Cesare Prandelli’s Italy will battle with the reigning champions to make amends for their defeat 12 years prior at the hands of Zinedine Zidane inspired http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/France-c2899.
The last time Italy booked a place in the final of European Championship, they were resigned to wearing the runner’s up medal as Les Bleus basked in the shadow of Zinedine Zidane. They followed it up with a 2006 FIFA World Cup win against France.
Six years after their heroic defensive performance against Zidane and co., http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Italy-c2926 find themselves at odds against the much fancied Spanish contingent in Euro 2012 final.
Italy have been heralded for their fighting output against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Portugal-c2984.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Iker-Casillas-c16815 took out time to reflect about the criticism levied on the Spansih contingent and gave explanations regarding the sentiments about the Euro 2008 winners.
He stated that the expectations asked of La Roja are out of this world and despite the fact that they have significantly changed since the time they broke their international title drought.
"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."
The Euro 2012 showpiece match is scheduled for July 1st and will kick off at 20 45 Central European Time in the Ukrainian city of Kiev.
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