Spain’s football chief has claimed racism “does not exist” in the Spanish game despite numerous recent incidents.

Four wonderful goals and all the debates about Spain’s style suddenly seemed rather academic.

Should Spain win tomorrow night’s Euro 2012 final against Italy, Vicente del Bosque will become the first coach to win the Champions League, World Cup and European Championship trophies — an achievement which eluded even West Germany’s Helmut Schön, Holland’s Rinus Michels and Italy’s Marcelo Lippi.

Spain may have wowed the world over the last four years with their stylish passing football, but they would not be defending European, or World Cup, champions without [the interventions of keeper Iker Casillas.

Anyone who has watched Spain’s two opening Euro 2012 games will not be surprised that La Roja have statistically made a blistering start to the tournament.

Spain’s 4-0 win over Ireland convinced a previously wavering Madrid media that La Roja were on track to win Euro 2012.

He is 25 now.

Spain’s draw with a surprisingly impressive Italy was not a bad result for the defending Euro champions, but their performance threw up more questions than answers ahead of their clash with Ireland on Thursday.

Where once under-achieving Spanish players were more virility and machismo than style and substance, now they go in search of a hat-trick of major tournament titles.

Four first-phase clashes at Euro 2012 have a historical resonance, says Paul Kelly.

REALLY, it was a surprise that Giovanni Trapattoni was even in Kiev for yesterday’s Euro 2012 draw.

SUPERSTITION in football is an almost endless topic; there’s enough material for a good-sized book.

XABI ALONSO is desperate to play down the “euphoria” already engulfing Spain’s World Cup campaign as they seek to add the trophy to their Euro 2008 triumph.

SPAIN forward David Villa has launched a staunch defence of Fernando Torres and insists he is “totally convinced” his strike partner will regain his scoring touch.

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque’s job is safe no matter what happens in their next two group matches at the World Cup, according to RFEF president Angel Maria Villar.

SPAIN forward Fernando Torres has claimed that the biggest threat to the European champions’ hopes of taking the world title is Spain themselves.

GERMAN coach Joachim Low is confident his side will qualify for Euro 2012, even though they find themselves in one of the most competitive groups after yesterday’s draw in Warsaw.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has warned his side not to think the hard work in their quest to reach the World Cup finals is over, despite continuing their 100% record in Group Five.

Giovanni Trapattoni will celebrate his 70th birthday tomorrow with his sights set firmly on next summer’s World Cup finals.

SO TO recap from last week: UEFA don’t have an agenda against Liverpool, Agger is class on the ball, internal politics are being kept quiet and Rafa is a lucky general.

Arsenal’s stand-in captain Manuel Almunia insists he will not feel any extra pressure when he leads the team out tonight to play Fenerbahce in the Champions League.

TWO GOALS from Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso ensured European champions Spain completed preparations for their World Cup qualification campaign on a high.

Two goals from Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso ensured European champions Spain completed preparations for their World Cup qualification campaign on a high.

EUROPEAN champions Spain have appointed Vicente Del Bosque as their new coach following a meeting of the Spanish Football Federation assembly last night.

Departing Spain coach Luis Aragones has backed Vicente del Bosque as the right man to take over from him at the helm of the newly-crowned European Champions.

AFTER scoring the winning goal in the 1-0 final win over Germany, Fernando Torres hailed Spain’s Euro 2008 success as “a great victory for a whole country.”

Germany 0 Spain 1

Russia 0 Spain 3

Spain 0 Italy 0 (Spain win 4-2 on penalties)

Coach Luis Aragones has played down any suggestion of tension or unrest in the Spain camp as his side prepare to face world champions Italy in the quarter-finals of Euro 2008.

Greece 1 Spain 2

THERE will be two unfamiliar sides on view when Greece take on Spain in what is effectively a dead rubber in their Euro 2008 Group D clash today.

Sweden 1 Spain 2

SPAIN striker Fernando Torres has rubbished talk of a rift between himself and coach Luis Aragones as they face into tonight’s clash with Sweden (5pm).

SPAIN coach Luis Aragones felt his side were given a much tougher ride in their Euro 2008 opener against Russia than the final 4-1 scoreline suggested.

SPAIN coach Luis Aragones has given little away over team selection for his side’s opening Group D game of Euro 2008 against Russia (kick-off 5pm).

Fernando Torres has overcome any fears that his fitness would be in doubt for Sunday’s 207th Merseyside derby with Everton at Anfield.

THE Football Association have extended the deadline for Javier Mascherano to respond to his improper conduct charge until 6pm today.

Manuel Almunia has warned the rest of the Premier League title contenders that Arsenal are far from hitting top form yet.

ANDRES INIESTA has warned Northern Ireland to expect no favours from Spain when the two nations clash decisively in Las Palmas on Wednesday.

COACH Luis Aragones insists Spain are not taking anything for granted in their quest to reach the European Championship finals, even after his side’s potentially crucial victory over Denmark on Saturday.

THE football world is in mourning following the death of Sevilla wing-back Antonio Puerta.

Fernando Torres is set to be sidelined for up to three weeks after suffering an ankle injury while on international duty with Spain.

Reading 1 Fulham 0