Pulling the strings: Italy's Andrea Pirlo in training
Meanwhile Italy skipper Gianluigi Buffon praised controversial striker Mario Balotelli for his willingness to work for the Italian cause at Euro 2012.
Balotelli has been the model of good behaviour during his time in Poland and Ukraine.
The 21-year-old has certainly flourished and his brace in Thursday night's semi-final victory over Germany has put him in pole position to claim the coveted Golden Boot, in addition to sending Italy into tomorrow's final with holders Spain.
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Rank | Team | W/D/L | Pts |
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Cities & Stadiums
The Top 3 Teams of Previous Tournaments
Year | Winners | Runner-up | Third place |
---|---|---|---|
2008 | Spain | Germany | Russia / Turkey |
2004 | Greece | Portugal | Netherlands / Czech Republic |
2000 | France | Italy | Netherlands / Portugal |
1996 | Germany | Czech Republic | France / England |
1992 | Denmark | Germany | Netherlands / Sweden |
1988 | Netherlands | Soviet Union | Italy / West Germany |
1984 | France | Spain | Denmark / Portugal |
1980 | West Germany | Belgium | Czechoslovakia |
1976 | Czechoslovakia | West Germany | Netherlands |
1972 | West Germany | Soviet Union | Belgium |
1968 | Italy | Yugoslavia | England |
1964 | Spain | Soviet Union | Hungary |
1960 | Soviet Union | Yugoslavia | Czechoslovakia |