Favored Spain ties Italy in European Championship opener
Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso (L) vies with Italian forward Antonio Di Natale during the Euro 2012 championships football match Spain vs Italy. (June 10, 2012) Credit: Getty Images
In their bid for a third straight major title, Spain rallied to earn a 1-1 tie against Italy in the opening round of Group C play in the European Championship in Gdansk, Poland yesterday.
Antonio Di Natale put Italy in front after an excellent setup from Andrea Pirlo in the 61st minute, but Cesc Fabregas tied it for the defending champions three minutes later by finishing off a dazzling display of Spain's trademark passing game. "Being the favorite now is complicated, but in the end we found the character," Fabregas said.
The draw ended a 14-match winning streak for Spain in competitive matches, which began after a 1-0 loss to Switzerland to open the last World Cup.
Croatia tops Ireland. In the other Group C game Sunday, Mario Mandzukic scored two goals to help Croatia beat Ireland, 3-1, in Poznan, Poland.-- AP
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