Italy’s players praised their opponents after falling 4-0 to Spain in the Euro 2012 final.
Goalkeeper and captain Gianluigi Buffon said, “It’s ended badly because wefaced a great team that deserved to win. Sometimes in life you need to be able to accept defeat and compliment opponents who were better. … We have nothing to complain about. Spain was the betterteam and we congratulate them.”
“I think Spain is better than everybody: in 10 games against them you will lose seven or eight,” Italy midfielder Daniele De Rossi said. “Ifyou win or draw it means everything went for your side.”
Defender Giorgio Chiellini said: “We’re sorry because we hoped to win and end the tournament in another way. Wewere tired, very tired, and the injuries show that. Some of our players on the field could hardly walk. In the end we have to congratulate Spain. They deserved to win and tonight they proved to bebetter than us.”