Can history be halted by astute Prandelli?

Italy have already held off the future. Tomorrow, they must stop the march of history.

That is the merciless examination facing Cesare Prandelli’s team in the Euro 2012 final. That is the scale of the task.

Such are the dimensions of what promises to be an engaging end to a riveting tournament.

Of course, many expected a different final. For the two years since Germany lost to Spain in the World Cup, it had seemed that they were revving up for the ultimate rematch.

Rather than herald the future though, the Germans were given a lesson on the importance of concentrating on the present. Italy ruthlessly punished their defensive deficiencies in Thursday’s semi-final. And, although a long awaited showdown has been denied, it does not mean the Euro 2012 final will be any less compelling. It might be even a better contest. Certainly, it is a more appropriate ending.

Because, as much as Germany’s exhilarating style of play energised Euro 2012, the ultimate reasons for their elimination reflected a key theme of the tournament. Just like Ireland and England in defence, just like a fractured Dutch team, the Germans went out because they lacked the necessary game control.That has been the story of the tournament, underscored by the ongoing debate over whether Spain are “boring”.

It’s not that Spain are boring. It’s that their technical quality and manipulation of the ball are so utterly superior to everyone else that, inevitably, their games are boring. Indeed, the key difference between Spain and Germany was illustrated in the quarter-final. Although Spain didn’t exactly overwhelm France, they were never underpressure. By contrast, Germany may have been pinning Greece back but their hold never felt secure. In short, one team had things under control, the other didn’t. Euro 2012 has been defined and decided by it. It was also that difference, remember, that ensured Spain clinically killed Germany in both 2010 and the Euro 2008 final. That fact may be why this final will be a much better contest.

In their opening game, after all, Italy gave Spain a tougher match than any other team in the last four years.

It was the type of tactical brilliance from Prandelli that would culminate in the master class against Germany. As the player of the tournament so far, Andrea Pirlo, said it was a simply “perfect” performance.

It was also an illustration of how much the dynamics have further shifted since that first game. Italy have grown in confidence and momentum. This is all the more remarkable when you consider where the Italians came from: so much upheaval on the eve of the tournament. The team’s evolution is the ultimate testament to Prandelli.

Spain’s appearance in the final should not be taken for granted either.

In the time since the start of Euro 2008, Spain’s core squad have played an average of 57 games a season. Italy’s average is 45. Overall, that equates to a difference of 48 games — a full extra season.

So, although Spain are undeniably the superior side, Italy’s superior fitness and freshness may bridge the gap.

And it’s not the only difference. Balotelli’s brilliance illustrated the one aspect missing from the Spain team: an imposing forward. How they could have done with him — or even Fernando Torres or Fernando Llorente — in Andres Iniesta’s position when the midfielder presented with a chance to finish off Portugal long before penalties.

Of course, the very reason that Spain have played this debated 4-3-3-0 formation is as a response to the defensive approaches of opposition teams.

Quite simply, Spain must seek to try and find new openings as most teams just sit back and frustrate them.

On the whole, that is what Italy did in the opening match.

Given how much they have come on and given how much they have taken on Spain’s possession approach, it’s going to be interesting to see whether Prandelli has a little more confidence in this one. Pirlo for example, looks in much better form than Xavi.

Before the Germany match, Prandelli said it would illustrate “a lack of maturity” to revert to a more classically Italian reserved style.

Tomorrow, against the defending European and world champions, we are going to see how mature Italy really are. For Spain, we might see how good they are. Victory would surely crown them as the greatest of all time.

History beckons. Italy must halt it.