Spain's soccer team employed its non-traditional 'tiki taka' approach to top Italy 4-0 and win the Euro 2012 soccer championship on Sunday. (July 2)

Spain wins Euro 2012 final, smashing Italy 4-0

July 2 (IANS/EFE) Spain won the Euro 2012 championship here Sunday, trouncing a valiant, but outmatched, Italy 4-0.

The victory makes Spain the first team in history to win three major international contests in a row, having previously triumphed in both the Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010.

The match got underway at 9.45 p.m. at the Olympic Stadium, and - with the Spanish side, coached by Vicente Del Bosque, setting the tempo, forcing Italy into a deep defence.

It took less than a quarter of an hour for Spain's David Silva to find the net with a header that put La Roja up 1-0.

Jordi Alba scored again for the Spaniards in minute 41 to give them a 2-0 lead at the half.

Italy had several chances as the second half got under way, but an hour into play Thiago Motta was injured shortly after coming off the bench and had to leave the pitch, reducing Italy to 10 men with all three of their substitutions already expended.

Spain put on a passing exhibition that exhausted the Cesare Prandelli's squad, and late in play, Fernando Torres and Juan Mata added extra - albeit unneeded - insurance in the 84th and 88th minutes, respectively, for the final lopsided .