be there. I will speak with the manager and in principle, yes, I will go, but we will see."

Cesc Fabregas was one of a number of the squad to wear t-shirts in the post-match celebrations bearing the names of Antonio Puerta, Dani Jarque, Manolo Preciado and Miki Roque, all prominent figures in Spanish football that have died in the last few years.

And the former Arsenal captain believes it was important to honour them at such an important time in Spanish football history.

He told AS: "They are people that have left us recently and that left us a few years ago but they are always with us. We will never forget them."

On the game itself, Fabregas admitted that once Italy was reduced to 10 men the game was effectively finished but insisted that should not detract from Spain's incredible achievement.

"Finals are for winning and on top of this we have enjoyed it a lot on the pitch.

"They were left a man short with the injury to Motta and we were able to play at will but the level of success is brutal.

"It is certain that the game swung our way with the first goal but we played a great game."

Spain became the first team to win three major titles in a row, the first to defend the European championship and also recorded the biggest winning margin in a European championship final when it beat Italy 4-0 in Kiev.

"Congratulations to Spain for winning the Euro 2012. Now looking forward to World Cup 2014 in Brazil!" tweeted Pele, who won three FIFA World Cups for Brazil.

Beckenbauer who won EURO 1972 and the 1974 World Cup as a player and also coached Germany to the 1990 World Cup title, said: "Congratulations to Spain. They were the better team tonight and deserve the win."

England legend Geoff Hurst, the hero of the 1966 World Cup final, was also among those to congratulate La Roja.

"Many congratulations to Spain. Well deserved. Emphatic," he tweeted after saying earlier in the game "Italy have Pirlo. Spain have 10 Pirlos."

Another former England player, Chris Waddle, said on BBC radio: "We've seen a masterclass today. Spain have been the best team in the world for the last four or five years ... The Spanish have been criticised but they are the best team in the world without a shadow of a doubt."

The Azzurri conceded twice in each half as it was overpowered by the defending champion.

It left Balotelli shattered after he had gone into the game with such high hopes.

The Manchester City man stormed straight down the tunnel at the final whistle, and angrily shrugged off the attempts of Italian officials to stop him.

Balotelli eventually returned to collect his medal.

"I told Mario that these are experiences you have to deal with and have to accept," said Prandelli.

"You have to hold your hands up and say the opponents were better, accept defeat.

"But you also have to make sure this helps you going forward and you can grow from the experience.

"This has happened to a number of players, and will happen again, but this is what sport is all about."

Strangely, Italy enjoyed the majority of possession in the first half but still found itself two goals down through David Silva and Jordi Alba.

However, an injury to its final substitute, Thiago Motta, within four minutes of his introduction, forced Italy to complete the final half hour with 10 men.

And, in its third game in a week, which included that draining period of extra-time against England, it was too much.

"We've had a terrific European championship and the only regret is the fact we didn't have a few extra days to rest up before this game," said Prandelli.

The Italy coach confirmed Motta and Giorgio Chiellini, who had to be replaced in the first half, had both suffered hamstring injuries.

Azzurri captain Gianluigi Buffon was magnanimous in defeat.

He told BBC Sport: "Tonight, there was no contest, they were too superior - so the bitterness at losing this final is only relative.

"It was a great adventure. In a final, you have to win but today we played against a team of incredible quality."

Torres finished with three goals and an assist along with Germany striker Mario Gomez, but played less minutes than his rival which is the tiebreak criteria of the ruling body UEFA.

Chelsea striker Torres scored in the 84th minute of the final and fed Juan Mata in the 88th.

His earlier two goals came in the side's other 4-0 win, over Republic of Ireland in the group stage.

Torres succeeds injured team-mate David Villa, who was top scorer at EURO 2008 with four goals.

Apart from Torres and Gomez, Italy's Mario Balotelli, Alan Dzagoev of Russia, Mario Mandzukic of Croatia and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal also scored three goals at EURO 2012.

But if confirmed, 43-year-old Deschamps, once witheringly described as a 'water carrier' by Eric Cantona, would be taking on what increasingly looks like a poisoned chalice after a torrid recent history for the 1998 world champion.

EURO 2000-winner Roger Lemerre stepped down after France failed to exit the group stage at the 2002 FIFA World Cup; Jacques Santini left after EURO 2004 for an ill-fated sojourn at Tottenham Hotspur; and Raymond Domenech went in 2010 after a rollercoaster six years.

Should Deschamps take over, he would at least be able to continue the hard work that Blanc had put in since replacing the largely unloved Domenech after the 2010 World Cup debacle, which compounded a disastrous EURO 2008 campaign.

On paper, Deschamps is seen as having the right credentials for the job, with a stellar playing career followed by a laudable one as a coach, not least after he guided Monaco to a surprise appearance in the 2004 UEFA Champions League final.

He also coached his former club, Juventus, back to Serie A after its demotion in 2006 for match-fixing.

He then left for Marseille, the club he captained and with whom he won the 1993 European Cup trophy as well as guided to a first Ligue 1 title in 18 years in 2010.

France's Sunday newspapers, though, largely viewed Deschamps as the 'least worst' option.

Others, such as present Oman coach Paul Le Guen, were reportedly sounded out by French Football Federation President Noel Le Graet even before EURO 2012 but he does not inspire much enthusiasm within France.

Le Journal du Dimanche reported Le Graet, who is up for re-election in December, was prepared to offer the new coach a two-year contract, with another two if France qualifies for the 2014 World Cup from a group containing defending champion Spain.

The weekly claimed Le Graet has few options, as his fantasy choice of Arsene Wenger was rebuffed because the wily Arsenal coach wants to stay at the north London club, while Le Guen has also declined.

"The favourite by default is Didier Deschamps, who is going to leave Marseille," the newspaper reported.

"He was sounded out a few days ago by an intermediary, his assistant Guy Stephan, who knows Le Graet well (the former has a house in the Breton town of Guingamp, where Le Graet served two terms as mayor). This option is an intriguing one."

But the publication added: "It is a marriage that goes against logic. Le Graet has never appreciated what he saw as negative lobbying by the 1998 World Cup generation during the Domenech era.

"And he most certainly does not want to hear the name of Jean-Pierre Bernes (agent of Blanc and Deschamps as well as several key players), of whom he has never had anything but a sulphurous view.

"In this case the former captain of the world and European champions is much closer to his agent than Blanc is."

The main question may well be financial, after Deschamps informed Marseille in May that he did not want to see out the remaining two years of his contract.

But now he seems to be the favourite, reports suggested that cash-strapped Marseille could try to benefit and seek remuneration from the FFF, just as Bordeaux did successfully when Blanc left two years ago.

Sports daily L'Equipe claimed that as national team coach, Deschamps would see his monthly salary reduced from 300,000 euros ($370,667) to 100,000 euros ($123,556), although money was not an issue.

"Money has never been the motivating factor with the national side with whom he has experienced the most heartstopping moments of his career," it claimed.

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.

And it did it with the most awesome display of passing power, which made a mockery of all those who had questioned it 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 on the pitch, 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 championship 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.

Throughout the tournament, the argument for Spain being a dour outfit had been building.

It dominated the pre-match press conferences and was fuelled still further by Arsene Wenger, who accused the world champion of "betrayed their philosophy" by turning their tiki-taka style into a negative.

After 15 minutes of the most majestic football imaginable, the greatest noise was the sound of all those words being rammed jubilantly down throats.

Coach Vicente del Bosque refused to bow to the demand for a regular centre-forward to be included in his starting line-up and was rewarded with a start the quality of which was on a par with anything this group of players has ever produced.

Ramos had a couple of early efforts, so too Xavi. Iniesta also had a shot blocked before Spain cut Italy's defence to shreds.

The move was astounding in its simplicity.

Alvaro Arbeloa started it, Xavi was also involved before Iniesta split the Italy defence with a pass Fabregas was able to cut-back from the by-line.

And who should be there to head home? None other than Silva, who had got free at the near post and flicked the ball into the far.

By half-time, Spain had another

Again five passes were involved. This time it went back to front. Iker Casillas, Fabregas and then Alba, who fed Xavi and kept motoring.

What unfolded can only make Barcelona thankful it has agreed to pay Valencia $17.1million for the full-back. His price would have gone up significantly after the final.

Xavi played that straight through ball thousands of times in his illustrious career. The pace on it was perfect. Alba, beyond Italy's back-line, steadied himself before sliding a shot calmly past Gianluigi Buffon.

Under normal circumstances, the half-time statistics would have underlined Spain's superiority.

In fact, they showed Italy had played more passes and secured 53% possession, almost unheard of against this Spain team.

With Casillas not enjoying his most secure evening, the Azzurri would have expected to create something meaningful.

But the bounce of the ball would not go Italy's way.

Casillas got in the way of a thunderous effort from Antonio Cassano and Balotelli fired over.

No-one could accuse Prandelli of lacking guts. Within 11 minutes of the re-start he had used all his substitutes and seen one of them Antonio di Natale bring a decent save out of Casillas after collecting Riccardo Montolivo's pass inside the area.

Unfortunately for Italy, the last replacement, Motta was only on the field for four minutes before he pulled a hamstring to leave his side a man short.

It was dreadful luck for the Azzurri, who now knew their task was a hopeless one.

All that was left was to stave off humiliation.

Even that was beyond them as substitutes Torres and Mata struck in the final minutes.

Italy didn't deserve that.

Its first competitive defeat to Spain - penalties excepted - since the 1920 Olympics.

Spain, record breaker twice over to become the first side in history to defend its European title, now unbeaten in this competition for 29 games, a run that stretches back to June 2004.

History maker. How boring.

In winning EURO 2008 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Spain thrilled with its tiki-taka style, centred around the midfield axis of Barcelona duo Xavi and Andres Iniesta.

This northern summer though, it has gained as much criticism as plaudits.

With David Villa injured and Fernando Torres still out of form, coach Vicente del Bosque has opted at times to play with no orthodox forwards.

It has led to a growing belief that Spain's close passing game is now of more value in keeping the ball away from opponents rather than actually trying to score itself.

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli suggested those who feel Spain is boring are frightened of it and confirmed his belief that it is still the best side in the world.

If Spain beats the Azzurri in the EURO 2012 final in Kiev, it may also go down as one of the best sides ever given it will become the first country to win three successive tournaments.

However, Wenger believes it will do so in a negative manner.

"These guys are more than outstanding footballers; they are really intelligent and they are winners," Wenger wrote on www.eurosport.com. "I want to give them credit for that.

"However, they have betrayed their philosophy and turned it into something more negative.

"Originally they wanted possession in order to attack and win the game; now it seems to be first and foremost a way not to lose.

"They have become more conservative, and they don't want to give the ball up because they don't want to give you a chance to score.

"That's the impression you get from Euro 2012.

"Yes, it can be hard to break down defensive opponents, but this is a challenge that confronts every successful team.

"They are still absolutely outstanding, but they have less penetration than before."

Germany lost 2-1 to Italy in the semi-finals having set a new world record of 15 consecutive wins in competitive matches, yet the German media has been strongly critical of the national team's performance in Poland and Ukraine.

Ozil, who was on the receiving end of much of the criticism, told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper the negative reporting is misplaced.

"All this discussion just for one narrow defeat … we could have scored three goals in the opening stages of the match and now the coach is meant to be able to prevent that?" said the Real Madrid man.

"Since I have been involved (with Germany), we have received lots of praise, particularly from abroad, and now everything is supposed to be wrong?"

Ozil feels Germany's record-breaking run of victories should be the main memory of EURO 2012 and not its defeat to Italy.

"We should not only look at single results," he said. "We have won 15 games in a row with this team.

"To win a title, a lot of things have got to come together and that includes having luck.

"I am completely against making things out to be bad. We have been in four semi-finals and that is a great achievement.

"Of course we also want to win a title and we are doing all we can for it, but it is not so easy."

Buffon, 34, will also attempt to become the second Italian after legendary goalkeeper Dino Zoff to win the European championship and FIFA World Cup.

Buffon said Italy should be very proud of its achievements in Poland and Ukraine.

"We are very pleased because they're unexpected results," Buffon told Uefa.com.

"We came here with lots of non-football related problems and also the friendlies we played during our preparation went pretty badly.

"So that's why we were a bit afraid of playing a bad tournament. But along with the coach we managed to find the right atmosphere within the team so we could make it here.

"It's the greatest joy that we could have given to our people. It's a joy that they also transmit to us because some pictures and images don't leave you unmoved, of course, and they make you feel very proud inside."

Buffon said coach Cesare Prandelli had played a major part in Italy's spectacular resurgence after its 2010 World Cup shambles when the Italians failed to survive the group stage.

"He has been doing great," Buffon explained.

"His way of working, his way of coaching, has been rewarded because he is more a club coach who teaches football on a daily basis and not really a national team coach.

"He managed to get his ideas across in a very efficient and very fast way, making sure that we took it in on those few occasions we met and saw him."

Buffon also shed some light on temperamental striker Mario Balotelli, who started the tournament poorly but burst into life in the semi-final against Germany, scoring two wonderful goals to give Italy a 2-1 win.

"Mario is a very special one. He's an individual person and in some aspects very original," he said.

"As I have always said, he acts instinctively and he is also still very young. So I think we can excuse some of the mistakes he has made.

"I think he has the qualities to become a great champion, but it's all down to him alone to decide to take that road.

"Here in the match against Germany he scored two fantastic goals and if we manage to finish this tournament successfully he certainly deserves a lot of credit.

"I also think the coach deserves the greatest credit for the way he managed to deal with him– and also the other 21 or 22 players in the squad."

Rooney, who was banned for the first two games of the tournament, was not at his best against Ukraine and Italy, who beat the Three Lions on penalties in the quarter-finals.

That has led some to blame Rooney for England's failure to progress further but Gerrard believes the Manchester United striker is judged by higher standards than the rest of the squad.

Gerrard said in The Sun Sunday: "I just think that ever since Wayne has been around, and because of his performances in EURO 2004, there is an expectation that he comes to these tournaments and wins them all on his own.

"I just think that's unfair - especially when it goes wrong and people then point to Wayne and his performances and blame him.

"But the responsibility has to be on all 23 players.

"It's unfair to look at Wayne and say because he didn't play well it's the reason why we haven't won.

"I've mentioned on many occasions that at this level the biggest thing is to play without expectation, without fear.

"So it's only normal that at times Wayne is brought down because of that expectation, because everyone expects and wants him to do well."

Meanwhile, former England striker Alan Shearer has warned he believes the team is going backwards.

Shearer is baffled by the praise Roy Hodgson's men received for their battling performances at the tournament in Poland and Ukraine.

He told The Sun Sunday: "If we accept this level of performance, then we have given up on England.

"Have we dropped so far down the pecking order that we are applauding England for trying hard and being well-organised?"

He continued: "I cannot remember the last time the nation celebrated the team getting out of our group.

"That used to be the least that was expected. Now it seems to be a pointer that we are heading in the right direction.

"Well, we are not. We are getting progressively worse if you look at our performances in the last three major tournaments we qualified for."

Once again, England failed to progress beyond the quarter-final stage of a major tournament.

Whilst its last eight conqueror Italy and defending champion Spain prepare to do battle in the EURO 2012 final in Kiev, Hodgson is left to pick from the debris the positive aspects of his team's performances.

Although the majority of questioning has surrounded an obvious lack of technique given England had a minority of possession in every game, Hodgson does not view the situation in quite such bleak terms.

"We have to maintain that degree of pragmatism that we have always had in English football," he said.

"We also have to retain that fighting spirit and doggedness.

"We mustn't start throwing those qualities overboard just so you can come off the field and have someone say you've had more shots at goal.

"I don't want to emulate nations, no. I want England to be England.

"You can't say we are going to play like Spain because apart from anything, the Spanish grew up in different climatic conditions to us and have always had very different qualities.

"And let's not forget that for years and years Spain went to every major tournament and never achieved anything."

Hodgson's immediate aim is to reach the next World Cup in Brazil.

And before the visit Moldova for the first of 12 qualifying matches on 7 September, it takes on Italy in Bern, a game Hodgson has already said he will use to experiment.

One of the players who could be selected in Chelsea's Ryan Bertrand, who may have only made 15 appearances for the Blues but the last one was an impressive effort in last month's UEFA Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich.

"Bertrand did very well in the Champions League Final, so there are players out there," said Hodgson.

"There are players out there, I've no doubt about that.

"Jack Wilshere had an impact before he missed the whole of last season with injury. If he can reach that level he's got to be a player who's of interest to us.

"Adam Johnson is another who's quite interesting.

"Then there were talents like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Danny Welbeck, who were with us at the Euros.

"They are not poor players technically. Hopefully in two years' time they will be even better."

Hodgson has a few weeks to think about it.

Clearly though, Steven Gerrard remains an integral part of those plans.

At 32, he was one of England's better players this month and relished the captaincy, which has been given to him as of right for the first time.

And, whilst he accepts he may need to be managed in order to fulfil his obligations to club and country, the Liverpool midfielder is keen to play his part.

"The easy decision for me would be to walk away from all of this and say I want to prolong my Liverpool career," he said.

"We can't hide the fact I need to be managed properly.

"But the experiences I've had with this team over the last four games have been fantastic and I still feel I'm good enough to have an impact at this level."

Nevertheless, it is hard to see England threatening at the latter end of the next World Cup, partly because the last eight appears to be a glass ceiling that cannot be broken, but also because no European country has ever won the World Cup in South America.

It was a point Gerrard's good friend Jamie Carragher made rather forcibly in his role as a pundit for ITV, and drew a stinging response from his Liverpool team-mate.

"So should we just not go? Should we give up?" he said.

"Should we not go to that tournament because of what Jamie Carragher said?

"Listen, there are a lot of people out there with different opinions.

"We can't control what they are saying.

"What's important is that we know what we are good at and where we need to improve.

"We have to stick together, dust ourselves down and go again."

After much wrangling, it is expected FIFA will give the green light to the use of goal-line technology when its International Board meets in Switzerland on Thursday.

For FIFA president Sepp Blatter the final straw came in Donetsk, when it was not spotted by the officials that a shot from Ukraine forward Marko Devic had crossed the line before it was hooked away by John Terry.

Yet Platini uses that incident to underline why he does not want technology in the game.

Replays have established Devic had been offside earlier in the move, and that had not been spotted either.

"The goal between England and Ukraine: it was a goal. It was a mistake from the referee," said Platini.

"But there was an offside before then.

"If the officials had given offside there wouldn't have been a goal.

"So why don't we have technology for offside decisions as well? Where does it stop?"

There is some validity to Platini's argument.

In virtually every other sport that uses technology to make decisions, its scope has widened far beyond what was originally intended.

"It's not goal-line technology in itself," said Platini.

"I am against technology coming into force to actually make decisions.

"It invades every single area.

"If tomorrow someone handballs it on the line and the referee doesn't see it, what then?

"We can't just have goal-line technology. We also need sensors to see if someone has handballed it.

"We need cameras to see if it should be a goal or not."

In addition, whilst Blatter has been convinced by the technology that has been used, Platini is less certain of its worth.

"Are you sure that it works?" he said.

"No one has seen the trials, no one has seen anything.

"I read an article from a journalist saying 'We are not 100 per cent sure but we think it will help the referee. We don't know any more than that'."

There is even the possibility that Platini might look to prevent technology being used in UEFA's flagship tournaments even if FIFA decides to pursue the venture.

"We are going to see if this is suggested and proposed to all federations," he said.

"The national federations will have then have the chance to decide whether they want goal-line technology.

"Mr Blatter knows what I think of this and I know his thoughts on the issue."

UEFA says its president Michel Platini will visit Ireland soon to present an award to thank the 'absolutely fantastic' fans.

UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino said 'everyone was very impressed with the fans of the Irish national team'.

The Irish fans' singing of 'The Fields of Athenry' filled stadiums in Poznan and Gdansk with emotion despite the team being mostly outclassed in losing to Croatia, Spain and Italy.

'The Fields of Athenry' is a folk song set during the 19th century Irish Famine about a fictional man from near Athenry in County Galway sentenced to be transported to Australia for stealing food for his starving family.

Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said Republic of Ireland's fans 'should be applauded'.

Buffon said: "They are people full of pride and happiness who accept defeat and victory in the same manner."

European football's governing body has agreed to make payments to around 580 clubs represented by the 53 UEFA national associations for the release of players for both the tournament and qualifying.

At EURO 2008, only 180 clubs whose players were involved in the tournament in Austria and Switzerland received a share of revenues.

Clubs will receive a total of 100 million euros ($123.7 million) from EURO 2012, up from 55 million euros ($68.03 million) four years ago, with 40 million euros ($49.48 million) reserved to clubs who released players for qualification matches.

UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino said the deal, approved by the executive committee after discussion with the European Club Association ECA, meant 'smaller clubs' would now also benefit from the European championship.

The remaining 60 million euros ($74.22 million) will be distributed to clubs who have released one or more player for the final tournament in Poland and Ukraine.

"A few more customers than normal, a few more foreigners, but in this kind of beautiful weather any Kievite punts the city if he possibly can," said Nataliya Drach, a saleswoman at Harchuvan'ya, a family-owned grocery store on a Kiev main streets.

"I won't watch the game, but my husband might," she said. "Once our team (Ukraine) and the Russians left the competition, we really don't have any one to cheer for."

Kiev's three kilometres long fan zone, where an estimated half a million plus fans in yellow and blue had gathered to cheer their side on in a defeat to England, was almost deserted on Saturday afternoon.

Young men dressed in costumes of Disney movie characters sat on park benches under a bright sun, waiting for someone to walk by and ask for a photo snap with them.

"I wouldn't call this a party atmosphere," said student Volodymyr Myhailik, sweating in a furry panda costume. "Just an average weekend."

Pubs and footpaths a mere two blocks from Kiev's glittering Olympic Stadium, refurbished for EURO 2012, were thinly-attended or even empty on Friday evening. At the popular Time Out bar only the bartender was actually watching a game, while a waitress, lacking customers, was chatting on a mobile phone and smoking a cigarette.

Ukrainian government spokesmen were, on Saturday, proudly reporting the planned arrival of dozens of international dignitaries to the championship game - a feather in the cap of the former Soviet republic, which prior to EURO 2012 was widely criticised as too corrupt and inefficient to host a major football championship successfully.

At EURO 2012's outset, top European officials led by EU president Jos Manuel Barroso and German chancellor Angela Merkel announced they would be uncomfortable attending games in Ukraine because of worries about weak rule of law in the country.

However, Spain Prime Minister Mariano Rahoy Bray, Italy Prime Minister Mario Monti, Poland President Bronislaw Komorowski and Poland ex-presidents Lech Walesa and Aleksander Kwasniewski are set to attend the final - top politicians from the nations of the finalists and the tournament co-hosts.

Rubbing shoulders with the EU officials in the VIP seating will be Belarus' authoritarian President Aleksandr Lukashenko; the Presidents of Moldova, Tajikistan, Armenia and Georgia; and the Prime Ministers of Hungary and Moldova, Ukrainian news reports said.

More than 7,300 police would be on hand to provide security for the Spain-Italy game, officials at Ukraine's Interior Ministry said.

Crime had been extremely low throughout EURO 2012, they said, and on Friday 'no serious Euro-related criminal incidents, of any kind' had even been registered, a ministry statement revealed.

The final, like all other EURO 2012 matches, was to be aired live on Ukrainian television. As many as 150 million viewers would watch the final worldwide, Korrespondent magazine reported.

Local media reported the municipality ruled out giant screens from the squares of the medieval city, where traditional ceremonies are to be held ahead of the horse race, set for Monday among the local wards.

Siena, which also prohibited street celebrations in case Italy wins its second continental trophy, appears to be the only Italian town able to resist the invasion of fan zones being set up to watch the event.

By contrast, the religious procession of San Calogero in Agrigento has been postponed to after the game. The Sicilian town took the same decision when the procession coincided with the World Cup finals in 1982 and 2006, both won by Italy.

"As usual, they were fantastic words from the president. He conveyed the importance of team spirit and generosity of the players and said this was being conveyed to the country," Italy coach Cesare Prandelli revealed at a pre-match press conference.

"I can't wait to read the letter out to the players," said Prandelli, who has taken Italy within a match of winning its second continental title.

Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon praised Napolitano as a great leader who supported the team.

"In troubled times somebody who is intelligent seems like a giant," Buffon said.

Napolitano seems like that. I have a lot of respect for him."

The squad has been invited to visit the president on its return to Italy - win or lose.

"I think if a team has showed the commitment that we have shown and has behaved well, they should be congratulated for that. That is the reason why we are being invited."

It was unclear if Napolitano planned to be at the game in Kiev.

Italy Prime Minister Mario Monti, by contrast, has already announced his presence at the Olympic Stadium.

Prandelli did not want to give away too much of the game, but said that there was no reason why he should change his style of play for the final.

He once again stressed that its opponent was the best side in the world.

"They have shown in the last few years that they are the best and they have always stayed true to their philosophy," Prandelli said.

"Spain's strength is not only their ball possession, but also how they win it back in their own half. But we will be positive and take the game to them."

The coach is not surprised that Mario Balotelli, who is considered a very volatile player, has performed so well at EURO 2012, where he has scored three goals already.

"He has found a set up where he can talk to great champions who have achieved a lot and won a lot. You have to be brave enough to take on advice. We were very clear with him on footballing terms and he has managed to put that into practice," Prandelli said.

Buffon said the team was similarly confident ahead of the game as it was on the eve of the World Cup final in 2006, when it beat France.

"The emotions are similar to Berlin and we have the confidence.

Now we have to be patient to see if we have the same result."

Buffon, who had predicted before the tournament that Italy would not win, said he had always stressed that Spain was a side that stood so much above the other teams.

"We are playing against that side in the final and now we will see how we fare."

He said he did not want to single out an individual Spanish player as they were all good. "It would be a lack of respect to others if I single out one. They have really dominated world football over the last six years."

The Manchester City forward was dropped by coach Cesare Prandelli for disciplinary reasons in March 2011 and, judging by that woeful tackle on Arsenal's Alex Song at the Emirates Stadium 13 months later, it seemed not much had changed in the intervening time.

For some reason though, Balotelli has been the model of good behaviour during his time in Poland and Ukraine.

The 21-year-old has certainly flourished and his brace in the semi-final victory over Germany has put him in pole position to claim the coveted Golden Boot, in addition to sending Italy into the final with holder Spain.

Now Italy needs one more big performance from Balotelli.

"Mario has done very well thus far," said Buffon.

"He has great natural talent and that is a fantastic starting point for him.

"But he's also come into a squad where there are a lot of star players, not only on the footballing side but in general.

"In addition, he has been able to work with a coach who, in a number of ways, has managed to get the best out him.

"Mario deserves the most credit because he's really worked hard and wanted to succeed."

Although there have been suggestions Balotelli might be left out against Spain, it would be a pretty tough call given his contribution to the victory in Warsaw.

Yet again, after leaving behind a domestic competition mired in scandal, Italy has emerged as a unified force.

It happened in 1982 and 2006, with Italy winning the FIFA World Cup on both occasions.

And Buffon does not feel there is any coincidence.

"There is something unique in the Italian mentality," he said.

"Beyond everything that has been said, and the rumours, Italians have a lot of respect and love for the national squad which goes above and beyond anything else.

"We have the opportunity to show just how great our country is.

"It's not always easy but we always try and find a way of getting a solid squad.

"There's a lot of solidarity and we're thinking along the same lines. That's our strength."

Italy goes into the game with the backing of many neutrals, who have warmed to its enterprising style of play.

The defensive 'catenaccio' philosophy of old has been dumped in favour of an open approach, in which potential player of the tournament Andrea Pirlo has played such a significant role.

Italy has already met Spain once in this competition, in their first group outing in Gdansk, which finished level.

Yet Prandelli feels it is the reigning world and European champion which starts favourite due to its amazing recent record.

And he scoffs at those who believe Spain has evolved into a boring side.

"Spain are the best side in the world," he said.

"They've shown that in the last few years by playing their own way and staying true to their footballing philosophy.

"We've always said they are the side to beat.

"It's not a case of them being boring.

"It's a fear of seeing the same side always winning and Spain always seem to come out on top.

"They are not boring in any shape or form."

Its tiki-taka style thrilled supporters at EURO 2008 and also at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Now it has taken it to the brink of history as the only side to win three major international tournaments on the trot.

Yet it seems tiki-taka is no longer what it once was.

With David Villa ruled out through injury and Fernando Torres not back to the level that once had opposition defences quaking, Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has taken the novel approach of selecting teams with no orthodox forwards.

As four of the eight goals it has scored in Poland and Ukraine came against Republic of Ireland, there is evidence to back up the boring tag.

However, Xavi is not buying it.

"We are not bored," he said.

"All our players know how to adapt and how we play.

"It is important that our fans can identify with our style.

"They enjoy it and we enjoy it.

"If people think it is boring that Spain always win, that is fantastic for us."

Indeed, Xavi feels the style of play has rescued his career.

In an era when the physical dominance of midfield areas seemed to be taking over, he would have found it difficult.

But, first with Barcelona, then with a previously under-performing national side, a system has been found that allowed the 32-year-old to confirm his status as one of the best players in the world.

"I feel very lucky," he said.

"Some years ago football had gone in the direction of being more physical.

"We had slightly weaker, but more technical, players.

"That is what we tried to do with Spain and thankfully it worked out really well for everyone."

Del Bosque was certainly making no apologies for the way his team performs.

"We cannot stay in the past century," he said.

"Football is evolving and our players have changed.

"The nucleus is the same but you cannot say we haven't tried to change anything and have stayed on the same line."

Del Bosque must decide whether to include former Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas, who is one of those who has been used in an offensive role during the current tournament.

Andres Iniesta, whose extra-time goal defeated Netherlands in the World Cup final, is another, with Del Bosque seemingly intent on filling his midfield rather than take the bold step of including Athletic Bilbao's Fernando Llorente, who proved so troublesome for Manchester United in two meetings last season.

"We will play with three attackers that's for sure," said Del Bosque.

"There will be three men in the front who are going to be responsible for attacking.

"Each member of the team has his own mission."

Del Bosque needs to get it right because history awaits this special group of players.

Yet, in a sense, they have already achieved their most significant task; transforming the perception of a team many felt, like England, was destined to fail.

"This feels different," said skipper Iker Casillas.

"Four years ago we achieved something the team had never achieved before.

"Then we won the World Cup, which showed we were evolving as a team.

"After four years, now we are in another final, which is something no-one could have imagined before the first one.

"People talk about creating history. But it has been created already. We did it with that very first win."

Although largely well attended, there have been a large number of empty seats at certain games.

Spaces were notable at England's opening match with France, and also the semi-final between Portugal and Spain, which also took place in Donetsk.

Huge costs of travel and accommodation have been blamed for relatively small number of fans who went to Poland and Ukraine, with the level of England's support as low as anyone can remember.

Yet Platini insists the issue had more to do with seats allocated to corporate partners not being used rather than tickets not being purchased.

"We sold 100 per cent of tickets and had 98 per cent of stadia filled," said Platini. "That's enormous.

"We also had 12,000 accreditations and there were partners who had tickets and expensive hotel rooms. 98 per centof those seats were filled, the 2 per cent who don't come is up to them."

Puyol, 34, and Villa, 30, missed EURO 2012 because of serious injuries. They were important in Spain's triumphs at EURO 2008 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque reacted positively to the news that the two injury victims would be present at the final.

"We are delighted that Puyol and Villa will be here," he said. "We are grateful to them for making the effort to come. I am sure their presence will help us."

Spain will be trying to become the first ever national team to win three consecutive major trophies.

Reports emerged earlier that the former Bordeaux boss would not be continuing with Les Bleus after a meeting with the FFF.

The FFF then confirmed the 46-year-old would not be renewing his contract after France's exit from EURO 2012 after a 2-0 defeat by Spain at the quarter-final stage.

The former national team defender took over from Raymond Domenech after France's disastrous 2010 FIFA World Cup where it crashed out at the group stage.

Blanc inherited a disunited group still smarting from their exit but managed to knit the team back together and with Karim Benzema having established himself as one of Europe's top players under Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid, France was tipped to be an outside contender in Poland and Ukraine.

However, it went out with a whimper against Vicente del Bosque's finalist and this was followed by Samir Nasri having a foul-mouthed argument with a reporter.

Now Blanc has decided his time is up after just two years in charge with Didier Deschamps favourite to succeed him after he indicated his intention to leave Marseille.

A statement on the FFF website read: "Within the period provided for reflection, Laurent Blanc, on Saturday contacted the President of the FFF, Noel Le Graet, to indicate his decision not to seek the renewal of his contract of national coach.

"Mr Le Graet has acknowledged and applauded the work of Laurent Blanc at the head of the France team since August 2010.

"The executive committee of the federation is meeting on Tuesday but no comments will be made by the FFF and its president before the press conference scheduled at the conclusion of this work session."

Blanc has immediately been linked with the vacancy at English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur after the departure of Harry Redknapp.

Poland had been looking forward to the event for years, spending big to build roads, stadiums and other infrastructure for the crowds of expected football fans.

When the final whistle blew after the Germany v Italy match, many Poles could not believe EURO 2012 had passed by them so quickly.

"We waited for so long, and it went by so fast," Polish Radio said on Friday, a day after the semi-final at the capital's National Stadium, the country's last hosted match.

The headlines praised the 2-1 Italian victory as the most exciting of the tournament, and said the city could not have wished for a better send off.

Experts on Friday debated whether Poland would become a more popular tourist destination after EURO 2012 left many foreign fans impressed with the host cities, according to surveys.

Even opposition leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who has frequently been critical of the government's management of EURO 2012, steered clear of finding fault. The leader of the right-wing Law and Justice party joked with reporters that he would support Spain against Italy in the final in Kiev, because its players were 'short' like him.

Many Poles were already looking back at the tournament with pride: it was called well organised by both UEFA and a majority of foreign visitors, according to a survey conducted by organisers.

The games got off to a shaky start after allegations of racism during the first days of the tournament. The Dutch federation said some players had heard monkey noises directed at black players during a training session.

And there were also clashes on 12 June when Polish hooligans attacked Russian fans ahead of a tense match between the two historic rivals.

But most of the tournament had passed peacefully, in a party atmosphere where fans from across Europe celebrated together in fan zones, beer gardens and stadiums.

Some 652,000 fans had watched the games that Poland hosted in the country's four stadiums, organisers said on Friday. Another 2.8 million people packed the fan zones in the host cities and in Krakow, beating the statistics of EURO 2008, organisers said.

Commentaries said the former Soviet bloc had built infrastructure that had brought the country up to European standards.

The daily Polska claimed: "Without the signs of cities near the stadiums, television viewers would not have known the difference between a game played in Lviv (Ukraine) or in Gdansk (Poland,) or a game played in Milan or Barcelona."

It did so on the back of two qualifying campaigns which suggested it was capable of doing just that, and having earned the respect of even the biggest teams on the continent in the process.

In the event, its stay in Poland and Ukraine proved brief as it failed to produce anywhere near the form which had taken it there, eventually returning at the earliest opportunity without a point to its name and having conceded nine goals and scored only one in three demoralising Group C games.

Ireland, of course, was not the only country to under-achieve, with Russia and Holland the most high-profile of the first round drop-outs.

However, a nation raised on the heroics of the 1988 European Championships - the last for which it qualified - and the World Cup finals of 1990, 1994 and 2002 expected much, much more, and the ensuing bout of introspection has left Trapattoni and his employers with serious questions to answer.

The 73-year-old Italian presented a defiant front as he surveyed the wreckage of a campaign which disappointed and surprised in equal measure, and he swiftly turned his attention to the qualifying campaign for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Trapattoni said: "In my life I have had many successes and been the manager of great teams.

"I have always had the habit of winning and not losing and when I lose, I don't sleep at night. I think about if I have made mistakes.

"The willingness is there to come back with fresh energy and a new squad to do better, and I can't wait for the new season to start."

Trapattoni insisted he was going nowhere amid suggestions in certain quarters that the time may have come to part company with a man whose approach to the game has always had its detractors.

And John Delaney, chief executive of the Football Association of Ireland, has since indicated that there is no desire at the moment to end an association which has entered its fifth year.

But the nature of Ireland's untimely exit from the competition raised issues which simply must be addressed if they are to give themselves a platform upon which to rebuild their reputation as gate-crashers on the big stage.

Under Trapattoni, the Republic has risen steadily in FIFA's ranking list - it arrived in Poland sitting in 18th place, ahead of the likes of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Turkey - and has, or at least had, proved difficult to beat.

Italy could not manage to find a way past them in two 2010 World Cup qualifiers and France needed William Gallas' illegally-assisted goal to claim a play-off victory, while Ireland somehow survived an all-out assault in Moscow last September to claim a 0-0 draw with eventual group winners Russia on their way to the Euros.

Along the way, Trapattoni's reliance on a 4-4-2 system with two holding midfielders attracted criticism for its rigidity and conservatism, but the manager more often than not was able to point to results as the only justification he needed.

However, he was unable to offer that as a defence in Poland as the wheels came off in spectacular style.

Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic set the Republic on the back foot within three minutes of the start of their campaign when he beat keeper Shay Given alarmingly easily with a well-placed, but hardly lethal header, and the spell was broken.

The Croatians ran out 3-1 winners in Poznan and a shell-shocked Ireland was subsequently dismantled by Spain in Gdansk as it slipped to a 4-0 defeat.

It rallied against Italy to hold Cesare Prandelli's men for 35 minutes, but ultimately went down 2-0 to end their campaign pointless and facing an uncomfortable inquest amid speculation that several senior players could announce their retirements.

Trapattoni's perceived inflexibility was a main thrust of the arguments against, but while the veteran Italian undoubtedly made mistakes, he was not alone.

Ireland never came close to the standards it had set itself in qualification with even its most reliable men - Given, key defender Richard Dunne and record goalscorer Robbie Keane - woefully short of form.

Dunne admitted: "As much as we wanted to do well, we know we haven't. We are playing against teams that are better than us and it's hard to accept that our best at the moment isn't good enough."

Trapattoni has already indicated that the likes of James McClean, James McCarthy and Darron Gibson will have roles to play in the new campaign.

But just how far he himself is prepared to adapt remains to be seen.

You can either be critical, point to a limited amount of possession in every game, difficulties endured against France, a lead thrown away against Sweden, struggles against Ukraine and ultimately outplayed by Italy.

There is another equally extreme narrative; given he was afforded so little time to prepare, Roy Hodgson worked wonders to win a group and maintained team discipline to such an extent England was still in there scrapping until the final two rounds of penalties in its quarter-final.

Half-full or half-empty?

Judgement must wait until Hodgson has a chance to build on what was achieved in Ukraine.

England, routinely, was solid. It maintained team shape, did what they were asked. Given expectations were so low, they exceeded them by winning their group.

Defeat on penalties to one of the world's superpowers was no disgrace, even if the one-sided manner of the game that preceded that shoot-out caught most people by surprise.

In Danny Welbeck, Hodgson pushed forward a pretty decent centre-forward. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was given his first taste of what could be many outings on the international arena. Even Andy Carroll was good in patches.

There has to be more though. And this has to come despite the obvious flaws in the English game that mean even our top players struggle with the basic elements of international football.

Take John Terry for example.

To this observer, Terry was England's player of the tournament. Both against Ukraine and Italy, the Chelsea skipper was outstanding, throwing himself into tackles in trademark style, making block after block to prevent England's goal being breached.

Ukraine's 'goal that never was' would have been awarded if Terry had not shown the foresight to get back and hook clear.

This wholehearted defensive style is quite thrilling. It underlines why Terry is such a crowd favourite at Chelsea and why he has been one of the Premier League's top men for a decade.

But Terry also lacks pace. It is possibly why England defended from such deep positions against Italy, which in turn created the space Andrea Pirlo revelled in.

In an era where Barcelona can win a Champions League with Javier Mascherano in the heart of their defence, is the era of 'typical' English defending at an end too, and if so, is Terry surplus to requirements?

It sounds bizarre. And the argument feels silly.

Yet to avoid it would be to dismiss the evidence of a game that has marched inexorably towards minimal contact.

Rio Ferdinand once went an entire season at Manchester United without making a tackle. Anticipation has always been one of the hallmarks of his game.

By excluding Ferdinand from his summer plans, Hodgson seemed to be calling time on the defender's England career. At 33, that is probably the right call.

But he is the template Hodgson should be looking for. And the problem is we have few who fit it.

They are about. Vincent Kompany for a start. Thomas Vermaelen, David Luiz for that matter. None of them are English though.

We have Gary Cahill to an extent, Joleon Lescott, Phil Jagielka. Chris Smalling is improving but still young, Phil Jones younger still and has key areas of his game that need to be worked on for all his undoubted promise.

However, it is vital for Hodgson to get this right.

That England's most-played pass against Italy was Joe Hart to Carroll was a damning indictment of the chronic lack of technique which the Football Association are keen to use St George's Park as the catalyst to sort out.

Hodgson cannot wait for the coaches to be taught how to coach though.

He has two years. For, providing they qualify, if England get to Brazil for the next World Cup and think Hart to Carroll is going to bring them any joy, they might as well save the air fare.

England are not going to win the 2014 World Cup.

No European team has ever lifted the greatest prize on South American soil and the brutal truth is England are not good enough to break that record.

What we can expect is to make a contribution, give a decent showing. Impress a few people and offer hope for Euro 2016 in France.

Only then can we really know whether these European Championships were a bright beginning, or a pretty limited end.

Turkey had been favourites to host the event but doubt has been placed over its ability to stage the event due to their ongoing bid for Istanbul to host the Olympic Games in the same year.

It would be impractical to host both, so UEFA is having to look at alternatives.

Platini insists there are other options - a joint bid between Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland has been mentioned - but the controversial Frenchman has raised the potential for a far more radical solution.

"The Euros in 2020 could be held all over Europe," said Platini. "We are just thinking about it. I have said 12 or 13 host cities, it could be 24 or 32."

The reasoning behind what seems, on the face of it, to be a rather bizarre plan, is to save the cost involved of building stadiums and airports.

However, unless the 'tournament' was going to be played in cities already used to holding big matches, that expense would still be required.

The details are very sketchy. However, speaking in Kiev, Platini seems enthused by the prospect.

"It is a great debate," he said. "It would be four games per venue and everyone has the possibility to host it."

The logistical issue of supporters travelling to random venues all over Europe did not seem to be a problem in Platini's mind, even if the example he used had very little to do with the present tournament, being co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine.

"It is easier to go from London to Paris or Berlin than Cardiff to Gdansk," he said.

"Turkey going for the Olympics creates a problem for us and we are not going to wait until we know whether they are going to get them."

Quite how much support Platini's plan would have is difficult to gauge at this stage.

However, he vowed a final decision would be taken in "January or February".

"The political decision needs to be made," he said. "We wouldn't have to build stadiums or airports. That could be important in an economic crisis. This matter will be discussed very seriously."

By 2020, the Euros will be a 24-team competition.

The expansion takes effect in France four years from now and seems to bloat a competition that has worked perfectly well over the past three weeks.

"I didn't take the decision but I am not worried about it," said Platini. "We had three World Cups with 24 teams, so I don't see that as a problem.

"If you consider Norway, Serbia, Belgium and Scotland, plus some others, we have enough good teams for a 24-team competition."

"When you play in a city and you have all the fans or like with the semi-finals you have a lot of teams in one or two cities, it's a mess so the idea to play in different cities I think it could be good.

"Maybe it's a good option for the future, in terms of having more facilities and it will be easier for the fans also to go to one place or the other."

Turning his attentions to Monday morning's (AEST) final between Spain and Italy, the former Valencia boss believes Spain is tired and as a result predicts the outcome will come down to mental approach.

He explained: "You have eight, nine players that play for Real Madrid and Barcelona and that means they were competing until the end so everyone is a little bit tired.

"You see how they played against Portugal, it was a difficult game so they were a little bit tired.

"I think the final will be more about motivation and more about fitness. But the team, the understanding between players is so good that it is difficult to change. I think Vicente (coach Del Bosque) is trying to do his best with a very good team.

"We talk about Spain not playing well but to win every year is not easy."

Benitez is currently out of work after being sacked by Inter Milan in December 2010 whom he joined after leaving Anfield and this week talks between the Spaniard and Sampdoria broke down.

While admitting he was flattered by their interest, Benitez admits finding another club in England is the priority.

He added: "Sampdoria was very serious, very professional and they have a project.

"My idea is to find a club that can match my desire, my expectations to challenge for trophies. This time (Sampdoria) was really good, I was really pleased as they were thinking of me but I am waiting for maybe another option.

"The priority is England but I have to be ready for any other challenge. I try to find someone that will be at the top and take on the challenge for trophies, the Premier League, Champions League, Europa League so something that you can win."

England's latest failure in the cauldron of a shoot-out came with defeat at the hands of Italy in the EURO 2012 quarter-finals, and former England international Southgate believes the time has come for the Football Association to tackle the issue.

"I'm a big believer in sports psychology," said Southgate, who missed a crucial penalty for England in a shoot-out against Germany in the semi-finals of Euro 96.

"Every major tennis player would work with somebody, every major golfer too, then everybody tells me 'football's different' but I can't see why.

"I'm sure it would have benefited me, definitely. It's not about luck. It is about performing a skill under pressure. I wasn't able to do that. I was going into the darkness. We need strategies for dealing with stress."

England has lost seven of its eight shoot-outs at major tournaments - its only success coming against Spain in the last eight at Euro 96 - and Southgate believes it is no surprise that confidence has suffered.

"Now there is a long history of disappointment and it's in everybody's heads," he added in quotes reported by several English national newspapers.

"Our penalty history has an impact on the whole nation."

Prandelli and a group of assistants walked about 11 kilometres from the Azzurri camp in Wieliczka, near Krakow, to a monastery in Lagiewniki, where they already walked after a quarter-final win against England.

The coach had made a first pilgrimage to the Camaldolese monastery of Bielany, which lies about 21 kilometres from Wieliczka, after Italy qualified from group C with a 2-0 win over Republic of Ireland.

Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has promised to walk with Prandelli to a monastery for another pilgrimage if they win the tournament.

The charismatic striker has already played a significant role in securing Manchester City's first league title in 44 years, setting up the last-gasp goal for Sergio Aguero against Queens Park Rangers that snatched the trophy from Manchester United's grasp.

Now he is having the same impact for Italy on a bigger stage.

Balotelli's semi-final double against Germany in Warsaw not only confirmed Italy's place in the final against Spain, it has also taken him into the group on three goals currently leading the Golden Boot standings, and he is the only one of them who can add to his tally.

Little wonder the 21-year-old took the rare step of stopping to speak immediately after the game.

And his words seemed to underline the surprising maturity he has shown throughout the competition, a volte-face from moody Mario to magnificent Mario.

"We won the league at Manchester City so having a good season for me doesn't depend on winning the Euros," he said.

"If we don't win it, it wouldn't spoil the other things but it would be special."

Throughout all the controversy that has raged around Balotelli this season, City boss Roberto Mancini insisted he was worth the effort.

Mancini has been left exasperated and amused in equal measure by his Inter Milan protege's antics.

Since Balotelli's arrival at Italy's Krakow base though, Balotelli has been calmness personified.

There has been the occasional trace of odd behaviour. He continues to stride around wearing his massive headphones, seemingly oblivious to those around him, when Italy do their pre-match walkabout.

And after shunning the media throughout the competition, he demanded a platform to speak ahead of that quarter-final with England, declaring: "I'm more of a man than Peter Pan," to the amusement of those present.

Largely though, Balotelli's focus on Italy's quest to become European champion has been total.

And should the Azzurri triumph at the weekend, he will have a winner's medals in a major international tournament, in addition to the UEFA Champions League, titles in England and Italy, plus the FA Cup.

Not bad for someone who is still regarded as a joke player by his critics.

"I am really happy at the moment and on Sunday I hope I will be even happier," he said.

"We are in the final. We are one of the two best teams in the tournament. We have to go there and play to win."

Not even the prospect of that famed Golden Boot is diverting Balotelli from the overall task of helping Italy continue this remarkable trend, from 1982 and 2006, of winning a major prize as their club game is engulfed in scandal.

"If we win and I score, it will be amazing," he said.

"If I don't score and we win it will still be amazing."

For most of the last two years, Balotelli has been compared unfavourably to City team-mate David Silva, who has not given Mancini a moment's trouble since his arrival from Valencia.

Silva is part of a Blues' dressing room that holds Balotelli in genuine affection, for all the diversions he has caused.

On Sunday though, they will be on opposite sides. It is a challenge Balotelli is relishing.

"I know David very well," said Balotelli.

"I played against him in the first game. It is going to be fun."

That earlier contest, in Gdansk, ended in a 1-1 draw.

Few give them much hope of a repeat performance, let alone a victory that would deny Spain its place in the history books as the first team to win three consecutive tournaments.

Yet, with likely player of the tournament Andrea Pirlo right at the top of his game and others, particularly Riccardo Montolivo, Daniele de Rossi and Balotelli's strike partner Antonio Cassano providing plenty of assistance, another shock cannot completely be ruled out.

Certainly Balotelli could practice a few celebrations in anticipation after the memorable effort in midweek.

"I don't have a special celebration for the final," he said. "I am not thinking about that."

Both men will captain their respective countries in Monday's (AEST) EURO 2012 final in Kiev and Casillas is expecting a close encounter similar to the 1-1 draw between the two in their opening game of the tournament.

"Buffon has my admiration and maximum respect," he told Onda Madrid.

"He is an exceptional goalkeeper and at 34 is still amongst the best. For goalkeepers that are a little younger than him he has been a reference, he has driven us and we wanted to be like him. We have a good relationship and every time we meet it is a pleasure.

"At the end we will return to face the team we opened the tournament against. The opponent didn't matter to me because Germany, like Italy, appeared very good, each one with their own style of football. Italy is a dangerous rival that will make it difficult for us."

The Real Madrid captain also insisted Spain is motivated solely by victory, even though a draw against Croatia in the final group game could have sent Italy home.

"In no moment did we speculate about drawing 2-2. Our professionalism is like this. We wanted to win against Croatia, we had a moment in which they pushed and we could have been put out. Our objective was to win and those that have arrived here are honourable."

However, despite progressing to a historic third major final in a row, Spain has been criticised in many quarters for the lack of excitement in their play.

The world champions have not conceded in 420 minutes of play since Antonio Di Natale handed Italy the lead in the opening game and has even played the majority of the tournament without a natural striker but Casillas says he always expected this competition to be even tougher as the reigning European and world champion.

"In every moment we have said that it was not going to be the same as the European championships four years ago. We are the reference at a world level and we hope it lasts for a long time, but this is a cycle, another team will arrive and dominate the rest.

"We are the team to beat and they always talk about us. The important thing is we are in the final and we are going to try and defend our title from four years ago.

"A small, but the most important, step remains. For the team and the players we are in a wonderful era of Spanish football. We are in the final, it has not been as easy as we expected. After four years at the top of world football it is normal that the other teams face us in a different manner."

Low's starting 11 in the game in Warsaw was questioned as a further loading of the midfield with Toni Kroos to contain Andrea Pirlo and company backfired.

Italy won 2-1 and Germany missed out on a big title again.

"Of course there are discussions about the line-up. I take the responsibility for it. (But) the way the goals fell does not necessarily have something to do with the line-up," Low said during the flight home on Friday.

"It was my idea but didn't work out 100 per cent. The idea to contain Pirlo and (Daniele) De Rossi in midfield wasn't that wrong."

Low said little errors made the difference as Mario Balotelli's double ended Germany's bid for a first big trophy since winning the European championships in 1996.

The semi-final exit came after defeats in the same round at the last two FIFA World Cups (against Italy in 2006 and Spain in 2010) and in the final of EURO 2008 (against Spain).

"Some of these mistakes can not happen in games played at such a level," Low said.

But Low said the team had done well overall and that he had no intention of quitting his contract, which runs until the 2014 World Cup.

"A coach always has to accept the responsibility for a defeat. But I believe we played a good tournament. We did many things well. We shouldn't question too many things.

"A few years ago we weren't able to match big teams. Now we have caught up, that is a big achievement. The goal will be to pass one or another team. Little things decide a semi-final or a final, we made a few mistake too many," Low said.

Police have been deployed en masse in the western city of Wuppertal, setting up road blocks to prevent about 800 German and 600 Italian supporters converging, they said.

Thirteen people, however, were still slightly injured on Friday, including a police officer, and 27 people arrested, 18 of whom were charged, police said.

In the northern city of Wolfsburg, which has Germany's biggest proportion of inhabitants of Italian origin, police said there were chaotic scenes for about an hour after Thursday evening's final whistle.

Fourteen arrests were made and several people were hurt.

And in Kassel in central Germany, a fan accused of throwing a firework into a crowd injuring a female spectator was among six people arrested.

Official ratings already achieved by EURO 2012 matches suggests the final on Monday (AEST) will beat the 237 million average audience for Spain's title-winning victory against Germany four years ago.

"I think it's a strong performance and we're happy so far," UEFA marketing director Guy-Laurent Epstein said.

Average rating is acknowledged as the most credible audited audience figure, and counts TV viewers who watch for at least 30 minutes. Definitive worldwide figures take several months to finalise.

Epstein said UEFA expects the match to reach 350 million viewers who will see at least one minute of the action in Kiev.

EURO 2012 has provided a good return for broadcasters in more than 200 territories who paid a combined 840 million euros ($1.07 billion) for media rights. They contributed 62 per cent of UEFA's total commercial revenue of 1.345 billion euros for the 31-match tournament.

German and Italian broadcasters had a combined 50 million viewers for their national teams' semi-final on Thursday, the Italy versus England quarter-final drew more than 20 million TV viewers in each country and Poland set a national record audience with a 14.7 million average for its match against Russia.

High ratings suggest national teams continue to outperform club football, despite the increasing popularity of UEFA's Champions League competition and the English Premier League's worldwide appeal.

"The 'appointment to view' in national team football is as strong as ever," Epstein said.

Still, the European title match is a distant second to the World Cup final.

FIFA reported an "average in-home global audience" of 530.9 million people to watch Spain beat Netherlands two years ago.

The record sports event audience is the 593 million average credited to the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. It was boosted by huge ratings in China which won't be repeated when the London Olympics opens next month with a ceremony starting when it will be 4am in Beijing.

In comparison, the Super Bowl drew a record US average of 111.3 million television viewers watching New York Giants beat New England Patriots last February.

That figure likely has been beaten almost daily at EURO 2012, with UEFA forecasting an average audience of 150 million for each match broadcast slot.

On Monday, at least 22 million viewers are expected in Italy and more than 13 million in Spain, Epstein said.

UEFA says it has given the 41-year-old Proenca the assignment in Kiev, Ukraine, six weeks after selecting him for the UEFA Champions League final. Chelsea beat Bayern Munich in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw.

Proenca has refereed both EURO 2012 finalists in his three matches in Poland and Ukraine.

He handled Spain's 4-0 victory over Ireland in the group stage and Italy's quarter-final win on penalties against England after a 0-0 draw.

Proenca also refereed Sweden's 2-0 win against France.

He has not shown a red card or awarded a penalty at EURO 2012.

There had been doubts before the tournament about whether Balotelli - previously dropped by Prandelli due to his disciplinary record on and off the pitch - would make the final squad and several pundits have questioned whether he is worth the trouble of managing him.

But Balotelli repaid Prandelli's faith in him last night, scoring both goals for Italy as they beat Germany 2-1 to reach the final of the European championship.

"I have coached Adriano (Adrian) Mutu, (Antonio) Cassano and Balotelli," Prandelli said in a press conference.

"They are difficult to manage but it's more fascinating.

"In the end, they are more faithful than those (players) who think they are a champions when they aren't.

"They are players that have quality and make you win."

Prandelli heaped praise on Balotelli, who turned in his best performance of the competition so far in the semi-final.

Balotelli, playing in his first major tournament, had not impressed in the Azzurri's group games in Poland and Ukraine although he did score against Republic of Ireland.

However, he stole the limelight in Warsaw on Thursday.

"He has enormous potential," Prandelli said. "He has a good (club) coach in (Manchester City manager Roberto) Mancini, who will help him grow."

This is how the Azzurri won their previous five titles.

1934 World Cup: The second World Cup and the first of two staged in Italy, Czechoslovakia was dispatched 2-1 in the final. Bologna forward Angelo Schiavio was Italy's leading scorer with four goals, including one in the final at Stadio Nazionale PNF in Rome.

1938 World Cup: Italy successfully defended its title, overcoming Hungary 4-2 in the final in Paris. The Azzurri beat Norway, France and Brazil on their way to the tournament showpiece at Stade Olympique de Colombes.

1968 European championship: Home advantage may have been theirs, but the Italians still needed to replay the final in order to prevail over Yugoslavia as penalty shootouts were not in operation. The first final finished 1-1 while the second - just two days later but still in Rome - was won 2-0 with goals from Luigi Riva and Pietro Anastasi.

1982 World Cup: Paolo Rossi finished with the golden boot after scoring six goals - including a hat-trick against Brazil - as Italy claimed its third world crown. It was another all-European final with West Germany the victims this time, losing 3-1 in Madrid.

2006 World Cup: Italy prevailed 5-3 over France on penalties in a charged final famous for Zinedine Zidane's red card for headbutting Marco Materazzi in extra time. After the match finished 1-1 Andrea Pirlo fired the opening penalty that day and six years later will provide Italy's greatest threat against Spain.

Cesare Prandelli's side overcame tournament favourite Germany 2-1 in the semi-final to earn a crack at world and European champion Spain in the final in Kiev on Monday (AEST).

Kalac, who spent eight seasons of his career in Italy with Perugia and AC Milan before retiring in 2010, said Italian football's main strength has always been its mentality that is based on a strong self-belief and the players' ability to adapt and handle pressure.

"You have to be mentally very strong to play in Italy or for the national team and most of the players I have played with were just like that," Kalac, who is now Sydney FC's goalkeeper coach, said.

"The pressure on Italian footballers is immense. At Milan the pressure was high to win trophies and at Perugia we had a different kind of pressure to deal with... not to get relegated.

"As a player you have to handle such pressure in every match you play.

"At both clubs I played for the emphasis was always the same however ... a possession game where you treat the ball with respect and you do not lose it because possession is the most important thing.

"Italian players are generally very adaptable and they are brought up to fit comfortably into any formation, so it becomes easy to change things around during a game."

Kalac's views echo that of his former Milan team-mate Andrea Pirlo, Italy's star playmaker who said during the week that "only Italy can play the Italian way".

Kalac, who has worked under respected Serse Cosmi and Carlo Ancelotti, knows the full extent of the Italian coaches' preparations for any match.

Eccentric Cosmi and down-to-earth Ancelotti are as different as chalk and cheese in terms of character but they shared the same views on how to win a football match.

"Cosmi and Ancelotti were every similar ... both loved to eat," Kalac quipped.

"They both liked to attack in different ways and forms.

"Preparation wise, you knew everything about the opposition before the game was even played.

"And by 'everything' I mean 'everything'... which striker scored most goals, which foot he used to score, how many goals the opposition score from set pieces, all the strengths and weaknesses and everything.

"The homework coaches do on the opposition is unbelievable.

"So Italy's run in this European championship does not come as a surprise to me at all.

"I said on television that Italy would beat Germany because they would have studied every aspect of their game."

Kalac also took a swipe at critics of the Italian game who, he feels, do not fully appreciate the country's football culture that makes it so successful at club and national level.

"All these people who think that Italy just plays negative football ... that's rubbish," he protested.

"You can't tell me Spain plays attacking football... Spain plays possession football just like Italy does.

"And if Italian clubs do not play their football at 200 miles an hour like their English counterparts do this does not mean they are not attack-minded.

"The Italians base their game on keeping the ball and as soon as you open up and they see an opportunity, bang, they pounce.

"It's not even a case of Italy taking advantage of misconceptions surrounding their game.

"The Italians don't even care what people think. They know their strengths and believe in what they are doing.

"Their mentality is not about defence. I can vouch for that."

Kalac could not speak highly enough of Pirlo, who would be hot favourite to be named man of the tournament if Italy prevails over Spain.

"Pirlo is the man who makes it all happen for Italy," he said of the man who now runs the show for Juventus.

"I remember Ancelotti telling us 'that's why we call him the doctor because he's such a smart player'.

"Everything starts from him and he never loses the ball.

"If you recall Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso playing for Milan and Italy for many years they were the two who played most passes to each other in the whole team.

"Gennaro won the ball and gave it straight to Pirlo and now it's the same thing with Daniele de Rossi."

So can Italy achieve what would have been unthinkable barely three weeks ago and win the European championship for the second time?

"I thought Spain looked very flat the other day against Portugal," Kalac said.

"Yet if Spain recover properly and turn up for the match they will be very hard to beat.

"But Italy have been fantastic this tournament and a win for the Azzurri would not surprise me one bit."

Here are the European championship's previous 13 finals.

1960 - Soviet Union striker Viktor Pondelnik scored in extra time at Parc des Princes, Paris, to seal a 2-1 victory over Yugoslavia.

1964 - Marcelino Martínez fired a late winner as host Spain defeated Soviet Union 2-1 in Madrid to win its first major competition.

1968 - Home advantage proved beneficial once more as Italy prevailed against Yugoslavia, but it needed two games to decide the winner as the first finished 1-1 after extra time. Italy won the replay 2-0 in Rome.

1972 - West Germany thrashed Soviet Union 3-0 at Heysel Stadium in Brussels with Gerd Muller scoring twice.

1976 - West Germany was dethroned with penalties deciding the final against Czechoslovakia after extra time had finished 2-2. Antonin Panenka chipped home the decisive spot kick for the Czechs.

1980 - West Germany striker Horst Hrubesch scored the second of his two goals with two minutes remaining to secure a 2-1 triumph over Belgium at the Olympic Stadium in Rome.

1984 - Michel Platini and Bruno Bellone were on target as France beat Spain 2-0 at Parc des Princes in Paris. It was France's first major international title.

1988 - Netherlands clinched its only tournament crown to date when it dispatched Soviet Union 2-0 in Munich. Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten supplied the goals.

1992 - Rank outsider Denmark completed one of the greatest surprises in the competition's history when it beat Germany 2-0 in Gothenburg, Sweden.

1996 - Wembley was the setting as Germany striker Oliver Bierhoff struck two goals - the second a sudden-death winner in extra time - to sink Czech Republic 2-1.

2000 - France was crowned champion with a dramatic 2-1 win over Italy. Sylvain Wiltord took the game to extra time with a 95th-minute equaliser before David Trezeguet notched the winner.

2004 - Portugal's hopes of celebrating victory on home soil were dashed when Greece stunned Europe by winning in Lisbon with a solitary goal from Angelos Charisteas.

2008 - Fernando Torres blasted Spain to a 1-0 victory over Germany in Vienna, beginning his nation's reign as the world's top team.

Another inquest was beginning after the 2-1 EURO 2012 defeat by Italy, with 1990 World Cup-winning coach Franz Beckenbauer describing the Nationalmannschaft's performance as "lifeless".

It was the third time in four major tournaments that Germany had crashed out at the semi-final stage.

On the other occasion, Germany was beaten by Spain at the last European championship.

It is a sorry tale of woe for a country used to collecting major prizes and means it has still not lifted a trophy since EURO 96.

However, Low is using Spain as the example of patience now being required.

"It's hard to win a title," he said.

"Spain waited years. It's a learning process for us, playing at this top level with these strong teams. You can't be impatient."

Low is adamant his side has improved since its third-place finish in the 2010 FIFA World Cup and can look back with pride on its achievements at this championship, where it set a new record of 15 consecutive victories in competitive games.

"The team has really moved forward in the last two years," he said.

"We have caught up with lots of nations who were beyond us and we're at the same level as the really top teams.

"We didn't make it (against Italy), but there'll be other chances in the future."

Low conceded Germany was the architect of its own downfall, with poor defending leading to both Italy goals.

"One moment where you don't pay attention can cost you the game," he said.

"We had three players on (Antonio) Cassano for that first goal, but he suddenly turns around and crosses. We should have stopped it.

"The second goal came after a long pass from a set-piece of our own.

"We didn't do well defensively twice, didn't pay attention and made mistakes."

Now Germany must lick its wounds and respond during a World Cup qualifying group including fellow EURO 2012 contenders Sweden and the Republic of Ireland, from which only one side will definitely book its place in the finals in Brazil.

"Brazil is a while away yet," he said.

"We'll go into a qualification campaign, but we've got a few new young players in the squad who have gained experience here, like Marco Reus.

"I don't think we'll change things around. We still have a very young team."

Vicente del Bosque's side is just one game away from becoming the first country to win three consecutive major championships.

It is a milestone Ramos admits the Spanish players are aware of but, even if they come up short in Kiev, he believes they have already made history.

"We are aware of what we are playing for," he said.

"It is something that as of today no team has ever achieved. It requires many years of work and sacrifice. No matter what happens we have already made history.

"This hasn't finished though and the icing on the cake would be to return and win the Euros.

"Maybe there are some that don't value it but for the work we have done I think the whole country ought to be proud. Even if we lose we can return with our heads held high."

Andrea Pirlo has been the key to Italy's unexpected run to the final as the 33-year-old has produced a number of sublime performances, including in the 1-1 draw against Spain earlier in the tournament, but Ramos is also wary of the Azzurri's strikeforce.

"Pirlo is one of Italy's references, he makes the difference and takes control.," he said.

"He is like Xavi in our team but they are two fantastic footballers. Although we also can't concentrate on one player because Italy create danger with the forwards they have too. The collective is what has got them here.

"We ought to be worried about them but not obsessed. We need to maintain our philosophy of play which is the key to our success."

Ramos followed Pirlo's example by successfully chipping his spot-kick down the middle of the goal as Spain squeezed past Portugal 4-2 on penalties in the semi-final.

The confidence shown by the Real Madrid defender is even more remarkable given he missed a crucial penalty in the UEFA Champions League semi-final shootout against Bayern Munich.

However, Ramos insists the criticism he received after blazing the ball over that night did not alter his mind when it came to a shootout in midweek.

"The penalty is at the end of the day an anecdote and we shouldn't concentrate on this but on the progression to the final," he said.

"Although, with time, yes it will be something I will remember.

"I didn't do it to prove anything to anyone. It was more personal, when I had to I assumed the responsibility, despite what happened in the Champions League with Real Madrid.

"They had said many things which, as a professional, hurt my pride but I am clear that if anything led me to be a footballer it is my personality. These things happen in football. It's never affected me personally, nor professionally.

"I want to keep growing and taking responsibility."

Midfielder Cesc Fabregas, meanwhile, has highlighted the importance of Andres Iniesta if Spain is to retain the European crown.

Iniesta has been the champion's standout performer throughout the tournament and Fabregas is hoping he can unlock the Italian defence once more on Monday.

"Andres improves in every game. It has been a difficult season for him with injuries but he has arrived at the Euros in an extraordinary moment," he said.

"At the point of attack he has this creativity that very few people have. He is a player we need to take authority in the game. On an attacking level he is our reference."

Prandelli's contract is not due to expire until 2014.

However, after transforming the Azzurri's fortunes during his two years in charge, Prandelli is a man in demand.

The 54-year-old already had an impressive reputation after five successful seasons at Fiorentina.

With Italy though, he has done even better, helping it to shed the stereotypical image of a dour, defensive team to become one of the most entertaining in Poland and Ukraine.

Prandelli admits he misses the day-to-day involvement of domestic coaching.

But he is keen to get Sunday's showpiece in Kiev out of the way before he starts to think about his future.

"Listen, I've had my phone on and I've not had a call," he said.

"I've said before, I've got a great relationship with the Italian Football Federation and I love the shirt.

"I do miss the everyday aspect of club football, of course, but that's as far as it goes."

As in 1982 and 2006, the Italian national team has made light of the scandals that have engulfed the game back home.

This time around it was the match-fixing allegations that have erupted and caused Domenico Criscito to be withdrawn from the squad.

Yet despite the negativity, Italy has come out fighting.

And after holding Spain in its opening group game, it now fancies its chances of going one better, especially as Mario Balotelli has hit top form.

However, Prandelli is eager not to get carried away.

"I open my eyes but I'm still dreaming," he said.

"There's great satisfaction here because everyone has put so much work into this.

"But Spain will go into the game as favourites.

"They've been working on this for many years and have dominated every single contest.

"They are a brilliant side."

A Mario Balotelli double before half-time stunned Joachim Low's side, who had gone into the match as favourite after winning its past 14 competitive matches.

Mesut Ozil pulled a goal back from the penalty spot in injury-time of an improved second half, but it came too late to leave Germany without a major title since EURO 96.

"It hurts alot. Too bad. Too bad. I thought after 16 years after winning EURO 96 in England that we were again ready to win a title," former Germany coach and captain Beckenbauer wrote in Bild.

"Something is still missing. Now we will have to wait another two years for a title shot.

"The first-half performance was a mystery to me after we performed so confidently in the four games beforehand.

"The first 45 minutes were deeply disappointing. That was not the true German team.

"They seemed completely lifeless. Rather than set the pace of the game and put pressure on the Italians they could not get control of the midfield against a clever opponent. Then there were two defensive errors for the goals."

Beckenbauer, 66, lamented the "curse" Italy has over Germany at major tournaments - having remarkably still never beaten it in a competitive match - but believes reaching the semi-final was still a good achievement for a young team.

"I think we have too much respect (for Italy). The talk about the curse of Italy seemed to paralyse the players," he wrote.

"Despite being disappointed we should not forget that reaching the semi-final is not disastrous. Other major footballing nations such as England, France and Holland would have liked to achieve that."

Going into its final Group C match, the world and European champion knew that a 2-2 draw against Croatia would see both teams qualify for the knockout stage at the Italians' expense, no matter what it did in its game against Republic of Ireland.

In the event, a solitary goal from Jesus Navas saw Spain to victory and threw Italy a lifeline, one which it has seized by advancing to the final with a win on penalties over England in the last eight before defeating Germany 2-1 in the semi-final.

Del Bosque says Spain's 1-1 draw against Italy in their Group C opener in Gdansk three weeks ago was its toughest test of the tournament so far, but he told Radio Marca: "Never have we regretted not drawing with Croatia to eliminate Italy. This wasn't good for sport.

"Italy and ourselves have lived parallel lives and now we have to be at the level that a final demands.

"They are a team with a lot of experience and are based around Andrea Pirlo and Danielle De Rossi in the centre of the field. Their axis is the connection between Pirlo and Mario Balotelli.

"In the game in the group stages they were possibly superior in the first half. They were the team that gave us most problems."

Despite going for an unprecedented third major championship in a row, Del Bosque does not believe his side should be viewed as favourite for the final.

"Italy has won the World Cup four times so we cannot speak of favourites," he said.

"It is a final and it is 50-50. That we played each other in the group stages doesn't condition the game at all.

"That day [Italy striker] Antonio Cassano said to my assistant Toni Grande, 'We will see if we meet in the final' and he we are."

The former Real Madrid boss also responded to the growing criticism of his side being boring to watch.

Spain has now gone nine knockout games in tournaments without conceding a goal but, without the injured David Villa, has often played without a natural striker, meaning goalmouth action at both ends of the pitch has been at a premium.

"We have to accept everyone's opinion," said Del Bosque.

"Some things we have done quite well, like our play in defence.

"We haven't always been able to play the aesthetic style that everyone wants, but in every moment we have had control of the games."

The Manchester City forward scored two superb goals to fire Italy into Sunday's final against holder Spain at the Olympic stadium in Kiev.

Friday morning's Gazzetta dello Sport screams: "It's us!!!"

That is followed by a sub-headline which reads: "Super Balotelli, the whole of Italy celebrates."

The 21-year-old Balotelli, playing in his first major tournament, had not impressed in the Azzurri's group games in Poland and Ukraine although he did score against the Republic of Ireland.

However, he stole the limelight in Warsaw on Thursday.

Gazzetta's editorial "A star is born" applauds Balotelli, whose heroics put the Azzurri in the final of the tournament for the first time since 2000.

The Rome-based Corriere dello Sport shows on its front page a photograph of Balotelli celebrating after scoring his second goal with the headline: "Giants of Italy.

"Germany beaten 2-1, we are in the final.

"Balotelli amazing."

Corriere's editorial believes the Azzurri's win could not have come at a better time for the country and for the sport.

Italy is struggling with the world-wide economic crisis while the Azzurri went into EURO 2012 with the match-fixing scandal having hit the nation's football leagues.

Corriere wrote: "Happiness is restored to the country."

Turin-based sports newspaper Tuttosport shows a photograph of Balotelli, noting his sublime performance: "Fabulous goals by Balotelli."

National newspaper La Repubblica salutes the Azzurri's performance, their best of the tournament so far, and says on its front page: "The perfect game, Azzurri in the final.

"The magical night of super Mario."

National newspaper Il Messagero is also in awe of the national team's display, with a headline that reads: "Magical Italy."

The paper also highlighted Italy's dominance over Germany, a team it had never beaten in a competitive match in seven attempts, with a sub-headline that said: "Germany defeated again with a superb Balotelli."

The win ended Germany's 15-match winning streak in competitive games.

Germany had more time to rest after its quarter-final showdown against Greece than the Azzurri, who also had to go to extra-time to beat England.

Balotelli's first-half brace was enough to secure a 2-1 win over Germany in Warsaw, and book a showdown with champion Spain on Sunday (Monday AEST).

And at the final whistle, the Manchester City star embraced Silvia, who brought him up from the age of two after he was born in Italy to Ghanaian immigrants.

"After the game, when I went to my mum I said 'these goals are for you'," he said.

"I waited for this moment for so long and I wanted to make my mum happy.

"Tonight was the most beautiful of my life - but I hope that this Sunday is even better."

Balotelli broke the deadlock when he rose to power home Antonio Cassano's 20th-minute cross.

His second was a belter, striding clear of the Germany defence to collect Riccardo Montolivo's superb through ball before blasting an unstoppable shot past Manuel Neuer.

It took Balotelli to three goals for the tournament and he is now favourite to win the coveted Golden Boot prize.

"In the final I hope to make it four," he said.

"I will try to score another goal but in football you can do that a lot and still never score.

"Sometimes you need a bit of luck."

Balotelli was quick to heap praise on his team-mates for their contribution to his performance, which surprisingly was not enough to secure the man-of-the-match prize, which went to playmaker Andrea Pirlo.

"These two goals are really important," he said.

"The first one was a really amazing pass from Antonio Cassano and then it was easy.

"The second one was a great pass from Montolivo, normally I shoot in the other corner but I went for the near post."

Italy has already drawn once with Spain at the start of the tournament.

Now it must go one better if it is to prevent Balotelli's Manchester City team-mate David Silva guiding Spain towards history as the first team to win three successive tournaments.

"With Spain we are the two best teams in the tournament," he said. "Can we win? I'll tell you on Sunday."

Balotelli also earned the praise of Italy manager Cesare Prandelli, who masterminded a famous win, which maintains the Azzurri's stranglehold on meetings with Germany.

"He was excellent, like the entire team," said Prandelli.

"I really believe that a team needs to have an idea of the way they play, and he really subscribed to this playing style.

"He ran into space high up the pitch, was always available, and put in a very good performance this evening."

Six years after Italy ended Germany's home World Cup in the final four, the Azzurri did it again with a 2-1 triumph in Warsaw, as hundreds of thousands left the nation's biggest fan zone in Berlin in shock along with many others across the country.

But many of the 500,000 Italians in the country celebrated wildly along with millions more in Italy for which the victory is sweet amid the nation's economic crisis and another football match-fixing scandal.

"This is a victory for the millions of fans in our crisis-ridden home country," said Italy player Claudio Marchisio.

Defender Giorgio Chiellini said: "This was just a dream 20 days ago. Now it is a dream which 20 million Italians are experiencing with us. Now we will enjoy the victory for a few minutes, then we want to make the dream real."

Italy meets title holder Spain in Sunday's (Monday AEST) final in Kiev and will hope to lift the trophy just as in 2006 - when the nation's football was also overshadowed by a major scandal.

Germans, meanwhile, were brought down to earth after some 5 million had gathered again in the fan zones and an estimated 30 million to their TVs at home, hoping the team would also win its fifth game in Poland and Ukraine and beat Italy for the first time in a competitive match.

The Berlin fan zone was filled to its 400,000 capacity one hour before the kick-off but there was little to cheer as Mario Balotelli's double spoilt the party in the capital and elsewhere, be it the 50,000 in Hamburg or the 35,000 in Munich's Olympic stadium where (West) Germany won the 1974 World Cup.

Instead, there was a sea of green-white-red Italy flags in one street in Cologne lined by Italian restaurants - the second best choice for the Italians there who would have likely still preferred to party with the tens of thousands in Rome's Piazza del Populo and elsewhere in the country as the Tifosi were treated to another magic night by their heroes.

"He was excellent as was the entire team," Prandelli said.

"A team needs an idea of how they play and he prescribes to this playing style. He put in a really good performance. He was really in the game, was very focused and did exactly what I asked him to."

Balotelli scored with a header from a cross by strike partner Antonio Cassano in the 20th minute before belting in a second in the 36th to take his tally for the tournament to three.

The Manchester City striker came off in the 70th minute suffering from cramp as the Azzurri held on despite a stoppage time penalty from Mesut Ozil.

"I saw he was struggling for seven or eight minutes and I did not want to risk him. He had a bit of cramp, a bit of a muscle problem," Prandelli said.

Cassano, who was substituted in the 58th minute, was also praised by Prandelli. The 29-year-old AC Milan striker, who underwent minor heart surgery in the autumn, has started all of Italy's games at the tournament but has yet to last a full 90 minutes.

"This has been his best performance so far. He fought, he ran, we knew he could be one of our key players. He might only have 50 minutes in his legs but they are 50 fantastic minutes," Prandelli said.

"I am very proud of these young players, of this side. They (Germany) have very good players. They are a young side but we are a team that has a lot of ideas of how we want to play the game.

"We have no time to celebrate but must concentrate on the next game which is the most important one in the tournament. You dream but this is only the beginning of the dream."

The coach said the team would now need to rest after a tiring game on a heavy pitch which had followed extra-time against England before taking on title-holder Spain which would "favourite" on Sunday (Monday AEST) although Italy drew 1-1 with them in the group stage.

"Let's not talk straight away about Spain. They are a terrific side but we will try to prepare well for Sunday's (Monday AEST) game just as we did for this evening," Prandelli said.

The Manchester City man rose to power home Antonio Cassano's 20th-minute cross to put the underdogs in front.

Then he smashed an unstoppable shot past Manuel Neuer to double Italy's lead and take him joint-top of the Golden Boot standings.

Mesut Ozil's last-minute penalty was not enough to prevent Germany suffering its first defeat in a competitive game since its World Cup semi-final loss to Spain two years ago.

Indeed, it was its third semi-final loss in its past four tournaments, one of which, in the 2006 World Cup, came against Italy, which still never lost to Germany in a competitive game, and now faces Spain in Kiev on Sunday (Monday AEST).

Germany had started the match as favourite, mainly thanks to its world record run of 15 successive victories.

Having seen how hard England had found it to subdue Andrea Pirlo, it was anticipated the Germans would deal with him much better.

Instead, it was worse.

Sitting deep on the halfway line, Germany allowed Pirlo the time to pick out returning full-back Giorgio Chiellini with a brilliant pass to the touchline.

From there, it went downhill rapidly for Joachim Low's side.

Chiellini nudged the ball onto Cassano, who swivelled past Mats Hummels with the minimum of fuss.

Balotelli immediately got himself some space behind Holger Badstuber and when the cross came, he rose to power the ball home from six yards.

If that was efficient in its execution, Balotelli's second was brutal.

Advancing from deep inside his own half, Riccardo Montolivo could scarcely believe the room he was given.

Twice he looked up to see if anything was on.

On the second occasion he spotted Balotelli making his run, exploiting Philipp Lahm's failure to maintain the offside line.

It took Balotelli a bit of time to get himself into a shooting position.

However, as the ball sat up nicely, he smashed it past Manuel Neuer.

The Germany keeper had set himself to make a save. In the end, there was nothing he could do but stick out a limp hand and fall to the ground, powerless to do anything to prevent his goal being breached a second time.

Balotelli was booked for removing his shirt as he attempted to celebrate with a moody pose.

He could not keep it up though and broke into a broad smile as he was engulfed by ecstatic team-mates.

It was a performance that put English efforts - and Ireland's for that matter - into some kind of perspective.

Germany though was a shadow of its normal self.

Twice in the opening stages Gianluigi Buffon had fumbled close to his own line but it could not take advantage.

Sami Khedira did launch a volley towards goal in between Balotelli's brace, but on that occasion Buffon was able to make the save.

Low took decisive action at the interval, introducing Miroslav Klose and Marco Reus for Mario Gomez and Lukas Podolski, whose fitful contribution cannot have impressed watching Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

The change brought some much-needed life into German ranks.

However, the players' efforts at hauling themselves back into the contest were repeatedly thwarted.

Lahm failed to hit the target after running onto Toni Kroos' return pass before Buffon pushed Reus' free-kick against his own bar and away to safety.

A disappointing Ozil surged to the by-line but, with hardly any room, Khedira needed to react far quicker than he did to the near-post cut-back.

Balotelli's exit with cramp meant he was denied the opportunity to become the first player to score a semi-final hat-trick since Gerd Muller did it in 1976.

His replacement, Antonio Di Natale, should have wrapped up victory when he found himself in acres of space inside the box, but dragged his effort wide of the far post, much to Balotelli's frustration.

Federico Balzaretti's handball in the final minute did provide a few nerves for Italy as Ozil fired home from the spot.

But Prandelli's men were able to reach the final whistle and celebrate their triumph.

"Portugal ole! Portugal ole! Portugal ole!," fans shouted on Thursday as the squad emerged with Ronaldo in their midst following their EURO 2012 semi-final defeat on penalties to holder Spain.

Paulo Bento's team smiled as fans held aloft scarves and flags while some sang the national anthem.

Several players stopped to sign autographs before heading off for a northern summer break after the team's narrow elimination when a potential final against Germany or Italy and a possible first major trophy success had been coming into view.

"This reception gives me goosebumps. You can feel their affection and we want to thank them," said defender Pepe.

"They know we deserved to be in the final."

"It's super - the people are behind us. Thanks for everything," said Miguel Lopes, before boarding a coach to spirit the squad into the city.

"We are very proud of what we achieved. They were all fantastic," said Humberto Coelho, vice-chairman of the Portuguese Football Federation.

"We are so very proud of this team," cried out one fan in his 50s. "We know they gave everything."

A young woman agreed: "We are out but it was great while it lasted. They gave us great pleasure and we are very proud. I wanted to say bravo," she said, a bouquet of flowers in her hand.

Another young fan said: "We want to tell Ronaldo he did very well. they all played very well and they will go far."

Few fans had seen the team off amid general pessimism after a final warm-up brought a home loss to Turkey.

But the team rallied after losing its opening game against Germany, beat Denmark and the Netherlands, and then the Czech Republic in the quarters before Spain edged it out.

UEFA said its disciplinary panel found both countries guilty of "improper conduct of its fans".

Russia was fined 30,000 euros and Spain must pay 20,000 euros.

Russian fans made monkey noises at Czech Republic defender Theodor Gebre Selassie and Spain fans targeted abuse at Italy forward Mario Balotelli. Both players are black.

The Russian sanction does not activate UEFA's threat of a six-point penalty in EURO 2016 qualifying after some fans attacked stadium stewards in Wroclaw following the Czech match on June 8.

Spain's penalty was the minimum that must be enforced for a racism charge under UEFA's disciplinary rules.

In an earlier racism case, UEFA fined the Croatia football association 80,000 euros for a range of charges including monkey noises directed at Balotelli.

UEFA pledged a zero-tolerance policy toward racism and discrimination inside EURO 2012 stadiums, and appointed experts in fan culture from the European supporters' network, FARE, to identify potential offences.

Russia has been fined a total 215,000 euros by UEFA after being charged over fans conduct at all three group-stage matches in Poland.

The 46-year-old will be out of contract on June 30, with reports suggesting he may leave the post following Les Bleus' quarter-final exit at EURO 2012.

Blanc spent much of the day in a meeting with FFF president Noel le Graet, and the governing body has announced both parties will now take time to consider their respective positions.

A statement on www.fff.fr said: "Noel le Graet and Laurent Blanc held a lengthy meeting during the day on June 28.

"Following their discussion, the president of the FFF and the coach agreed to give time for reflection."

The FFF had earlier announced it will hold its own meeting on July 3 to discuss the team's results in Poland and Ukraine.

That will be followed by a press conference, at 1215 local time, in which Le Graet will face the cameras.

France's EURO 2012 was overshadowed by reports of dressing-room unrest and infighting.

News surfaced of players being at loggerheads following the Group D loss to Sweden, with Blanc later admitting things "had kicked off a bit" in the immediate aftermath of the 2-0 reverse, which left Les Bleus as runner-up behind England.

The quarter-final exit at the hands of defending champion Spain sparked further reports of bust-ups, while midfielder Samir Nasri also came under the spotlight for an expletive-laden rant at reporters.

Nasri later apologised for the outburst, but the incidents were reminders of France's shambolic 2010 World Cup campaign and player mutiny under former coach Raymond Domenech.

However, Les Bleus captain Hugo Lloris leapt to the defence of his national team-mates, saying they should not be judged on those reports.

"It looks like it only happens in the France team and to this France team," the Lyon goalkeeper said today in an interview with L'Equipe.

"But it happens to all generations at all levels."

Lloris does feel such incidents should not be played out in the media, though.

"Something like that should stay in the dressing room," he said.

"It's about the squad, not individuals. This is where things like this bother me because this is not the first time it has happened.

"I cannot condone what Samir said. But I find it unacceptable that people use that one incident to sum up the behaviour of the team.

"Everything has been mixed up. In sporting terms, it's true the Euros have not been perfect but we must judge things on our journey over the last two years."

Lloris also gave his backing to Blanc and hopes the coach stays on in his current role.

"Everyone listens to the philosophy and words of the coach," said Lloris.

"The decision belongs to the (FFF) president and the coach, but we are in favour of continuity."

Blanc has been linked with the vacancy at Premier League club Tottenham.

The Final is LIVE to all areas on SBS ONE, SBS HD and streamed online with live scores, news, results and video highlights also available on The World Game.

Spain accounted for Portugal via a penalty shootout in the all-Iberian semi-final in Donetsk, and will be vying to defend its title and win a third overall.

Italy defeated tournament favourite Germany 2-1 in Kiev as it searches for a second European trophy after its success in 1968.

Martin Tyler will provide commentary from the stadium and SBS Reporter Vitor Sobral will be covering the game from the ground.

All the Final action between SPAIN and ITALY will be in the matchday highlights show at 5:30pm on SBS TWO and available on demand.

And you can watch a replay of the match in full on Tuesday 3 July at 9.30pm on SBS TWO.

The EURO 2012 Final will also be LIVE on SBS Radio 1 with a dedicated radio commentary team in English. Broadcast details are available at SBS Radio and you can stream the audio coverage from 4.30am AEST on Monday 2 July.

The reigning champion will face either Italy in the EURO 2012 showpiece on Sunday (Monday AEST) after squeezing past Portugal on penalties.

Spain's style of retaining possession at all costs has been labelled boring by some critics, but Casillas is just happy to be in the position to win a third successive major tournament.

"We're fighting to go on reaching finals as we've done now," said the Real Madrid goalkeeper.

"This team have come together through a lot of hard work and faced criticism.

"What we want is to give people something to enjoy and from now until Sunday (Monday AEST) they will do.

"I don't care who we play in the final - the important thing is that Spain are there."

Cesc Fabregas rifled home the match-winning penalty in the shootout against Portugal to nudge the World Cup holder into the final in Kiev.

However, Casillas admits penalties are a lottery and knows that Spain's luck will run out at some point.

"After starting by missing that penalty it was important to equalise, and we made it," he said.

"In the end we were lucky because penalty shootouts are actually about luck. We were rewarded after 120 minutes of suffering.

"A month ago I tasted the bitter side of a shootout, but now I'm happy to experience the other side.

"It's about guessing where the ball will go, if not much more.

"We'll definitely remember this moment when we no longer get the luck and go through."

It was a heartbreaking end to EURO 2012 for Portugal, and no one felt their pain more than skipper Cristiano Ronaldo.

Assigned to take the final penalty, he was denied his chance to perform a rescue act as Spain had already won 4-2 after the fourth spot-kick.

Ronaldo, who was at his dazzling best against the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, insists Portugal should feel satisfied with its performance at Euro 2012.

"My feeling is sadness. Clearly to lose a semi-final on penalties is always hurtful, but penalties are a lottery and the one with most luck is the one who wins," he said.

"It was a very successful European Championship for Portugal.

"We did well, we were among the best four teams at the tournament and we didn't win because we didn't have luck, but penalties are like that.

"We have to be proud, but the truth is that we are a bit frustrated because we knew that we could reach the final.

"I did my best as I always do, so I'm satisfied with what I have done for the team.

"We have to be proud because we did what we had to do. We played well and we deserved to be in the final."

News surfaced of dressing-room unrest following the Group D loss to Sweden, with coach Laurent Blanc later admitting things "had kicked off a bit" in the immediate aftermath of the 2-0 reverse, which left Les Bleus as runners-up behind England.

The quarter-final exit at the hands of defending champions Spain sparked further reports of bust-ups, while midfielder Samir Nasri also came under the spotlight for an expletive-laden rant at reporters.

Nasri later apologised for the outburst, but the incidents were reminders of France's shambolic 2010 World Cup campaign and player mutiny under former coach Raymond Domenech.

However, Lloris has moved to play down the unrest.

"It looks like it only happens in the France team and to this France team," the Lyon goalkeeper said in L'Equipe.

"But it happens to all generations at all levels."

Lloris does feel such incidents should not be played out in the media, though.

"Something like that should stay in the dressing room," he said.

"It's about the squad, not individuals. This is where things like this bother me because this is not the first time it has happened.

"I cannot condone what Samir said. But I find it unacceptable that people use that one incident to sum up the behaviour of the team.

"Everything has been mixed up. In sporting terms, it's true the Euros have not been perfect but we must judge things on our journey over the last two years."

Lloris is also hoping Blanc stays on in his current role, with the France coach set to meet the French Football Federation (FFF) to discuss his future.

"Everyone listens to the philosophy and words of the coach," said Lloris.

"The decision belongs to the [FFF] president and the coach, but we are in favour of continuity."

Despite being overwhelming favourite to set up a repeat of the 2008 final in Kiev, Germany must overcome the weight of history.

In seven competitive meetings with Italy, it has yet to come out on top.

This time should be different, with Low banking on the personality of his emerging crop of players to impose itself at Warsaw's National Stadium.

"We will bring our strengths to the game," he said.

"We will try to dictate our rhythm and won't let Italy show us how we have to play.

"It's a confidence thing. We have to be cheeky, strong and brave.

"We have to concentrate and work very hard.

"I don't think we have to worry too much about our opponents. We have to impose our own ideas."

Germany will not want to let Andrea Pirlo have the type of space he was offered by England.

Low may be a big admirer of the Juventus midfielder but he intends Germany to take the initiative from him.

"Pirlo is not just a very good player, but the player who dictates the tactics and gives the team their ideas," Low said.

"He's the Italian player who directs the game.

"We have to disturb him, stop him playing, get in his way, and think of a way how we can do better than Italy in midfield."

Interestingly, influential midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, who has recovered from an ankle injury, revealed that Germany has not practised penalties.

However as Roy Hodgson argued the best way of avoiding that lottery is to get better at the actual matches, he would presumably be impressed at Germany's present world record run of 15 successive victories in competitive games, a run that dates back to their third-place play-off win over Uruguay.

"I personally don't have any fear," Schweinsteiger said.

"Respect is there. Respect for what they've done in the last two years and, given the scandals in their league, their national team is really positive.

"If you don't have any respect you're dumb.

"Italy are a great nation, have won a lot in the past and have made a big step forward in the last two years.

"The point has come now, though, where we can beat the next big opponent.

"We've beaten Argentina, Brazil, England and Holland. The next one, we hope, will be the Italians."

After a goalless 120 minutes, Spain clinched a place in the final by winning the shoot-out 4-2 with Ronaldo, apparently having been scheduled to take the fifth penalty, watching on.

The Real Madrid star was not at his best but showed glimpses of form and missed a great chance to clinch the match for Portugal in the dying moments of normal time.

"It's always painful losing on penalties but penalties are always a lottery and the one who has the best luck wins," he said in O Jogo.

"It was a good Euro. We played the four best teams. We're going out a bit frustrated because we could have gone to the final but we were unlucky.

"I gave my best as I always have done and that's why I'm happy with my own contribution.

"We must be proud because we played well but we didn't have the luck we needed."

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque called for one last great effort from his players in the final against either Germany or Italy after Cesc Fabregas tucked away the decisive spot-kick.

"The players have played so many matches and they have to show their best in one more. It was a very even match but maybe we were a little better in extra-time," Del Bosque told UEFA.com.

The match itself failed to live up to expectations with Portugal shading the first period but clear chances few and far between, with Xavi and Andres Iniesta missing the best chances for favoured Spain.

Ronaldo made little impact though he clearly worried the Spaniards from free-kicks, and almost wrote the headlines in the last minute when he was put through in the left side of the box but wasted his chance.

Spain stepped it up in extra-time and Portugal was grateful to keeper Rui Patricio for sending it to the shoot-out after he got down to make two superb saves from Jordi Alba and Jesus Navas.

When the Portugal keeper saved the opening penalty from Alonso he seemed destined to be the hero, but Iker Casillas responded with an equally fine stop to deny Joao Moutinho with second spot-kick.

Five successful spot-kicks followed before Bruno Alves - who had already walked forward for the previous spot-kick before being pulled back by Nani - took Portugal's fourth and missed.

It left Fabregas to fire the decisive penalty in off the post and profound disappointment for Portugal and in particular Ronaldo, who bafflingly did not take part in the shoot-out.

"I think we were the better team but we couldn't take our chances," Portugal coach Paulo Bento said.

"Spain were stronger in extra-time but we could have won it in the first 90 minutes because we were very good in the first half and at the end of the second half.

"If I had to choose a way of losing I wouldn't choose this one but you have to lose some way, and Spain are a great team."

Balotelli took a nerveless penalty in his side's EURO 2012 shoot-out win over England.

Prior to that, he had failed to take a succession of chances, after enlivening the pre-match press conference with his rather bizarre statement: "I'm more of a man than Peter Pan."

The Manchester City forward seems certain to retain his place for the semi-final against Germany in Warsaw.

But, rather like City boss Roberto Mancini who has said in the past there is no point talking to Balotelli because he does not listen, Prandelli is not going to try any amateur psychology on the 21-year-old.

"I have no real problem with him," said Prandelli.

"It is trying to work out what goes on in the head of a 21-year-old young man.

"In terms of his behaviour, mentality and psychology, he has changed radically with us.

"There are no problems with communication. I'm just curious to see what he is feeling, what sacrifices he is prepared to make to become a great footballer."

As a title winner in both Italy and England, Balotelli could justifiably say he has achieved quite a lot already.

He has also a bulging back-catalogue of more regrettable incidents and appeared to exchange words with De Rossi during the quarter-final.

However, the Roma midfielder was quick to defend his team-mate, insisting there was no need to give him any special treatment.

"Mario is not a difficult character at all," he said.

"We treat him as one of the squad, nothing more, nothing less.

"There is no need for us to have a word with him, that is up to the coach, and we don't need to make any extra effort with him.

"On Sunday I shouted at him at half-time but that has happened thousands of times in my career with players.

"But there are no problems with him and there have never been any. He is a very good player."

The return of Giorgio Chiellini from a thigh injury will strengthen Italy's defence ahead of what is anticipated to be a far more strenuous workout than the one England gave it.

Indeed, despite its impressive record of never losing a competitive game to Germany in seven meetings that include the 1982 FIFA World Cup final and 2006 last-four confrontation, it is a clear underdog.

Jokingly, Prandelli responded to a question of how Italy intended to combat a younger side, that has won its last 15 games and scores more goals, by saying it would just go home.

What he will not be doing is telling Italy to revert to type, and retreat into its shell after two years of expansive tactics.

"We will not change what has brought us here," said Prandelli.

"It would be a shame to waste the work of the last two years. In fact, we would be lacking in maturity to try to play a different way.

"You must risk a bit to be true to your professional philosophy."

De Rossi is determined to shrug off a back injury to take his place in the Italy team, although he will require a fitness test prior to kick-off.

"It is not a case of being a hero or a warrior," he said.

"I would never give up the opportunity of playing for Italy against Germany, although I would feel the same if it was a match for Roma in the Coppa Italia.

"Okay, I have got a bad back. But I have got a lot of faith in the medical people. There are a few fitness tests tomorrow but I am confident I will make it."