Is Italy and Spain a new rivarly?

At first glance, Spain vs. Italy isn’t a classic soccer rivalry. It lacks the obvious geographic tension you get from a Spain vs. Portugal clash; it doesn’t conjure memories of previous meetings like Italy vs. Germany; and there isn’t always continental pride up for stake, as in a meeting of Argentina and Brazil.
Instead, there’s a more subtle conflict -- a simmering, slightly sneering distrust between the two nations.
Italy is stereotypically based around organization, a strong defense and the ability to play a variety of systems effectively. It wins games in a strategic manner rather than with the best individual talents. This is a somewhat outdated cliché, but there’s still a focused, driven and ruthless approach to soccer within the peninsula.
In Spain, things are very different. The relentless success of the national side in the past four years, plus Barcelona’s ascent to becoming the greatest club side of modern times, has seen Spain finally combine style and success. Previously, there was a much greater emphasis upon the former. Spain always has produced fine soccer players, but while its stars were generally great entertainers, La Roja was seen as the great underachievers of international soccer until 2008. A reason for that -- and a result of it -- was that Spain took greater pride than Italy in the elegance of their game. Spanish soccer was something more joyous.
Fabio Capello, who had success as a coach in both countries, sums up the differences. “When Italian footballers are on the pitch, they would rather be somewhere else,” he says. “To them it’s a job. It’s not fun, not a game. When I was at Real Madrid, training would end and everyone would stay and eat, get a massage, go to the gym together…In Italy, they’ll stay as long as they have to, and then they’ll go. We don’t have that joy inside us.”

Italy has been historically known for a defense-first style, but under Cesare Prandelli, the Azzurri play with flair and attacking intent.© AP Photo/Matthias Schrader

The differences are noted within the two countries, and each side criticizes the other. Italy traditionally sees Spanish soccer as a little flimsy but more obviously, Spain sees Italian soccer as dull and cynical. In Spain, a side being described as “Italian” is a criticism. For example, when Spain was defeated by England at Wembley last year in a remarkably defensive performance from Capello’s side, Madrid-based newspaper Marca described England as "turning Italian." It wasn’t a compliment -- although of course, England wouldn’t have been described that way had it lost. That Italian ruthless streak is implicitly acknowledged and respected, if not admired.
Tracking the reactions of the two countries’ respective sports media throughout this tournament has been enlightening and suggests that while the rivalry is still present, the tables are turning in terms of style. Following the 1-1 draw with Spain in the group stage, Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport led with “Yes, Italy, you are beautiful!” The focus wasn’t just upon the result -- an unexpected point -- but the style. “Bell’Italia!” was La Gazzetta dello Sport’s headline, and underneath, “That’s the way we want you.” Cesare Prandelli’s mini style revolution has been very welcome.
After that group-stage match, Spanish newspaper AS opined that Spain “shouldn’t rule out meeting Italy again in the final.” Wise words, but more interesting has been the appreciation of Italy’s style -- and Andrea Pirlo, in particular -- that has yielded received rave reviews in Spain. “He is an independent artist, the last great creator of the Italian school,” Marca put forward. “It’s not for years that Italian football has had a player with the class and talent of Andrea Pirlo, the architect of Prandelli’s attacking Italy.” The stated timeframe is questionable -- Pirlo’s been playing for his country for a decade -- but the point is obvious. This Italian side, unlike so many before it, is appreciated in countries that favor beautiful play.
Meanwhile, Italian newspapers have criticized Spain’s lack of entertainment. “Good, superb even, and unbeatable, but the champions are a bore,” La Repubblica said after Spain’s 2-0 win over France.  “Tremendously boring,” Corriere dello Sport agreed.
Granted, this is just newspaper talk and won’t affect Sunday’s scoreline, but it sums up attitudes and reflects the changing identities of the two countries’ national teams. Prandelli is not a typical Italian coach; he has introduced an overall, cohesive philosophy revolving around ball retention and passing. Pirlo has been a fine player, but outside Italy, he’s never received such acclaim.

Cesc Fabregas and Spain have underwhelmed at the Euros but still possess the grit and confidence to win.© Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Spain, on the other hand, has become more cautious. Its ball retention is highly impressive and is the most proactive way of being a defensive side – but that is what La Roja is. Its record of nine consecutive clean sheets in the knockout stages of international tournaments is astonishing, but in seven of those nine games, Spain has scored only once or not at all.
This is by far the most successful national side Spain has ever produced and it’s no coincidence that it is also the most driven; once you have success, you can’t settle for being stylish. Anything less than being champions is regarded as a disappointment for Spain, and consequently it's played with restraint and caution -- maybe at times even with fear. It’s difficult to imagine a loose cannon like Mario Balotelli getting a start for Spain even if he was considered good enough technically. It's worth noting that Spain won’t score a goal like his supremely confident second goal against Germany. Spain has lost that freedom and unpredictability in exchange for its remarkable success.