Thiago scored a hat-trick, Spain U21 won the European championship

Captain Thiago Alcantara scored a hat-trick to inspire Spain U21s to a 4-2 win over Italy U21s, successfully defending their European Championship title.

Spain wins convincingly

SCORING
Italy:Immobile 10'; Borini 80'
Spain:Thiago Alcantara 6', 31', pen 38'; Isco pen 66'

The defending champions had little trouble breaking down an uncharacteristically hesitant Italian defence, with Thiago putting Spain ahead in the sixth minute, before completing his hat-trick with further strikes in the 31st and 38th minutes.

Thus, Spanish football has added one more title at the continental level after winning the 2010 World Cup, EURO 2008 & 2012, the European U19 and U21 tournaments 2 years ago.

Barca midfielder Thiago also had the honour of becoming the first player to score a hat-trick in the final of the European Under-21 Championship since the tournament adopted a single-game final format in 1994. Until 1976, the European Under-21 finals were always played over two legs.

Italy only had a brief moment of joy and hope when striker Ciro Immobile calmly defeated goalkeeper David De Gea to level the score at 1-1 in the 9th minute. This was the first goal conceded by the goalkeeper playing for MU in this tournament.

Thiago shines with hat-trick

Spain added a fourth through Isco from the penalty spot in the 66th minute, when he punished a mistake by goalkeeper Francesco Bardi.

Striker Fabio Borini pulled a second goal back for Italy in the 80th minute with a low shot from the edge of the box after a clever one-two with Lorenzo Insigne. However, it was too late for Italy, who could do nothing to change the outcome of the defeat.

Not only did Spain win the championship, they also won all the individual titles with the Golden Boot for top scorer Alvaro Morata (4 goals, 1 assist), the Silver Boot for Thiago (3 goals, 1 assist) and the Bronze Boot for Isco (3 goals).

LINEUP
U21Italy:Bardi; Donati, Bianchetti, Caldirola, Regini; Florenzi (Saponara 58), Rossi, Verratti (Crimi 76), Insigne; Immobile (Gabbiadini 58), Borini

Spain U21:De Gea; Montoya, Bartra, Inigo Martinez, Moreno; Koke (Camacho 86), Illarramendi, Thiago Alcantara; Tello (Muniain 70), Morata (Rodrigo 80), Isco

According to Bongdaplus - DT