Today's Other Hugely Important Contest

Notwithstanding a fantastic performance on Thursday and a Balotelli whose confidence is at an all time high, I still like Spain over Italy. They'll be able to neutralize Pirlo more than any other team has, they are more rested, and they won't go 210 minutes without finding the back of the net. They're the better team, even without Villa and Puyol, even with the floundering Niño, the forgotten Llorente, and the overlooked Soldado. Two-nil, Iker keeps his clean sheet streak. Goals from Iniesta and Pedro, whom I would start (dropping Silva).