Two World Champions Share Point

Spain Line-Up: Casillas (c), Ramos, Pique, Jordi Alba, Arbeloa, Xavi, Silva (Navas, 66'), Alonso, Fabregas (Torres, 75'), Iniesta, Busquets

Italy Line-Up: Buffon (c), Chiellini, Bonucci, Pirlo, Motta (Nocerino, 89'), Marchisio, Maggio, De Rossi, Cassano (Giovinco, 66'), Balotelli (Di Natale, 56'), Giaccherini        

The current and the ex World Champions begin their Euro 2012 campaign with a 1-1 draw in Gdansk. Substitute Antonio Di Natale put Italy ahead within minutes of coming on for an ill-tempered Mario Balotelli. But their lead would only last minutes as Cesc Fabregas would score the equaliser.

There were big questions over both starting line-ups; Spain left both Fernando Llorente and Fernando Torres out, which left them starting without a proper striker. Italy, on the other hand, were playing three at the back with Daniele De Rossi playing as a sweeper in front of them.

This left a very chess-like first half with both players trying to outsmart the opposition. Spain, as expected, saw more of the ball but Italy were much more threatening in the final third, possibly because the lack of strikers for Spain. The best chance of the half fell to Thiago Motta, but his headed chance was saved neatly by Iker Casillas. 

It didn't take long to see the first stop of  the tournament from Mario Balotelli. He punched the floor in disbelief at having a free-kick given against him for a tussle with Alvaro Arbeloa. It soon followed that the Man City striker received a yellow card for a foul on Jordi Alba. 

The best chance of the second half would also fall to Balotelli when he dispossessed Sergio Ramos eight minutes into the period. But he was far too relaxed as he progressed forward and it allowed Ramos to make a recovery tackle. This would be his last involvement as Di Natale would replace him in the 56th minute.

The substitution would pay instant dividends as Balotelli's sluggishness was replaced by Di Natale's urgency who found himself one-on-one with Casillas and the striker finished it off just four minutes after coming on.  But Italy's happiness would only last four minutes when a slick interchange found Fabregas through on goal and placed it past Gianluigi Buffon. 

The introduction of Fernando Torres didn't really change Spain's outlook and despite having a good early chance saved by Buffon, the Chelsea star didn't really provide anything different. The game went into first half mode and eventually trickled out to a 1-1 draw.