1) Take the game to Spain
If Italy want to beat Spain, it is essential that they take the game to the reigning world and European champions, because if they do this not only will they ruin Spain's desired game plan, but they will put Vicente del Bosque's side in a rather awkward position which they aren't too familiar with. As they proved in their opening group game with Spain, and throughout the tournament, Italy count with all of the necessary ingredients to dominate a game, and shouldn't sit back and allow the Spaniards to call the shots, because most teams which opt for this strategy end up succumbing to La Furia Roja's effective domination-based soccer, which is generated by two of the most intelligent midfielders in the business, in Andres Iniesta and Xavi.
With Andrea Pirlo in the middle, Italy count with a player who is also capable of generating nice, creative soccer, and if he's at his best, Spain could be overpowered. It is crucial for Cesare Prandelli's side to destroy Spain's possession-based soccer, no matter how hard it may seem. According to former Italy coach Roberto Donadoni, if the four-time world champions take the game to Spain they could defy all odds, and pull off a famous victory: "We can beat Xavi, Iniesta and Co. by attacking. Spain are as strong as they were four years ago, but they have more responsibility. Better to face them now. The friendly last August [when Italy edged Spain 2-1 in Bari] showed that Spain suffer when you attack them."
2) Italy's key players must perform
Despite coming into the competition with numerous distractions, Italy have demonstrated that their problems are now a thing of the past, and their team are capable of returning to the elite of world soccer, after overcoming a number of major set-backs. Many questioned the strength of Italy's squad, particularly in an attacking sense, but after a couple of below-par performances, the likes of Antonio Cassano and Mario Balotelli, who scored twice in the victory over Germany, have finally shown their true colours. This is a good sign for the Italians, especially because if they want to be European champions, they will have to break through a Spain side who have only conceded a single goal in the entire competition, which incidentally was scored by Antonio Di Natale when the sides fought out a 1-1 draw in the group stage.
It is difficult to predict how Sunday's final will span out, but if Italy are presented with few goal-scoring opportunities, their strikers simply can't afford to misfire. Fortunately for Italy, their attack has finally reached its full potential. Another player who is likely to play an important role on Sunday is goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. The veteran has been in brilliant form throughout the competition, after having made a number of key saves, including stopping Ashley Cole's attempt in the penalty shoot-out triumph over England.
3) The influence of Andrea Pirlo is key to Italy's success
Talking of key players, there's no doubt that Pirlo has been the main reason why Italy has reached the title decider. The Juventus midfielder has been in sensational form for the Azzurri throughout the competition, and if he's in top form against Spain, it will definitely increase the Italians chances of going all the way. Pirlo, who scored a brilliant free-kick in the 1-1 draw against Croatia, has orchestrated pretty much all of Italy's best attacking moves, and put on a majestic performance in the opening game of the competition, where he pulled the strings against a much-fancied Spain. He will be looking to repeat that display, and if he manages to provide adequate service for the likes of Balotelli, Cassano and even Riccardo Montolivo, Italy could upset the European champions.
4) The hunger to change their tarnished image
Just ninety minutes away from glory, Italy are in an ideal position to put all of their misery behind and return to being a soccer powerhouse once again. Even if Italy were world champions not too long ago, since then the national team has been in tatters, not only because of results, which includes elimination from the 2010 World Cup at the group stage, and a declining production line, but also other negative factors such as recent match-fixing allegations, where no less than 19 players were arrested. Less than a week before the commencement of Euro 2012, it had even been said that Italy could pull out of the competition, to begin the rebuilding process with no associated pressures, rather than with another embarrassing group stage elimination, but Prandelli's side proved many wrong, and should be inspired by this.
Italy will be hoping to change their tarnished image by lifting their second European championship, and from how they have been playing in the competition so far, there's no question that the hunger to succeed is definitely there. In 2006 Italy came into the World Cup on the back of a match-fixing scandal, and ended up winning the competition against all odds, in 2012 they find themselves in an identical situation, but will it end in glory once again?
5) Italy have sufficient depth to finally put Spain in its place
Spain came into Euro 2012 as the odds on favourites to win back-to-back titles, and guess what, they are just ninety minutes away from achieving this. There's no question as to Spain's capacity on the soccer field, but even if they remain unbeaten, lead the competition in possession (67%), passing accuracy (88%) and have conceded the least amount of goals (just one) they still seem to be lacking something. Besides their 4-0 romp of a extremely poor Republic of Ireland, Spain have struggled to find their top form in the competition, with a 1-1 draw against Italy, a late 1-0 win over Croatia, a somewhat exaggerated 2-0 win over France, and a lucky penalty shoot-out victory over Portugal.
But while the results are there, Spain haven't displayed great soccer, and should be quite concerned coming into the final. Italy, who have surpassed all expectations, should lose some respect for their rivals, and approach the game in a similar manner as to how they did against the Germans, as they count with sufficient depth to match it with the very best. They should try to mount as much pressure as possible on the Spaniards in the early moments of the game, and if they manage to get in front, rather than sitting on their lead, they should look to kill off the game. If Italy confront the game as equals, something which few sides do against the defending world and European champions, they will significantly increase their chances of winning the game, and essentially the title.
