Defending champions Spain secured an unprecedented third successive major trophy as they beat Italy 4-0 in the Euro 2012 final here Sunday.

It is the biggest winning margin in the history of the tournament – beating West Germany’s 3-0 win over the Soviet Union in 1972.

Spanish players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Euro 2012 football championships final match Spain vs Italy on July 1, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev. AFP PHOTO /

Goals from David Silva and Jordi Alba gave the world champions a comfortable advantage as they scored more than once for the first time in the tournament’s knockout stages.

Further goals came from substitutes Fernando Torres and Juan Mata – a minute after coming on – in the second-half against an Italy side that had to play the last 30 minutes down to 10 men as they used up all their substitutes.

The Spanish broke the deadlock in the 14th minute as Cesc Fabregas set up Silva, who headed home and all but put the game beyond the Italians in the 41st minute as Alba, outstanding all tournament, collected a superb ball by Xavi and slotted it home.

Thiago Motta’s injury in the 61st minute just after coming on as their third replacement left them with 10 men and Torres and Mata rounded off a facile victory.

Winners of the European Championships after Spain won the 2012 edition here on Sunday

1960: USSR

1964: Spain

1968: Italy

1972: West Germany

1976: Czechoslovakia

1980: West Germany

1984: France

1988: Netherlands

1992: Denmark

1996: Germany

2000: France

2004: Greece

2008: Spain

2012: Spain