PREVIEW: Spain and Italy meet again at Euro 2012

FOOTBALL - Spain and Italy are back to where Euro 2012 started for them. These countries met in the group stage, where they drew 1-1. This is fifth occasion in history of Euros, on which the same two teams have played each other the in group stage and also in the knockout stage.

The other repeats are Soviet Union – Netherlands (1988), Germany – Czech Republic (1996), Greece – Portugal (2004) and Russia – Spain (2008).

The competition in Ukraine and Poland is the 14^th European Championship featuring the 13^th different final fixture. The only repeated final at the Euros is Germany – Czech Republic/Czechoslovakia (1976, 1996). Twelve countries have already played in Euro finals, Germany tops them all with six appearances.

At the FIFA World Cup two fixtures were repeated in finals. Germany and Argentina played in two consecutive World Cup finals (1986, 1990), the other pairing being Brazil – Italy (1970, 1994).

France and Italy is the only pair to have played in a World Cup final and a European Championship final. France won at Euro 2000 and Italy at World cup 2006.

Analysis by Slavko Jeric (@lavkeri), a regular contributor to this website.