Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of Spain's Euro 2012 opener against Italy in Gdansk.
Holders Spain head into the tournament looking to become the first nation to complete a European Championships and World Cup treble.
Meanwhile, Italy have arrived in Poland with yet another scandal surrounding their domestic game. Last time that happened, they were crowned champions of the world back in 2006. An omen perhaps?
Note that the game gets underway at 5pm.
18.51That's it folks! Italy deserve their point. For Spain, you cannot help but feel that they would have won the match had they started with a striker. It's also a good result for the other teams in the group, Croatia in the Republic of Ireland, who play later this evening. Match analysis from Gdansk coming up on Sports Mole shortly. Thanks for joining us!
18.50FULL TIME: Spain 1-1 Italy
90 minClose! This time it's Xabi Alonso who curls wide from 25 yards after being picked out Xavi as we enter stoppage time, of which there are three minutes.
89 minBetter from Torres as he drives to the byline only to see his drilled crossed cleared to safety. More positive from the Chelsea frontman though.
88 minMeanwhile, Italy have woken up! Marchisio waltzes into the Spain box but cannot get the ball out of his feet and his effort his held by Casillas. There is also a final change for Italy, who bring on Antonio Nocerino in place of Motta.
86 minSpain are piling on the pressure now. Xavi finds Navas on the winger but the Sevilla man can only dind Buffon with a cross.
85 minIt also makes you wonder what this cameo from Torres has left Llorente and Negredo thinking. Surely their chance will come as tournament progresses.
85 minWhat a shocking appearance from Torres! He's through again but his chipped effort lands on the roof of the net rather than between posts. With Torres of old on the pitch, this match would be 3-1 to the Spaniards.
84 minAnd to add insult to injury, Torres goes into the book for a foul on De Rossi.
83 minWhat an earth has happened to Torres over the past 18 months or so?! The striker again wastes a golden chance. With green grass in front of him, he hesitates before seeing his attempted pass intercepted.
80 minItaly are becoming a little wasteful. Perhaps tiredness is creeping in a bit? They certainly have worked hard this evening. Ten to go plus stoppage time.
78 minFree-kick to Spain 20 yards from goal as Chiellini brings down Iniesta and is booked. Decent opportunity for Spain coming up...but like most of set pieces Xavi's kick is poor and it strikes the wall.
77 minAnd that should be 2-1 Italy. Substitutes Giovinco and Di Natale combine for the latter to have a volleyed chance from eight yards out. However, Di Natale was stretching and the ball flies wide. Big escape for Espana.
74 minImmediate chance for Torres! He finds himself one-on-one with Buffon, but the keeper gets the better of a sluggish looking Torres. Four years ago that would have been in the net, no question.
73 minWhile I was telling you about Alba's miss, Torres came on to replace goalscorer Fabregas.
73 minChance for Alba to put Spain in front. Navas jinks his way to the byline before picking out the full-back at the back post. Alba's finish though is that of a defender's and he volleys wide.
72 minIt's going to be Torres time shortly! The Chelsea striker is receiving some final instructions from Del Bosque.
71 minBetting update! All of my tips can now no longer happen. Darn! Still, better than yesterday!
69 minIncidentally Spain full-back Alba was booked for his reaction to Bonucci's tackle on Iniesta.
68 minChance for Italy to add their second but Pirlo is wasteful from 20 yards out and Casillas collects.
67 minTo say the game needed the last seven or eight minutes to happen is an understatement! The whole match seems to have livened up with Spain in control at present.
66 minYellow card! Bonucci is booked for a late challenge on Iniesta.
65 minAmid the celebrations two substitutions are made. Silva off and Navas on for Spain, while Sebastian Giovinco enters the fray for Italy in place of Cassano.
64 minThe response of champions! Italy's lead lasted around two and half minutes thanks to Fabregas, whose diagonal run was found by Silva and the Barca man stroked the ball home. Game well and truly on.
63 minGOAL! Spain 1-1 Italy (Fabregas)
63 minIn reply, Iniesta sends a left footed shot from 25 yards straight at Buffon. Catching practice.
62 minCredit must go to Pirlo for the pass that he slipped through to Di Natale. Perfectly weighted by the veteran midfielder.
61 minWhat a substitution from Prandelli. Di Natale, who replaced Balotelli four minutes ago, breaks free of the Spain defence before neatly lifting the ball over an advancing Casillas. What a cool finish from the Udinese man. What are the defending champions made of?
60 minGOAL! Spain 0-1 Italy (Di Natale)
59 minBalotelli, sitting on the bench, has an evil look in his eye! One gets the impression that him and coach Prandelli could be on a collision course.
57 minAs good as Spain are to watch, in ways they are equally as frustrating. A neat ten-pass move ends with a poor effort from Sergio Busquets.
56 minAnd that it a wrap for Balotelli, who is replaced by Antonio Di Natale. He looked less than impressed to have been substituted.
53 minDear oh dear Balotelli! He robs Ramos and bears down on Casillas's goal. However, the Manchester City striker appeared to believe that he was the only man on the pitch as he weighed up his options, allowing Ramos to retreat and remove the danger. Poor from the 21-year-old who should have put his side in front.
51 minChance for that man Iniesta. The angle was always against the attacker, whose effort is touched wide by Buffon.
50 minWe've just seen footage of Torres warming up on the sidelines. Wouldn't be my first choice, but quite frankly, any striker is better than no striker for Spain!
49 minIn Spain's first attack, Fabregas stings the palms of Buffon from the edge of the area.
48 minAnd just as I say that, Pirlo lumps the ball straight to Casillas. Typical!
47 minItaly have been in control since the resumption, stroking the ball around with ease.
46 minBy the way, all my tips are still possible! Feeling a sense of pride after yesterday's nightmare!
45 minItaly get us back underway. No changes from either side.
17.56Right, how can this game improve?! Well Italy do not really need to change a thing. Spain, however, need a forward on the pitch. Llorente, Negredo or even Torres! Everything is being played in front of the Italy defence at present. It's all too easy.
17.48It was hardly inspiring stuff but Italy will be the happier of the two sides. Some smart defending a neat counter-attacking football has made it a 45 minutes to be admired. Odds of 5/1 for them to win look appealing indeed. Back in five!
17.47HALF-TIME: Spain 0-0 Italy
45 minScrap that! The golden chance just fell to Motta, whose bullet header was brilliantly saved by Casillas. Could have been 1-1 in the space of one minute!
44 minAnd there was the golden chance for Spain! Xavi finds his Barcelona colleague Iniesta inside the area. He takes one touch and attempts to lift the ball over Buffon, but to no avail. Arguably the best chance of the half.
44 minAnd there was the golden chance for Spain! Xavi finds his Barcelona colleague Iniesta inside the area. He takes one touch and attempts to lift the ball over Buffon, but to no avail. Arguably the best chance of the half.
42 minAlmost for Fabregas, who collects a pass from Silva inside the area before seeing his goalward effort blocked by Leonardo Bonucci.
41 minDanny Mills discussing Balotelli on BBC Radio Five Live: "Mario Balotelli has been unfortunate a couple of times. He's chasing lost causes and one or twice the referee's whistles have been harsh. We do know Balotelli. He is talented, but he can get frustrated.
"The Italians, for me, are just about edging it. They're playing exceptionally well, and everything they're doing is going right for them. They're on top, their formation seems better and they're more organised."
39 minSpain again playing easy-on-the-eye football, which predictably comes to nothing! This is easy for the Italy defenders. The introduction of Llorente could changes things.
36 minAnd there it is! It took 36 minutes, but Balotelli is in the book for a foul on Alba. Who took that 18/1 offer?
35 minWhat a strike from Claudio Marchisio! The Italy midfielder, from nowhere it seemed, fires a volley straight down the throat of Casillas, who holds at the second attempt. The Spanish keeper as certainly been the busier of the two.
33 minMeanwhile, up the other end Cassano forces Casillas into making an uncomfortable looking save from 20 yards out.
33 minAgain Spain dilly-dally on the edge of the area and the chance is wasted, this time by Fabregas. Here's an idea - SHOOT!!
32 minSilly from Cassano, who trips Casillas inside his own area. Lucky to escape a booking.
31 minNeat play on the edge of the area between Fabregas, Silva and Xavi which ends with the latter losing possession.
29 minIniesta again! Mesmeric (great word!) feet by the pint-sized attacker before his cross is cleared for a corner. Xavi's kick falls to Iniesta, who drives straight at Buffon.
28 minThe first Mexican wave has been started by the crowd. Tells you all you need to know about the game really!
27 minFree-kick to the Spaniards around 35 yards from goal as Xavi is fouled by Giorgio Chiellini...which is cleared comfortably.
25 minIniesta is at the centre of everything Spain do at the moment! Here he exchanges passes with Silva before seeing his powerful strike blocked by De Rossi. If Spain are to score, Iniesta is likely to be involved.
24 minSpain venture forward but Silva's run is halted by the makeshift centre-back De Rossi, who eases Silva off the ball to win his side a goal kick.
22 minAlmost from Cassano! The Italy striker drags an effort across goal which just evades Balotelli and the far post. A warning for the holders.
21 minItaly are enjoying at bit of possession at the moment, with Balotelli at the centre of it. The controversial frontman seems to have settled and is now coming into the game.
20 minHow good is Iniesta?! The Barcelona man glides his way past three players before the ball finds Fabregas inside the Italy area. However, Cesc is flagged offside.
18 minSpain have gone a little quiet. Sure they are winning in terms of possession, but very little of that has come where it counts.
17 minThiago Motta is down following a challenge from Alvaro Arbeloa. The Real Madrid defender caught Motta on the shoulder and arm with his studs.
16 minRamos gets the crowd going with a neat flick past Cassano inside his own half. Risky, but great when it comes off!
15 minHave to say I disagree Senor Balague there. Spain are crying out for a centre-forward, a focal point if you like. There is no-one for the Italian defenders to mark at present.
14 minSome tactical advice to Del Bosque from Balague on Twitter: "I have no problem not playing with strikers, but we need a Pedro to run in behind defenders. Italy brave atacking with numbers"
13 minGood effort from Pirlo, whose low effort forces Iker Casillas into action with a parried save. Better from Pirlo.
12 minHuge chance coming up for Italy. Sergio Ramos brings down Cassano on the edge of the area. Free-kick given, which Pirlo and Balotelli stand over...
11 minBig chance for Spain! Great break from the Reds as Andres Iniesta releases Silva. The midfielder cuts inside before scuffing the ball into the waiting palms of Gianluigi Buffon. Silva is better than that.
10 minFirst involvement for Balotelli, who gains possession 25 yards from goal before seeing his effort deflected wide of goal. Corner...which again is poor from Pirlo. Uncharacteristic from the Juventus man.
8 minFirst sight of goal for Spain and David Silva. However, the Manchester City man is closed down quickly. Corner to Spain...Xavi's corner eventually finds Silva on the edge of the box but he shoots high, wide and not very handsome.
6 minNow it is a corner for the Italians. Pirlo will again deliver...It goes short to Antonio Cassano, who fluffs his lines.
5 minChance for Italy as Jordi Alba brings down Christian Maggio on the right wing...Pirlo swings it in but Fabregas heads clear.
4 minThe way Italy have set up, they almost have five at the back. It doesn't matter how talented Spain's attackers are, that will be hard to break down.
3 minStill Spain in control of the ball. You get the impression that will suit Italy though. The Azzurri are famed for their stubbornness at the back and ability to score on the break.
2 minSpain, as expected, enjoying the early possession.
1 minGame time! At last I can stop boring you with my observations! Spain get us underway.
16.58On a side note, what has happened to Sergio Ramos's hair?! Seems like he visited the same hairdresser as Cristiano Ronaldo!
16.57...Actually it has just come to my attention that it has no words! Still, 1-0 Italy in terms of the anthems!
16.56Over to you Spain...
16.56Is there a more passionate bunch than the Italians?! Players and supporters alike belt out the anthem as if their lives depend on it!
16.54Players are out and national anthems are underway. Italy go first.
16.53Of course, you can always follow our very own Jack Prescott, who has tipped the Spanish to come out 2-0 winners here.
16.51A late bet we have been made aware of: Mario Balotelli is 18/1 to be sent off. A sure thing!
16.50Back to today's match and Spanish journalist Guillem Balague on Twitter: "Spain will defend with the ball, will attack in numbers. Will keep faithful to a succesful style. Will create chances. All we can ask for."
16.49Best performance so far? Denmark for me. Granted it wasn't a great watch, but the way the Danes defended was something to admire.
16.48Group B: Holland 0-1 Denmark and Germany 1-0 Portugal
16.47Group A: Poland 1-1 Greece and Russia 4-1 Czech Republic
16.46While we wait for the players to emerge, how about recapping the opening two days of the tournament?
16.45Now, if you back the complete opposite of those you should be fine!
16.44And for those of you of an Italian persuasion, Italy to win 1-0 at 10/1 looks appealing.
16.43How about Xabi Alonso at 16/1 to net the first goal? The Real Madrid man takes penalties and likes a long range effort!
16.42As my betting tips were so good yesterday (not!) here is a couple more for you!
16.40A quick scout of their starting lineup shows that Daniele De Rossi will start in the heart of the defence. A risky move from Cesare Prandelli maybe?
16.37Let's turn our attentions to Italy. When was the last time they were ranked 16/1 to win a major tournament? A sign of how far they have fallen perhaps?
16.36And Alvaro Negredo! If Spain don't need them, can England borrow them tomorrow night?!
16.35That means the likes of Fernando Torres and Fernando Llorente are left on the bench! What does say about the faith Del Bosque has in them?!
16.34Okay, far be it for me to question a coach that has won a European Championships and World Cup, but has Vicente Del Bosque made the right decision to start without a recognised striker?
16.33Team News, get your team news! Spain start without a recognised striker, while Italy find a role for Manchester City's Mario Balotelli. Full lineups can be found here.
16.31Afternoon all. So, having now seen the likes of Germany and Holland, we are now treated to the real deal - Spain!
Written by
Liam Apicella
Liam Apicella
