Frankly I was not surprised at Spain losing to Italy going by the way the Spain played their league matches.The 1st half was all the way Italy against the tiki-takans and but for the Spanish GK the match would have been all but over in the 1st half itself.In fact Spain played their best game in Euro16 in the 2nd half of the match when they abandoned their tiki-taka to usher in the long passes relentless attack on Italy and almost succeeding couple of times but for Buffon heroics.To that extent the defending champions must be credited with changing the tactical game from their boring style to more attractive and fast paced effective football in the 2nd half.The Italians who dominated the first half with forceful counter attacks were so rattled by the sudden spurt in Spaniards' game it was surprising the way they lost possessions repeatedly more often facilitating the repeated spanish attacks.So in spite of Italians' famed defense this is one area they will have to take care against the Germans against whom they might not been as lucky to get away the way they did to-day in the 2nd half.But the Germans too might have preferred Spain to Italy going by the game to-day.It was the best match so far, a virtual final before final and thanks to the draw two more finals--Qtrs and semi are slated in this half before the real final.In the other half too Belgium and Wales too look quite promising. Could Poland and Ronaldo's Portugal too perk up ?
