GERMANY 1-2 ITALY

Settling down to watch this with a portable barbecue and two fine friends, one of them - P. F. Shirazzano (the antiquarian bookseller) - lamented the dirge of quality performances by strikers this tournament. Where have all the number nines gone?

Before I even had the chance to talk Shevchenko and Carroll - two players who, between them, lit up a full one and a half games of football - Mario Balotelli produced the individual performance of Euro 2012.

For 45 minutes he was unplayable. As was his strike partner, Antonio Cassano - the headlines belong to Mario, but Cassano was arguably the star man last night.

So Germany, my tip for the title, are out. And didn't the German fans look sad. And didn't the UEFA television director enjoy showing us how sad they looked. Constantly, and from about twenty minutes in.

All of which means we're left with a Spain-Italy final. If ever a game was going to be won in the middle of the park, this is it. Italy's central midfield three have been the most effective of any engine room at Euro 2012. Their biggest concern against Spain is being outnumbered by approx. 10 to 3.

But, sometimes, it's about quality not quantity:



Unfortunately for Italy, Spain have both.

THE STORY SO FAR

Match of the tournament: Sweden 2-3 England

Player of the tournament: Andrea Pirlo (Italy)

Goal of the tournament: Balotelli (Germany v ITALY) - [2nd goal]