Julen Lopetegui’s masterly Spain side came into the decider unbeaten in 25 competitive encounters, and though Thiago’s early opener looked to have set them on course to increase that tally, Ciro Immobile soon struck back for Italy. It proved a false dawn for Devis Mangia’s team, who fell behind again just after the half-hour.

The two previous finals between these nations – in 1986 and 1996 – had been won on penalties, so it was fitting that spot kicks from Thiago and Isco ultimately settled matters in Jerusalem. Fabio Borini’s 80th-minute riposte was too little, too late.

Considering these two sides had conceded a solitary goal between them in Israel, few could have foreseen such a helter-skelter encounter. Álvaro Morata, the adidas Golden Boot winner with four goals, had been Spain’s go-to man in their opening four fixtures and, six minutes into the showpiece, again came up trumps. This time he played the role of provider, shimmying his way to the byline before standing the ball up for Thiago to head in from close range.

If that was typical tiki-taka from Spain, the Azzurrini’s equaliser came in more direct fashion. Immobile brought down Matteo Bianchetti’s long pass with one exquisite touch before dinking the ball over David de Gea – bang went Spain’s tournament clean sheet.

Francesco Bardi soon got down swiftly to deny Morata and Koke, thus keeping his team level. De Gea, making his 27th appearance to equal Santi Denia as Spain’s most-capped U21 international, was in action himself before the half-hour. Alessandro Florenzi raced on to Borini’s pass, bamboozled Marc Bartra and volleyed goalwards – De Gea was well placed.

©Getty Images

Thiago Alcántara converts from the spot

It proved a turning point for Spain, who restored their advantage when Thiago wriggled free, took Koke’s ball down on his chest and squeezed a shot through Bardi’s legs. The Italian did not get quite so close to preventing La Rojita’s third, Thiago slotting past him from the spot after Giulio Donati felled Tello.

The FC Barcelona midfielder so nearly made it four after the interval but his low effort was thwarted by Bardi. De Gea should also have been required not long after, Lorenzo Insigne and Florenzi both snatching at half-chances. Isco soon followed suit at the other end, putting his first-time finish narrowly wide following a lightning-fast counterattack from Cristian Tello.

Though Tello’s pace was now proving a frequent thorn in Italy’s side, it was the man behind him who teed up Spain’s fourth, Martín Montoya pulled down by Vasco Regini after racing forward from right-back; Isco made no mistake.

Despite the early scare it seemed that, finally, Lopetegui’s assertion that “the final is in our hands” had come to fruition. Though Borini prompted brief cause for alarm with a fine finish, Lopetegui, mastermind of Spain’s U19 triumph last summer, could join a record crowd at Teddy Stadium in watching his team lift Spain’s fourth U21 title in consummate fashion.

SOURCE: UEFA.com

The Azzurrini had been seeking their sixth success in Israel but came up short against Julen Lopetegui’s masterly side. A hat-trick from Thiago Alcántara and an Isco penalty at the Teddy Stadium made it five victories out of five for Spain at the 2013 finals as they clinched their fourth crown at this level.

Their first, in 1986, had also come against Italy as they prevailed in a penalty shoot-out – with Walter Zenga in goal, no less – after a pair of 2-1 home wins in the two-legged final.Twelve years later, Iván Pérez’s second-half strike earned a second title in a one-off decider against Greece, while two summers ago a team including 2010 FIFA World Cup winners Javi Martínez and Juan Mata sauntered to glory in Denmark.

Five members of that squad were in Israel defending the crown, and if Spain can make it three on the bounce in the Czech Republic in 2015 they will match Italy’s record haul of five titles. The Azzurrini are currently the only side to have managed a hat-trick of successes, victories in 1992, 1994 and 1996 preceding further triumphs in 2000 and 2004. They have lost just two finals, both to Spain.

UEFA European Under-21 Championship titles
5 Italy
4 Spain
2 England, Soviet Union, Netherlands
1 Yugoslavia, France, Czech Republic, Germany

Champions (hosts)
2013 Spain (Israel)*
2011 Spain (Denmark)*
2009 Germany (Sweden)*
2007 Netherlands (Netherlands)*
2006 Netherlands (Portugal)*
2004 Italy (Germany)*
2002 Czech Republic (Switzerland)*
2000 Italy (Slovakia)
1998 Spain (Romania)
1996 Italy (Spain) 
1994 Italy (France)
1992 Italy
1990 USSR
1988 France
1986 Spain
1984 England
1982 England
1980 USSR
1978 Yugoslavia

SOURCE: UEFA.com