Spain,Italy on a Euro high

Defending champions Spain and fellow European giants Italy secured their places at Euro 2012. Spain eased to a 6-0 win at home to minnows Liechtenstein yesterday to make it six wins out of six while Italy left it late to gain a 1-0 home win over an unimpressive Slovenia,Gianpaulo Pazzini coming on as a substitute to score with five minutes remaining in front of a pitiful crowd of just 18,000. Italy coach Cesar Prandelli put the victory down to courage.

“It was the victory of courage. We dominated in midfield but couldn’t break through and that’s why I went to three forwards (in the second half),” said Prandelli,who has restored some pride to the side after their dismal first round exit at the World Cup finals.

They join Germany – beaten finalists last time – as the three countries to have qualified by right so far joining co-hosts Ukraine and Poland. The somewhat controversially world number one ranked team Holland,beaten by Spain in last year’s World Cup final,are all but certain to join them as they beat Finland 2-0 away to make it eight wins from eight qualifiers and need a point from their two remaining matches. One of those is against the only team that can catch them Sweden,who beat woeful San Marino 5-0 leaving the losers pointless and having conceded 46 goals in their nine matches.