Spain/Italy - Injury sealed our fate says Prandelli

Italian forward Mario Balotelli is comforted by Italian headcoach Cesare Prandelli after the Euro 2012 football championships final match Spain vs Italy on July 1, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev. Spain won 4-0. AFP PHOTO / DAMIEN MEYER

After a 4-0 thrashing in the final Italy coach Cesare Prandelli praised victors Spain but lamented injuries that left his team at a numerical disadvantage for much of the second half. "We came up against a terrific side," admitted Prandelli. "They're world champions. Obviously, when you go down to 10 men, the game's over." Italy played the last half an hour with 10 men after third substitute Thiago Motta was forced off by injury moments after coming on. Italy also lost influential central defender Giorgio Chiellini early in the first half, before making a half-time change taking off Antonio Cassano for Antonio De Natale. Italian forward Mario Balotelli is comforted by Italian headcoach Cesare Prandelli after the Euro 2012 football championships final match Spain vs Italy on July 1, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev. Spain won 4-0. AFP PHOTO / DAMIEN MEYER