THE reaction in the Spanish media yesterday morning was much the same to the reaction in the stands on Sunday night when Spain swept Italy aside in the Euro 2012 final.

“Champions of Europe,” read the headline in El Pais. “After a memorable game with the best of their style, “La Roja” crushed Italy and completed the triple crown of European Championship-World Cup-European Championship”.

El Mundo similarly ran with: “Legendary Champions.”

Spain, they said, “had changed football with their short passing style and domination of the ball in a style that everyone now wants to copy.”

“Spain wins the impossible,” wrote La Vanguardia . “La Roja completed the most successful cycle in the history of international football with its third title in four years.”

And there was special praise from the Catalan daily for one of their own, Xavi, who “showed a magisterial direction of his team-mates with two assists.”

Madrid sports daily Marca thanked the players from bringing joy to the country at a time of economic gloom with their headline of “Thank You, Thank You, Thank You”.

Both AS.comand El Mundo Deportivo hailed La Furia Roja as "Triple-champions".

Barcelona-based Sport declared Vicente del Bosque’s men as “Kings of football and kings of Europe”, adding: “The Spanish national team has its place in history and it was ruthless.

“With less suffering than expected, Del Bosque’s men achieved a second consecutive European Championship.”

The Italian press, meanwhile, expressed a mixture of pride and disappointment after their national team’s heavy defeat to Spain.

Gazzetta dello Sport displayed a photograph on its front page of Italy striker Mario Balotelli in tears after the game with the headline: “Like this it hurts . . . .” Gazzetta conceded Spain were the better side but admitted the Azzurri were greatly hindered by injuries.

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli was forced to make a substitution early on with defender Giorgio Chiellini sustaining a hamstring injury while in the second half, midfielder Thiago Motta was carried off on a stretcher with a muscular injury, leaving Italy with 10 men.

Gazzetta added: “The game was decided in the first half. We were left with 10 players by the 61st minute.

“The Spaniards dominate to achieve a historic treble.”

Gazzetta’s editorial “Thanks anyway” applauds the Italians, who reached the final of the tournament for the first time since 2000.

Corriere dello Sport claimed Prandelli’s tactical plan and the substitutions he made proved a fiasco. Yesterday morning’s edition screamed: “Prandelli, but what have you done?”

Corriere considered Spain’s dominance as “heavily embarrassing” and added: “Spain sinks an exhausted, unrecognisable and fried Italy to preserve the title of champion of Europe.”

It’s sub-headline reads: “We were in pieces, they were very strong”.

Corriere’s editorial questioned Prandelli’s decision to replace striker Antonio Cassano at half-time with Antonio Di Natale, saying: “Cassano was our best player on the pitch.” Moreover, they did not understand why Prandelli opted to replace Riccardo Montolivo with Motta: “Motta sustained a strained muscle after his first touch leaving us down to 10.”

National newspaper La Repubblica was equally frustrated. Also displaying a photograph of Balotelli in tears on its front page with the headline: “The big disappointment”.

Turin-based Tuttosport did express pride in the team’s performances. They showed a photograph of captain Gianluigi Buffon after conceding the Azzurri’s fourth goal with a headline that read: “Italy don’t cry.” A sub-headline read: “Legendary Spain but we return with our heads held high.”