Faultless Ramos the star of Spain's showcase | Spain Football News | Spain Footbaall Photo Gallery

Sergio Ramos's flawless showing ensured the defender was the Castrol top performer as he helped Spain stride to a historic 4-0 victory against Italy in the UEFA EURO 2012 final.

Sergio Ramos

Sergio Ramos

Sergio Ramos

Sergio Ramos

Spain defender Sergio Ramos did not put a foot wrong as La Roja overwhelmed Italy 4-0 in Kyiv to complete an unprecedented hat-trick of major tournament wins. 

The 26-year-old defender has been integral to an exceptional Spain side that conceded just once en route to their title defence. It was business as usual as Vicente del Bosque's men earned their fifth straight clean sheet in Poland and Ukraine, and Ramos's contribution was acknowledged as he topped the Castrol EDGE Index with a score of 9.69.

Defensively, Ramos was faultless. He earned points for a valuable block on Andrea Barzagli's goal-bound effort; for keeping an Italian attack – including an in-form Mario Balotelli – in check; and for ball recovery, regaining possession from Cesare Prandelli's side on no fewer than 15 occasions. 

Sergio Ramos

The Real Madrid CF man's boundless energy, athleticism and determination ensured he was as potent in Italy's penalty area as he was protective in his own, and a good deal of his rating is for his attacking endeavour. He gave the Azzurri nightmares from set pieces and had four efforts on goal, including two on-target shots from close range, to crown an imperious performance.

Ramos headed a Spanish clean sweep. Marauding left-back Jordi Alba scored a fine goal to grab a 9.09 rating and finish second, while Iker Casillas came third on 9.07 to round off the top three.

Castrol EDGE Index: Spain v Italy

1. Sergio Ramos (ESP) 9.69

2. Jordi Alba (ESP) 9.09

3. Iker Casillas (ESP) 9.07

4. Xavi Hernández (ESP) 9.06

5. David Silva (ESP) 8.60

Key facts

1 – Spain are the first European side to win three consecutive major tournaments (UEFA EURO 2008, 2010 FIFA World Cup, UEFA EURO 2012).

2 – Vicente del Bosque has become only the second coach to win the World Cup and the UEFA European Championship (after Helmut Schön, who won in 1972 and 1974 with Germany).

3 – Spain have equalled Germany's record of three UEFA European Championship wins (1964, 2008, 2012).

4 – La Roja became the first team to score four goals in a EURO final.

9 – Iker Casillas equalled Edwin van der Sar's record for clean sheets at the EUROs, this match earning his ninth shutout.
 Sergio Ramos 2012 World's No.1 New Skills HD
Sergio Ramos 2012 The Warrior HD
 

Euro 2012: Italy Squad Against Germany Photo Gallery | Euro 2012 Italy Squad Against Germany Videos Gallery Page 2

Euro 2012: Italy Squad Against Germany Photo Gallery

Midfielders

Thiago Motta

Claudio Marchisio

Emanuele Giaccherini

Daniele De Rossi

Riccardo Montolivo

Andrea Pirlo

Alessandro Diamanti

Antonio Nocerino

Forwards

Mario Balotelli

Antonio Cassano

Antonio Di Natale

Fabio Borini

Sebastian Giovinco

Euro 2012: Italy Squad Against Germany Video

Euro 2012: Spain Winning Photo Gallery Against Portugal

Euro 2012: Spain Winning Photo Gallery Against Portugal 

Euro 2012: Spain Winning Photo Gallery Against Portugal 

Euro 2012: Spain Winning Photo Gallery Against Portugal 

Euro 2012: Spain Winning Photo Gallery Against Portugal 

Euro 2012: Spain Winning Photo Gallery Against Portugal 

Euro 2012: Spain Winning Photo Gallery Against Portugal 

Euro 2012: Spain Winning Photo Gallery Against Portugal 

Euro 2012: Spain Winning Photo Gallery Against Portugal 

Euro 2012: Spain Winning Photo Gallery Against Portugal 

Euro 2012: Portugal 0 Spain 0; (Spain win 4-2 on pens aet)

Portugal 0 Spain 0; (Spain win 4-2 on pens aet)

A dull match ends in a penalty shootout with Cesc Fabregas scoring the decider to put Spain through to the Euro 2012 final.

Spain win 4-2 on pens aet

Spain win 4-2 on pens aet

Spain win 4-2 on pens aet

Spain win 4-2 on pens aet

Euro 2012 :Jordi Alba Action Against Portugal Photo Gallery

Euro 2012 :Jordi Alba Action Against Portugal Photo Gallery

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Alba and the second or maternal family name is Ramos.

Jordi Alba Ramos (born 21 March 1989) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Valencia CF in La Liga mainly as a left defender – he can operate as a left Back.

International

As of 23 June 2012

National team Season Apps Goals Assists

Spain 2011–12 5 0 3

Total 5 0 3

Alba represented the Spain national under-19 team at the 2008 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship as well as appearing in all four games as Spain won the gold medal at the 2009 Mediterranenan Games, he was also part of the squad at the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt

Alba received his first call-up to the senior national team on 30 September 2011 for the last two UEFA Euro 2012 qualifiers, against the Czech Republic and Scotland.[9] He made his debut in the latter game on 11 October, a 3–1 win in Alicante in which his cut back from the left wing provided the assist for the opening goal, scored by former Valencia team mate David Silva.[10] His impressive debut confirmed his status as a strong candidate to be the long-term successor of Joan Capdevila as the regular left back for La Roja.[11]

Jordi Alba Ramos

Jordi Alba Ramos

Jordi Alba Ramos

Jordi Alba Ramos

Jordi Alba Ramos

Jordi Alba Ramos

Jordi Alba Ramos

Jordi Alba || Skills and Goals|| NEW

 

La otra cara de Jordi Alba - Amunt Digital 16

Sergio Ramos Action Against Portugal Photo Gallery

Sergio Ramos Action Against Portugal Photo Gallery

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Ramos and the second or maternal family name is García.

Sergio Ramos García (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈseɾxjo ˈramoz ɡaɾˈθi.a]; born 30 March 1986) is a Spanish footballer who plays for Real Madrid and the Spain national football team. Mainly a central defender, he can perform equally as a right back.

After emerging through Sevilla's youth system, he went on to be a defensive mainstay for both Real Madrid and the Spanish national team, gaining his first cap at the age of 18.

International career

In 2004, Ramos became an instant hit for Spain's under-21, for who he played six international matches. On 26 March 2005, in a 3–0 friendly win over China in Salamanca, he first appeared for the senior side at only 18 years and 361 days of age, making him the youngest player to play for the national team in the last 55 years (he held this record until it was broken by Barcelona's Cesc Fàbregas).

Just seven months later, Ramos scored his first two international goals in a 6–0 away thrashing of San Marino for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. He was selected for the final stages in Germany and, after the international retirement of Real Madrid teammate Míchel Salgado, became the undisputed first-choice right back.

Throughout Spain's UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying campaign, Ramos was a regular member of the starting eleven as the national side finished first in its group, above Sweden. He scored two goals, including one in a 3–1 away win over Denmark, in 11 appearances.

In the tournament's final stages, Ramos played in all matches and minutes, except the 2–1 group stage win against Greece. In the final, his pass nearly set up Marcos Senna's first international goal, but the latter barely missed it by inches. During the celebrations after the 1–0 defeat of Germany, he wore a T-shirt in honor of close friend and former Sevilla teammate Puerta, who died in August 2007.[14][15]

Ramos was selected in the squad for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa, as Spain finished in third position. At the 2010 World Cup, held in the same country, he started every game, helping the team keep five clean sheets and reach the final, which they won 1–0 against the Netherlands; he topped the tournament's Castrol Performance Index with a score of 9.79.[16]

Ramos returned to the heart of the defence for the Euro 2012 tournament. When asked about his role change, he replied: “I have adapted and feel comfortable in the middle, but I am a World and European champion at right-back.”[17]

Sergio Ramos

Sergio Ramos

Sergio Ramos

Sergio Ramos

Sergio Ramos

Sergio Ramos

Sergio Ramos

Sergio Ramos Penalty miss vs BAYERN MUNICH- What really happened!

Sergio Ramos Misses Penalty Fail- Mourinho Reaction 2012  

Sergio Ramos Penalty - The Aftermath

Juan Francisco Torres Action Against Portugal | Juan Francisco Torres Action Photo Gallery

Juan Francisco Torres Action Against Portugal

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Torres and the second or maternal family name is Belén.

Juan Francisco Torres Belén (born 9 January 1985 in Crevillent, Alicante), known as Juanfran, is a Spanish footballer who plays for Atlético Madrid mainly as a right winger.

International career

Juanfran had an extraordinary performance at the UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship, as Spain won and the player received the Golden Player award.[11]

In a rare achievement, he took part in two FIFA World Youth Championships, the first in the United Arab Emirates, where the national team grabbed the silver medal.[12] In the 2005 edition, Spain reached the quarterfinals, eventually ousted by winners Argentina.[13]

Juanfran made his full side debut on 26 May 2012, playing the entire match in a 2–0 friendly win with Serbia in St. Gallen, as a right-back.[14] He was selected by manager Vicente del Bosque for his UEFA Euro 2012 squad.

Juanfran

Juanfran

Juanfran

Juanfran

Juanfran

Juanfran

Juanfran

Juanfran ready to start