Spain beat Italy 4-0 today. Don't be all that surprised. It was going to end up that way whether we liked it or not. Italy were a quality side, a side that had rebuilt itself and were looking for experience internationally but it wasn't on the same level as Spain, not really. You can blame Prandelli's "naive tactics" or his selection or their over-reliance on such an unknown quantity that is Mario Balotelli, but they are quite frankly years away from truly competing on the level that Spain, or Portugal with Cristiano Ronaldo, or even Germany with their gaggle of bright young prospects is capable of. Spain are the reference point. They are why Germany changed their approach under Jurgen Klinsmann and Joachim Loew, why Italy have opened up their game under Cesare Prandelli, and certainly why Brazil have gone away from Dunga's negative tactics and have tried to recapture their legendary Joga Bonito. Critics can decry their game for negativity all

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