Italy's Euro 2012 Final Starting XI. Where are they now?

Italy has returned with a vengeance. The Azurri has made it to the Final of the European Championship, playing some fantastic football under Roberto Mancini, who changed the Italian national team following their appointment in 2018 after Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. They have achieved one of the longest unbeaten runs in international football with 33 games unbeaten, with their last defeat coming against Portugal in September 2018. The Italians will face England in the Final on Sunday, hoping to win silverware for the first time since winning the 2006 World Cup. They have not won the Euros since 1968 and have reached two Euro Finals in 2000 and 2012. Let's take a look at their starting line-up against Spain in Kyiv during Euro 2012.

GOALKEEPER: GIANLUIGI BUFFON

This was a final to forget for Gianluigi Buffon. He only conceded three goals before the Final before Spain scored four past him. Buffon is without a doubt one of the best goalkeepers of all time. The Italian has played over a thousand games and won multiple cups and league titles with Parma, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain. He has also experienced success with the Azurri, becoming Italy's all-time appearance maker with 176 caps and was part of Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning squad. He retired from international football in 2017 following Italy's failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, and at 43 years of age, he's still an active player having just moved to Serie B side Parma, the club where he made his professional debut over twenty-five years ago.

DEFENDER: IGNAZIO ABATE

Playing three times during Euro 2012, Ignazio Abate was rotated alongside Napoli right-back Christian Maggio during the tournament but Abate got the nod to start the final. Abate won 22 caps for the Italian national team, making his international debut in 2011 against Poland. The right-back spent the majority of his career at Italian side AC Milan, making 306 appearances in all competitions. Winning Serie A in 2011 and the Supercoppa Italiana twice. He was released from Milan in 2019 and, after failing to find a new club, he retired from the game in 2020.

DEFENDER: ANDREA BARZAGLI

One of the best central defenders of the last decade, Andrea Barzagli's career took a turn for the better after 2012. The defender played four times in the tournament, missing the two group games against Spain and Croatia. He moved to Juventus in 2011 where he won eight straight Scudetti and four Coppa Italia titles. Part of the formidable BBC partnership in Juventus' defence alongside Bonucci and Chellini. Part of Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning squad, Barzagli won 73 caps since making his Italy debut in 2006 and competed in six major tournaments before retiring from international football in 2017. He retired from the game completely in 2019 to be part of Juventus' backroom staff under Maurizio Sarri but stepped down in 2020.

DEFENDER: LEONARDO BONUCCI

The ball-playing defender of the BBC, Leonardo Bonucci enjoyed much success with Juventus alongside individual awards including Serie A Footballer of the Year in 2016, part of FIFAPro World XI in 2017, the Champions League Team of the Season in 2017 and, part of the Serie A Team of the Year four times. Known for his technique and passing range, Bonucci has won 107 caps for the Italian National Team since making his debut in 2010 and competed in five major tournaments with the Azurri, including Euro 2012, where he missed just one game during the tournament. At 34 years of age, Bonucci is still going and has rolled back the years with his performances during Euro 2020 as he has another shot at international glory when Italy face England in the Final.

DEFENDER: GIORGIO CHELLINI

The aggressor of the BBC, Giorgio Chellini is a man who will do anything necessary for the team to win and is a pure defender who lives by the art of defending. Also capable of playing left-back, Chellini has been synonymous with Juventus since making his debut for the Old Lady in 2005, even staying at the club when Juventus was demoted to Serie B. Aside from the nine league titles he has won with Juventus, he won Serie A Defender of the Year three times, was twice included in the Champions League squad of the season and was part of the Serie A Team of the Year five times. Capped 111 times for Italy, Chellini has played in seven tournaments including Euro 2012, where he missed one game during the tournament. Despite retiring from international football in 2017, he returned a year and became the captain of Italy. Now, he has the opportunity to lift the Euro trophy on Sunday if Italy wins the final.

MIDFIELDER: ANDREA PIRLO

One of the best midfielders of his generation, Andrea Pirlo was dubbed "L'architetto" (The Architect) because of the way he creates play for others. Also famous for his free-kicks, technique and creativity, the deep-lying playmaker enjoyed a successful career playing for the likes of Brescia, AC Milan and Juventus, winning the Champions League twice, two Coppa Italia and six Scudetti. He also won 116 caps for the Italian National Team, scoring 13 times. He took part in eight major tournaments including three World Cups and three European Championships. He was a key player in Italy's 2006 World Cup win and was impressive during Euro 2012 despite losing the Final, Pirlo was part of the Team of the Tournament. He retired from the game in 2017 and was the manager of Juventus during 2020/2021 but spent just one season, relieved from his duties in May 2021.

MIDFIELDER: DANIELLE DE ROSSI

A complete midfielder during his prime, Danielle De Rossi was a tenacious midfielder for AS Roma, making his debut in 2001 and went on to play 616 times for the Giallorossi, leaving the club in 2019 before experiencing a brief stint at Argentine giants Boca Juniors. Also part of Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning squad, De Rossi won 117 caps for Italy, scoring 21 times. He also retired from international football in 2017 after Italy's World Cup play-off defeat to Sweden where he refused to come off the bench under Gian Piero Ventura. He retired from the game completely in January 2020 and is now part of Mancini's backroom staff in the Italian national team.

MIDFIELDER: CLAUDIO MARCHISIO

Very similar to De Rossi in his playing style, Claudio Marchisio could play any role in midfield from defensive midfield to attacking midfield plus playing out wide. Breaking out in Juventus, he spent 13 years as a senior player for Juventus, winning seven league titles before departing in 2018 to play for Russian side Zenit St. Petersberg for one season, retiring at the end of the 2018/19 season. Capped 55 times for Italy, he played in four tournaments scoring in the 2014 World Cup against England in the group stage.

MIDFIELDER: RICCARDO MONTOLIVO

Making 380 appearances in Serie A for Atalanta, Fiorentina and AC Milan, Riccardo Montolivo was a regular face in Italian football and was renowned as a deep-lying playmaker whilst being adept at playing in attacking midfield, which was he was deployed for Italy during Euro 2012 under Italian coach Cesare Prandelli. Making his debut in 2007, Montolivo won 66 caps and played in four tournaments. Montolivo struggled with injuries throughout his career which led to his retirement in 2019 after his contract expired with AC Milan.

STRIKER: ANTONIO CASSANO

Talented but hot-headed, Antonio Cassano was an erratic figure in Italian football since breaking out with Bari in 2001. Played for the likes of AS Roma, Real Madrid, Sampdoria, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Parma, Cassano scored 141 career goals with his 18 strikes for Roma during the 2003/04 season being his best prolific season. Cassano was in and out of the Italian national team for much of his career, winning 39 caps and scoring 10 times. He retired from the game in 2018.

STRIKER: MARIO BALOTELLI

Another talented but short-tempered figure, Mario Balotelli has just moved to Turkish side Adana Demirspor, the tenth club of his career. Balotelli made his mark in Euro 2012, scoring three times, two coming against Germany in the semifinals, which was the highlight of his career. Since then, he has moved around in England, Italy, France and now Turkey, with his time at Nice his most prolific with 43 goals in 76 games. Before moving to Turkey, he was in Serie B side Monza. Since making his debut in 2010, Balotelli has won 36 caps, scoring 14 times. He has not played for Italy since 2018.