Spanish international soccer continues to thrive around the globe on multiple levels and due to a rising crop of young talent coupled with seasoned veterans, fans of soccer can expect to the Spain near the top of the world rankings for years to come. The senior Spanish team recently won the 2012 Euro Cup in addition to claiming the 2010 World Cup and looking to match the success of the top team, Spain's Under-21 squad put on a stellar performance throughout Tuesday's European Under-21 Championship match against Italy, led by the phenomenal play of a rising superstar.
Midfielder Thiago Alcantat was magnificent Tuesday afternoon as he led the charge against a formidable Italian squad. The San Pietro Vernotico, Italy native recorded a hat trick against his hometown team en route to Spain's winning the Under-21 championship 4-2. Growing up in Spain and watching his father Mazinho lead Brazil to a 1994 World Cup, success on the pitch was inevitable for this young talent.
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Thiago started the scoring in the sixth minute, accepting a crossing pass from Morata and then sending a header between the pipes to give Spain an early 1-0 advantage. Ciro Immobile would answer four minutes later, however, as the Italian forward gently popped one over Spanish keeper David De Gea and into the back of the net to even the championship match at 1. The score would remain tied at 1 for the next 21 minutes until Thiago received another opportunity.
In the 31st minute, the 22-year-old took a brilliant feed from teammate Koke and beautifully sent it to the back of the net, putting Spain up 2-1 as the first half continued on. When forward Cristian Tello was taken down inside the box 7 minutes later, Thiago and the Spanish squad were handed a golden opportunity to provide themselves with a cushion heading forward in the match. Converting the penalty shot in the 38th-minute, Thiago and Spain were on their way to another Under-21 title. An added goal from Isco at the 66-minute mark sealed the deal for the future of Spanish international soccer as they went on to win the championship 4-2.
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The 2013 title now gives the Spanish nationals a total of 4 European Under-21 titles, with the previous three coming at the end of the 1986, 1998 and 2011 campaigns. Following their country winning the 2013 Under-21 championship, followers of the Spanish national senior team will now turn their complete attention to current Confederations Cup and 2014 World Cup. Spain won the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and they currently sit in a tie for the top spot in Group A of the CONFED Cup standings with Brazil.
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WATCH Thiago Complete His Hat Trick Against Italy
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