"Spain hopes that they can cope without Villa"

Spain hopes to be able to cope with the absence of leading striker David Villa on Sunday for the Euro 2008 final against Germany in Vienna.

The 26-year-old who is the top scorer in the tournament with four goals, was forced out late in the first half of Thursday's 3-0 semi-final victory over Russia with a thigh muscle injury. You will almost certainly miss the finals.

The team doctor told the official press in Spain on Friday that tests carried out at a hospital in Vienna showed the striker had suffered a minor injury to the muscle.

The players remained upbeat about the chances of winning side of the first trophy in 44 years despite Villa likely absence.

"It's going to be difficult for him to be fit for the finals', midfielder Xabi Alonso told reporters after a training session recovery in Vienna.

'Having a strain on his hamstring and probably will not be available. Whoever is playing I think we have different options ... and have enough courage to have a good system and will not be a problem for us. "

Fellow midfielder Santi Cazorla according to Alonso.

'You can cope with anything and we have great players in every position and whoever plays will do their job well and hope that does not affect us,' she said.

"We must keep faith with the same philosophy of football that we have shown so far. We hope to maintain the level to the end as champions'.

Alonso said that one of the most important factors in the success of Spain was a strong team spirit, because the bid to repeat their success of the 1964 European championship - its only major trophy.

'Of course we do not know how it worked 44 years ago, "he told journalists.

'But having been here a month with the boys share a lot of time, the group has been fantastic and we have a great atmosphere in the dressing room and that is one of the keys to success at this time. "