Euro 2012 final: Spain v Italy - in pictures

Among the Italian fans at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev there's fervid adulation for their impish and mercurial No9, Mario Balotelli. Will the young Italian striker guide his team to the European Championship title? Photograph: Patrick Hertzog/AFP/Getty Images

Balotelli's pre-match behaviour is as odd as ever. It appears he's squaring up with his team-mate Angelo Ogbonna – all in good humour, presumably? Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images

Next up he's greeting fans who've copied his blonde mohican Photograph: Eddie Keogh/Reuters

Here's the official championship trophy – with Spanish coloured ribbons on one side and Italian on the other Photograph: GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images

The Spanish players look pretty relaxed before kick-off. They could become the first team to retain the trophy. No pressure, then Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

The stadium is filling up as the sun sets in the Ukrainian capital Photograph: Carl Recine/Action Images

The teams enter ther pitch and a greeted by banks of photographers. The Italian starting line-up reads as follows: Buffon, Abate, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini, Pirlo, Marchisio, Montolivo, De Rossi, Balotelli, Cassano Photograph: Patrick Hertzog/AFP/Getty Images

The Spanish team will feature a ghost No9 in the shape of Cesc Fabregas ... their full line-up reads: Casillas, Arbeloa, Pique, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Xavi, Busquets, Alonso, Silva, Fabregas, Iniesta. Photograph: Christof Stache/AFP/Getty Images

Spain are in fluid form from the kick-off and accusations they are a boring side seem misguided already Photograph: Giuseppe Cacace/AFP/Getty Images

After a series of half-chances, Cesc Fabregas bursts into the box and cuts the ball back to David Silva ... Photograph: Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty Images

... and his instinctive header darts into the top corner. 1-0 to Spain! Photograph: Christof Stache/AFP/Getty Images

Only 14 minutes have gone and the Spanish are celebrating a lead they thoroughly deserve Photograph: Martin Rose/Getty Images

But the Italians retaliate immediately with concerted attacking Photograph: Gregorio Borgia/AP

Spain's goalkeeper Iker Casillas is fortunate when he flaps at a cross in front of Balotelli and the ball is cleared away Photograph: Michael Sohn/AP

Andrea Pirlo, who was so masterful in midfield against both England and Germany, has been nullified by Spain's diligent teamwork Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Italian defender Ignazio Abate shrieks with pain under a challenge from Xabi Alonso Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images

With four minutes remaining until half-time, Xavi slides a typically precise throughball to Jordi Alba - the left-back - whose lightning run into the opposition half ends with a simple, sweeping shot into the bottom corner of the net ... 2-0 to Spain Photograph: Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty Images

Italy's coach Cesare Prandelli talks to his goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon as the teams go off at half-time. What on earth can he say to his players to haul them back into this contest Photograph: Michael Dalder/Reuters

Early in the second half, Fabregas almost weaves his way to a goal Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

Then Sergio Ramos has a penalty shout turned away Photograph: DAMIEN MEYER/AFP/Getty Images

Antonio di Natale spurns a wonderful chance to half the deficit when he fires straight at Iker Casiallas. The Spanish players thought the Italian was offside; luckily for them Casillas played to the whistle Photograph: Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty Images

Prandelli is not happy Photograph: Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters

The hopes of the Azzurri are surely shot now ... Having already made all of their substitutions, Thiago Motta, one of them, pulls his hamstring and the Italians can't replace him. They'll have to play the remaining 30 minutes with ten men Photograph: John Sibley/Action Images

Naturally Spain are able to exploit the additional space. Fernando Torres scores soon after his introduction, then supplies a pass for Juan Mata, another sub, to prod home a fourth goal two minutes from time Photograph: Jeff Pachoud/AFP/Getty Images

The pair are delighted - that's made Torres the joint top scorer in the tournament with three goals Photograph: Juan Medina/Reuters

The final whistle blows and Spain are the kings of Europe. Their play has been glorious tonight - the Italians were helpless in comparison Final score: 4-0 Photograph: Jeff Pachoud/AFP/Getty Images

Balotelli slumps to the turf and then brushes his coaching staff angrily aside before heading down the tunnel ... Photograph: Martin Rose/Getty Images

He's later coaxed back out to the pitch to collect his runners-up medal. His emotions can't be contained Photograph: John Sibley/Action Images

The Spanish squad then makes its way up into the stands to collect their silverware Photograph: Michael Dalder/Reuters

History is made as Casillas hoists the trophy, making Spain the first team ever to win three major tournaments in succession and the first ever to retain the Henri Delaunay Trophy Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

Once the players return to the pitch, Sergio Ramos performs a matador's routine to the crowd Photograph: Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images

... while Torres plays in the glitter with his and his team-mate's children Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

The players enjoy a victory around the stadium, greeting their exhilorated fans along the way. A legacy has been writ tonight - and in some style too Photograph: Giuseppe Cacace/AFP/Getty Images

Now they can put the trophy back in their cabinet for another four years Photograph: Eddie Keogh/Reuters