Spain and Italy will contest the Euro Under-21 Championship on Tuesday.
Spain is looking to win its second straight championship and its fourth ever. Italy is looking to add its sixth ever victory in this tournament. The Italians were crowned champions in 1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, and 2004.
"[A final] forces you to reach to your limits, in every sense: in a defensive sense, in terms of attacking, on a mental level and on a physical levels," said Spain coach Julen Lopetegui. "So you have to be ready to reach your limits, because an opponent like that forces you to, without any doubt. It's a beautiful final and it will surely be a hard-fought one as well
."
"They're a team who still maintain the [traditional] qualities of Italian football, but they've also taken a step forward in many other areas. They have a real ability to create danger on the pitch, with great players in a defensive structure; a very balanced team, with a different style, but certainly not less attractive or less effective. They're a very good team," he added about his opponents.
Spain has dominated the tournament with four wins and zero goals against. The team defeated Russia 1-0 in its opener before dispatching Germany by the same score. In the group defining match against Netherlands, Spain pulled off an astonishing 3-0 victory. In its most recent game, Spain defeated Norway 3-0.
Meanwhile, Italy won Group A with seven points in three games. The team defeated England 1-0 in its opener before destroying Israel 4-0. In its final group game, Italy drew 1-1 draw against Norway. In the semi-final, Italy won 1-0 against Netherlands.
Prediction: Spain reigns supreme with a 2-0 victory.
TV: ESPN Deportes
Start Time: 12 PM EST