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Xabi Alonso: 'you have to play each game as a final '
Posted Tuesday, June 26, 2012 by SNTV

Intro:

Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas has enjoyed the style of football that Germany have adopted at the UEFA European Championship, as he spoke at a press conference at the team's training base in Gniewino, Poland on Monday.

Script:

SOUNDBITE (Spanish): Cesc Fabregas, Spain:

"Germany and Italy will be a very equal game. Germany play a style that I really like. They pass the ball and counter attack very well and they also defend well. They do everything well, they are a very strong team. Italy have played some great games in this Championship. They have great players like Pirlo and Cassano and Balotelli and it will be a vibrant semi final - I hope we can win our game and play against the best of the two teams."

SOUNDBITE (English): Xabi Alonso, Spain:

"Yeah - I am pretty sure that most of the fans are enjoying - they are watching great football games, great football teams. I think that that's great for not just the present but for the future of this tournament. And most of the teams that are trying to keep the ball and have the control of the games and try to look for the attacking game. That is the best way to look for a victory. And as for us, as we have seen, the teams that are there are because (they) deserve (it). No one takes nothing (anything) for granted and you have to play each game as a final and that is what we will do on Wednesday."

Standings
    Rank Team W/D/L Pts

    Cities & Stadiums

    The Top 3 Teams of Previous Tournaments

    Year Winners Runner-up Third place
    2008SpainGermanyRussia / Turkey
    2004GreecePortugalNetherlands / Czech Republic
    2000FranceItalyNetherlands / Portugal
    1996GermanyCzech RepublicFrance / England
    1992DenmarkGermanyNetherlands / Sweden
    1988NetherlandsSoviet UnionItaly / West Germany
    1984FranceSpainDenmark / Portugal
    1980West GermanyBelgiumCzechoslovakia
    1976CzechoslovakiaWest GermanyNetherlands
    1972West GermanySoviet UnionBelgium
    1968ItalyYugoslaviaEngland
    1964SpainSoviet UnionHungary
    1960Soviet UnionYugoslaviaCzechoslovakia