To the suggestion that they have turned into something more negative, Spain responded by making history with the highest winning margin in a European Championship final.
To the accusation that they have betrayed their philosophy, this sensational collection of footballers replied by producing the finest display of the three major championship finals they have contested in the past four years.
What were you thinking, Mr Wenger? What are you thinking now? What are you thinking after a performance so magnificent, so magical, the second-best team by some distance in this competition were left humbled and crushed?
The scoreline was not a fair reflection of what Italy brought to this contest, the loss of Thiago Motta to injury seven minutes after he came on as their third substitute leaving Cesare Prandelli with 10 men for the best part of half an hour. It was only then that they collapsed, conceding late goals to Fernando Torres and Juan Mata.
But before the interval even arrived David Silva and the super-quick Jordi Alba had struck in the best 45 minutes of entertainment we have been treated to at what has been a wonderful tournament.
In that period Italy were excellent, even if the sheer quality of Spain’s passing and movement meant Andrea Pirlo was unable to dominate in the way he had against England and Germany.
When half-time came, Italy had actually had a fraction more of the ball. But, for once, Pirlo found himself chasing opponents not passing around them.
When the pain and frustration subsides, Pirlo might well conclude that this is the best team he has encountered. Possibly the best group of international footballers the world has seen.
Heads I win: Silva scores the opening goal past Italy goalkeeper Buffon
Here in Kiev’s Olympic Stadium they became the first full international team to win three consecutive major tournaments and, when you consider how dominant they have been and how much success these players have had at club level, they make a strong case for being considered the greatest of the modern era.
Wenger, like a number of critics, did not like the absence of a striker in their starting line-up and last night Vicente del Bosque asked Cesc Fabregas to play as a ‘false No 9’ again.
Double your money: Iniesta's pass found Alba who stroked the ball home for Spain's second
But there are simple reasons for this: David Villa’s loss to injury and the loss of form that leaves the Spain manager thinking Torres is better coming off the bench.
Fabregas was terrific as it turns out, as were the two real architects of this victory: Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta. The two finest players ever to have come out of Spain, they produced three mind- blowingly good passes to create the opportunities for Silva, Alba and Torres, with a delivery every bit as brilliant coming from Sergio Busquets for the fourth.
Three and easy: Torres came off the bench to score in a Euro final for the second time
Before the game Gianluca Vialli had compared Prandelli to ‘Galileo’, calling him a ‘visionary’. He has proved himself an excellent manager, making Italy a more attacking side and making a game of this final. But last night even he would have conceded that the visionaries were wearing red.
They are so good in everything they do. Defensively as well as offensively. When Italy had the ball, red shirts would swarm around the man in possession. When Italy threatened, Iker Casillas, Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos were equal to whatever came their way.
Icing on the cake: Mata made it four with a couple of minutes left on the clock to complete the rout
Their statistics speak for themselves. It is now 990 minutes since they last conceded a goal in the knock-out stages of a major competition; the last was at the 2006 World Cup. Here in Eastern Europe Casillas has been beaten just once, in that opening game against Italy.
Such solidity and discipline enabled them to progress to this final when their football was not always at the level Del Bosque would have demanded.
Party time! Casillas lifts the trophy to spark the celebrations for the European champions
Party time! Casillas lifts the trophy to spark the celebrations for the European champions
Silva’s goal, scored in the 14th minute, was just brilliant though. The ball from Iniesta was exquisite, as was the delivery from Fabregas — it took great skill and pace to burst past Giorgio Chiellini — and the header from Silva; a marvellous aerial finish from the diminutive Manchester City winger.
Italy did react, with Casillas having to come to Spain’s rescue more than once. But Prandelli’s side were struggling to deal with the speed and fluency of the Spanish, the sight of Pirlo throwing himself into a challenge to deny Iniesta a shot telling its own story.
It's a dog's life! Balotelli's adoptive family were there to watch him in the stands with a banner
Spain’s second goal was another stunning exhibition of skill, vision and explosive running. A move that started with Casillas continued when Alba played into Xavi but it was the timing of the run, a run that took Alba beyond four blue shirts, and the timing of the pass from Xavi, not to mention the left-foot finish, that were just fantastic. So fantastic that the expression on Gianluigi Buffon’s face was one of pure amazement.
No impact: Balotelli was in devastating form in the semi-final but found the going hard against the Spaniards
Prandelli replaced Antonio Cassano with Antonio Di Natale at the start of the second half but Spain should have had a penalty when a header from Ramos was blocked by the hand of Leonardo Bonucci. If the Italians were fortunate then, the luck did not stay with them. Prandelli had already lost Chiellini to injury when Motta was stretchered off with what looked like a hamstring problem.
Game over: The closing ceremony heralded the final match of the tournament and marks four years until he next event in France
A comeback was always unlikely but that ended any hope Italy may have had and defeat turned to humiliation in the end. First came the ball from Xavi that allowed Torres to score his third goal of the tournament with a neat right-foot finish, then a similarly superb delivery from Busquets was controlled by Torres, who presented Mata with an easy goal for his first touch of Euro 2012.
Soak it up: Fans of both teams soaked up the atmosphere ahead of kick-off around the ground
Soak it up: Fans of both teams soaked up the atmosphere ahead of kick-off around the ground
Mario Balotelli? He ran himself into the ground like every other Italian. The only difference was he threw a tantrum at the end, barging past an Italian official to storm down the tunnel. It wasn’t a big deal but he should have joined his colleagues in congratulating the best team he has had the privilege to play against.
Fans for coming: The supporters of both teams brought real colour to the proceedings
