A Final Moment Of Sportsmanship At Euro 2012, As Spanish Goalkeeper Asks Ref To Mercifully End Blowout

For a tournament that began with more than its fair share of racism and fan violence, Euro 2012 ended on a note more in line with the spirit of the game. Already down 2-0, Italy lost its last sub to injury, and conceded another pair of goals with just 10 men. In stoppage time, cameras caught Spanish goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas appealing to the referee to blow his whistle, and end Italy's pain.

The gesture was a moot one, as the 93rd minute has just elapsed anyway. But then, the real sportsmanship was on the part of the referee: with two goals and Thiago Motta being taken off on a stretcher, to only add three minutes of stoppage time was a generous understatement.