A week ago Spain put on a timeless performance to retain their European Championship crown and coast past Italy in a 4-0 win. The triumph was further vindication for many of Spanish football’s recent enterprises; that possession is king, how a strong technical foundation is the first step in moulding young players and that a high work rate in pressing when off the ball is just as crucial to success as when in control of it. Yet amongst the many plaudits and undeniable successes of Spain’s Euro 2012 campaign there lay a quirk, the “False 9″ as it has come to be known. Spain started many of their games without a designated centre forward and that tactical choice was subject to the majority of complaints from fans and pundits alike, the prime suspect in the case “Boring Boring Spain”. At times it seemed the most common explanation was the most logical, Spain’s passing game would begin to grind the further their fleet of maestros edged forwards and eventually simmer out with no apparent focal point. When Fernando Torres and then Alvaro Negredo took to the field however the end result didn’t seem to be much better, but these were men out of sorts and out of form and in the case of Negredo, out of thought. Then it seemed that the added pace and width of the likes of Jesus Navas and Pedro would be the answer, but even then Spain struggled to open up a defiant Portuguese defence in the semi final. Heading into the final it seemed a spirited and disciplined Italian side, who arguably had already out thought and out manoeuvred Spain in  the group stages, would have what it took to serve up real danger and frustration to the Spanish.

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