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Spain vs Italy: Five things to watch

By Vijay Vemu

TURIN, ITALY - MARCH 20: Gianluigi Buffon (C) of Juventus FC with team mates Leonardo Bonucci (L) and Andrea Barzagli celebrate victory and his record of minutes without conceding goals at the end of the Serie A match between Torino FC and Juventus FC at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on March 20, 2016 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY - MARCH 20: Gianluigi Buffon (C) of Juventus FC with team mates Leonardo Bonucci (L) and Andrea Barzagli celebrate victory and his record of minutes without conceding goals at the end of the Serie A match between Torino FC and Juventus FC at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on March 20, 2016 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images) /
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Juventus’ forward Alvaro Morata from Spain celebrates after scoring during the Italian Serie A football match Torino Vs Juventus on March 20, 2016 at the ‘Olympic Stadium’ in Turin. / AFP / MARCO BERTORELLO (Photo credit should read MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images)
Juventus’ forward Alvaro Morata from Spain celebrates after scoring during the Italian Serie A football match Torino Vs Juventus on March 20, 2016 at the ‘Olympic Stadium’ in Turin. / AFP / MARCO BERTORELLO (Photo credit should read MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images) /

It will be a rematch of the Euro 2012 final as Spain takes on Italy in an international friendly

Euro 2016 is almost upon us as the best teams in Europe will compete this summer. But there is always time in between qualification and the actual tournament and that time is international friendlies time. This week will feature a great matchup between two great footballing nations. Spain and Italy. Both of these teams have won a World Cup in the past three competitions and even met in the final of Euro 2012.

It wasn’t a close affair as Spain crushed Italy 4-0 to capture the title. It was their third major title as they had won the World Cup two years prior and were the holders of the Euro 2010 trophy.

But times have changed for both teams as Euro 2016 will usher in a new era of youth. For Spain many of their 2010 squad are either out of the country squad list or on their way out. Same could go for Italy as well. Euro 2016 may be the last time we see the likes of Andres Iniesta, Andre Pirlo, or Gigi Buffon suit up for their respective countries.

The friendly will serve as a measuring stick for both teams as they look to improve on the first round exits both countries suffered at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Next: 5. Lack of forward depth for Spain