It's the final day of Euro 2012, with Italy and Spain going head to head for the cup. Follow the best of the action, photos and pre-match buildup here. Want to have your say? Contact (at)phillipsian and (at)simonhaydon via Twitter. All times are Ukrainian.
The ignoramus who scrawled "non sei un vero italiano, sei un africano nero" _ "You are not a true Italian, you are a black African" _ on a wall near the San Siro stadium in Milan. Did he, despite himself, leap off his sofa in delight when Mario Balotelli thumped home his goal for Italy with a powerful nod of his shaven black head and put their country into the final of Europe's top soccer tournament?
Miraculously, even out here amid the belching smokestacks and coal mines on the furthermost eastern fringes of Europe, someone had the foresight to have a copy of Viva Espana cued up, ready to go. Good job, too, because they needed it.
He put Italy in the European Championship final. He shamed the morons who have been making monkey noises at him because he is black. And he salvaged the honor of Europe's strikers, by making sure these Euros didn't set a new record for goal-scoring sterility. In short, self-proclaimed genius Mario Balotelli had an outstanding night to finally match his nickname, Super Mario.
UEFA says Italy's penalty shootout victory over England is likely to record the highest global television audience of any quarterfinal in European Championship history.
UEFA has charged the Spanish and Russian football associations for racist chants by fans at the European Championship.
UEFA has fined the German soccer association $31,200 after fans displayed a neo-Nazi flag at a European Championship match.
Ukraine's prime minister says even he saw the ball cross the line.
UEFA charged the German soccer association on Tuesday for the "improper conduct" of its fans at a European Championship match against Denmark.
