"Spain triumph"

Spain claimed his first major title for 44 years after winning Euro 2008 with a 1-0 victory over Germany.

Fernando Torres scored the only goal of the game when chipped over Jens Lehmann but the 1-0 scoreline hardly reflect the true nature of a contest in which Spain were in complete control throughout.

Germany simply had no answer to the oppression exercised in the center of the field by the likes of Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Silva and Senna, who combined to provide a measure of finesse and agility that neither side in the tournament could match . With the defensive security underpinned by reliable Casillas and a potent front line composed of Torres and Villa, Luis Aragno coach has done what many of his predecessors had failed to achieve: namely, a mixture of a group of prominent individuals into a formidable team . Now steps down, mission accomplished.

Spain started the game patient in his possession but it was Germany who led the initial threat, particularly by the left flank, where Lukas Podolski and Philip Lahm is combined well and it causes problems for Sergio Ramos.

The game's first chance fell to Klose who pounce on a step wandering Sergio Ramos but overran the ball under pressure from Carlos Puyol. Ballack, who had been a fitness doubt right until kick-off, broke left and cut inside Puyol before delivering a dangerous cross into the penalty area.

Although not rattled, Spain took time to get their intricate passing game going, but when they finally found their rhythm, almost opened the scoring. In 14 minutes, Iniesta sailed in a wonderful pass from Xavi and crossed into the box where the reverse Per Mertesacker forced goalkeeper Jens Lehmann into a sharp reaction save. It was the closest it had reached a goal and highlighted the growing threat of Spaniards.

Another proof of the growing dominance Spanish came midway through the half when Sergio Ramos' cross was met by a firm downward header from Fernando Torres in the post.

As the half wore on, Germany were looking increasingly vulnerable and that there was a big surprise when Spain finally achieved the breakthrough. Xavi was the architect of the goal, but the pace and strength Torres that ultimately undid Germany. Collecting a pass measured the Barcelona midfielder, Torres flick the ball beyond Lahm Dinka and a delicate chip over Lehmann into the far corner of the net.

Ballack, who was running repair a cut eye, saw his frustration get the better of him when he squared up Puyol and received a reserve for its problems. With his most influential player struggling to have any impact, rudder and Germany are looking devoid of ideas.

Joachim Low responded to the growing crisis of replacing Philip Lahm with Marcell Jansen. This is a like for like replacement and it is difficult to see how the introduction of another defender could change the shape of the game.

However, Germany are nothing if not tenacious and a brief spell after the interval finally began to take the game to their opponents. Schweinsteiger, who had been anonymous in the first half, began to make some races that threaten the right flank, although his delivery remains patchy. Their best chance fell to Ballack to volley just wide after Puyol had given the ball away near his own corner flag.

Spain were lucky to still have eleven men on the pitch when David Villa headbutted Lukas Podolski. The incident was not spotted by the referee, much to the dismay of the German side. Soon after Aragones wisely removed Silva.

Aragones responded to the growing threat of taking off Cesc Fabregas and lead to more defensive-minded Xabi Alonso. If the switch is intended to regulate the ship worked, but more importantly also the improvement of Spain as a joint attack. A barrage of opportunities fell their way in a frantic spell midway through the half, with Sergio Ramos and Iniesta with what a fine save from Lehmann.

As Germany pressed forward in search of a tie, became more vulnerable to rapid counter-attack of the Spaniards. In fact, if a second objective is reaching Spain seemed much more likely to score, earrings and Marcos Senna was only inches away from sealing victory after another sweeping move from Aragones'.

The game ended with Germany struggling to clear the ball outside their own half. They spent a force that seems unable to muster the necessary self-belief to challenge the authority of Spain. It has been this way for much of the game as men in red finally banished his international reputation as the football great underachievers.

However, for some derives from finishing the victors the margin would have been much higher. Sometimes, Spain were playing with their opponents, and only a propensity to develop along the front of goal denied the most emphatic victory of his overall superiority deserved.


Germany 0-1 Spain
Top Scorers: Fernando Torres 33

Half: 0-1

Attendance: 51,428

Teams:
Germany: 1-Jens Lehmann, 3-Arne Friedrich, 17-Per Mertesacker, 21-Christoph Metzelder, 16-Philipp Lahm (2-Marcell Jansen 46), 7-Bastian Schweinsteiger, 8-Torsten Frings, 13-Michael Ballack, 15 -- Thomas Hitzlsperger (22-Kevin Kuranyi 58), 20-Lukas Podolski, 11-Miroslav Klose (9-Mario Gomez 79)

Spain: 1-Iker Casillas, 15-Sergio Ramos, 5-Carles Puyol, 4-Carlos Marchena, Joan Capdevila 11-, 19-Marcos Senna, 6-Andres Iniesta, 8-Xavi, 10-Cesc Fabregas (14-Xabi Alonso 63), 21-David Silva (12 Santi Cazorla 66), 9-Fernando Torres (17-Daniel Giza 78)

Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Italy)

"Euro 2008 final preview - Germany v Spain"

After a captivating tournament which has been elevated to the quality and refreshing and low in the dispute, tonight sees the culmination of a glorious Euro 2008 with a final assembly in Vienna between two of soccer's most powerful nations.


Despite the undoubted individual excitements offered by the previous group and knockout stages, nothing can match the anticipation aroused by this encounter weather. For both teams and their players and what a privilege it offers a rare opportunity to write themselves in the folklore of their respective nations and in the annals of football history.

On paper the tie offers an intriguing clash of styles, ideologies and stereotypes: the pace, talent, enthusiasm and passion of the Spaniards against the sand, efficiency, determination and traditional cruelty of the Germans. We have a young team Spanish, desperate to redress a generations-old national discrepancy in the balance between the undoubted ability and winning titles, which have hardly been sufficient. And we have a German side, eager to demonstrate its capability to continue its tradition of sporting nation of triumph when we have the majority against a more fashionable, dashing and critically acclaimed opponent - an event that has already happened several Sometimes too often in the eyes of the romantic neutral.

There is, however, a shadow hangs over the preparations due to the possible absence through injury of two of the tournaments biggest stars. Spain David Villa forward, top scorer of the finals so far, is struggling with the thigh injury he picked up last week in 3-0 semi-final victory over Russia, while Germany captain Michael Ballack is also a doubt with a calf strain. Of the two is that Villa is worth the most doubtful to play, but Ballack injury could also rule him yet. It would be a bitter disappointment if the end was stolen from these two brilliant players,

Strike devastating
The impression is that the absence of Ballack would be the most devastating blow to his team the chance of success, despite the objectives of the Villa. The Chelsea midfielder has been crucial to his side both on and off the pitch this summer, the brilliant performance in the quarter-final victory against Portugal and providing real leadership in the aftermath of the group stage of shock defeat of Croatia. In a team containing a mixture of young and promising solid experience is the established world-class player at the peak of his career. The coach Joachim Low must be praying that the positive noises coming out of the German chamber of treatment are well founded.

Germany were the pre-tournament favourites and the selection of many knowledgeable pundits before the final, but have been a model of inconsistency so far. Three good results against Poland, Austria and Portugal have been tempered by sad showing in their other two games. They paid the price for not turning in the intermediate group match against Croatia in the form of a well-deserved defeat, while in the semi-final against Turkey were a few very fortunate to win.

Much will depend, therefore, that Germany will become Vienna tonight. Those with decent memories will allude to the fact that this German team, like those of past generations, seem to thrive when underdogs, which undoubtedly are tonight, despite its own skinny pre-tournament odds.

After his fallibility was exposed in the group stages, no one expected the defeat to Portugal in the quarter-finals, but they did, and convincingly. Germany, and his predecessor as West Germany, have a history of upsetting the form book in big tournaments - look no further than the end of 1954 and 1974 World Cup tests. Both parties face the teams considered by the masses to be the legitimate winners, the proponents of football at its most dazzling style and form - and in both matches, against all odds, Germany emerged with the spoils. Tonight they face a similar dilemma in the form of a side that Spain had all of us to reach the superlatives after a scintillating second half performance against Russia last week in the semi-final.

Caution and Paranioa
However, if the history book offers comfort to Germany for the Spanish fans are offered only prudence and paranoia. While the Germans are looking to expand its relevance to the Spanish will rip it is composed.

It has been well documented that the Spanish football has produced 25 winners of European club soccer competition first, yet has produced one national team, some 44 years ago, capable of winning a major trophy. Among Spain have been at one another grand finale, which lost to hosts France to 84 euros. To illustrate the historical difference between the two sides, this will be the thirteenth and final principal Germany, if victorious, his seventh title.

However, if the outbreak is left to only tonight, to a single football game on paper, then is German fans surely will be the wiser. This morning the major newspapers in Europe are full of comparisons between the two formations, with almost all of them give Spain a significant advantage in all positions. It's easy to see why.

In goal, Iker Casillas of Spain has been one of the stars of the tournament shifts, while his counterpart, Jens Lehmann, has looked beyond his best in 38 years of age.

Spain is defending combination of athletics, in the form of Sergio Ramos, strength and determination in the form of centre halves Puyol and Marchena, and unfussy, the position of collateral in the form of the left side, Joan Capdevila. On the side, possibly, the Germans are a group match for Spain, but the German association of central defender Mertesacker and Metzelder notoriously lacking pace and mobility. Their job tonight could be made easier by the absence of Villa Quicksilver, but the pace and power of Fernando Torres is likely to cause them a lot of problems. It is unlikely to be intimidated by the German pair, who compensate for their lack of pace with the size and strength.

Both teams are likely to start with a top forward, Torres with Spain and Germany with Miroslav Klose. Both players are first class, with Torres comes from a superb debut season in the English Premier League and a scorer Klose tested in more than one of the major tournaments in the past. Torres is undoubtedly the most industrious and versatile of the two, and he will throw in positions of great regularity to offer a way out and give space for Spain interchangeable attacking midfielders to exploit. With Lukas Podolski and Bastian Schweinsteiger to the Germans that offer greater width midfield enjoying Spain, Klose will play their normal game inhalation opportunities in and around the penalty area.

It is at the center of the field that Spain has won the majority of people's hearts, with the duo Barcelona Xavi and Iniesta effort complemented by Valencia David Villa. All three are gifted technically, blessed with great vision and offer a threat Goalscoring, and all are also more hard work that they are given credit. Behind them sits Villarreal's Marcos Senna, a contender for the unsung but most effective player throughout the competition, the insurance policy that allows the three most advanced midfielders to express opposition half.

In the likely absence of Villa, Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas is likely to resume its role as a second striker behind Torres filled with such devastating effect in the second half of the semi-final. Despite starting only two games in his name is most people list as the star of the tournament so far, a turnover that could very well continue to cement a berth tonight from one of the biggest stages of all.

Therefore, much depends on the ability Ballack and his presence, or not, in the German midfield. Torsten Frings is a great companion to the captain and he will have to be at his best in the holding role to nullify the threat of Fabregas. The other midfielders faces the biggest game of his career so far. Podolski, a converted striker, has been effective but inconsistent in the left wing, with the same analysis applies to Schweinsteiger and Thomas Hitzlsperger. Of the three of them can be Schweinsteiger assume that most of the responsibility if Ballack has not made the starting signal. Only time will tell if his young shoulders are broad enough to carry him and the rest of his team.

"No one remembers the finalists"
"I've told my players that no one remembers the finalists," Spain coach Luis Aragones told media on Friday.

Aragones, who will be 70 next month, was celebrating the move to Madrid athletics as a striker in the summer of 1964 when Spain won the past a major title. He is better equipped than most for putting into context of Spain shortage of success, and you're eligible if a man who has witnessed all the ups and downs in the Spanish football since his last title leads them to glory tonight.

"We face a Germany side who are very good and we can cause problems. They do not play a game as fluid but we are very good in the counterattack. We must also ensure them a set of pieces, but we will be ready. We will give our people something to celebrate after all this time in the desert. "

Germany coach Joachim Low is realistic about the threat posed by the Spanish midfielders, and acknowledges that his team are underdogs - something he can disconcert cree Spain. He emerged half-Jürgen Klinsmann's predecessor in the shadow of taking his team to the finals, and hope to leave behind him lifting the trophy permanently.

"Spain has been the best and most consistent in this team," said on Saturday.

"They seem to have no weaknesses and most of its players are accustomed to playing in the Champions League under pressure. We have not been at a high level permanently, but have shown signs of our class. Now we are in the final pressure is shut down. Spain is expected to win and we can enjoy more of them - this could work in our favor. "

"Criticism inspired Spain - Aragones"

Luis Aragones said that Spain had been inspired by their desire to confound the critics at Euro 2008.


The Spaniards easily beat Russia 3-0 on Thursday to reach her first Sunday in the finals, where they will face Germany.

Coach Aragones said: "Criticism has taught me a lot, except when I was insulted. I have been stimulated and encouraged me to do things better.

"When we arrived at the tournament we realized we had a good team and we can go far.

"We've had some difficult moments but we have always believed in ourselves. We have a great team.''

Spain outplayed Russia in the second half in Vienna, although Aragones is aware that Germany is a challenge harder.

"We are not doing very well in the first half against Russia, but in the second half we were able to play with more freedom and rediscover our game," he said.

"We are at the end and the opponent is Germany. It's a hell of a task."

With striker David Villa set to miss the finals due to a thigh injury, Cesc Fabregas is expected to start the game.

"With another midfielder Cesc we have had and it is difficult to control," said Aragones.

"I know how well they can perform, is a great player, like others in our squad.

"Cesc is 21, he and other players have gained experience you might have a player older.

Midfielder Fabregas added: "There are always doubts. Nobody expected that we would be where we are now."

"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. "

"Russia 0-3 Spain"

Spain produced a wonderful second half display to defeat Russia 3-0 and earn a place in the finals of Euro 2008.

After a first half goals, Spain attacked across Xavi, Danny Giza and David Silva to overwhelm a Russian side that struggled to compete with the fluid movement and slick passing of Luis Aragones'.

The margin of victory was the same as Spain had succeeded in their opening group match win over Russia, but in many ways was a more impressive performance against a team that has evolved into genuine contenders in the course Tournament.

The result means that arrived in Spain have reached the end of a big tournament for the first time since 1984, and tonight shows that the fantasy that their chances of ending their 48 year drought of trophies.

Spain, which show no harmful effects of the exhausting 120 minutes of football that endured against Italy in the quarterfinals, were the first to settle. Russia, for its part, perhaps wary of suffering a recurrence of that drubbing, were considerably less adventurous than it had been in his victory over Holland.

It took only six minutes to Aragones's side to create their first decent opening when David Villa Torres found at the edge of the six-yard box, but the Liverpool striker could not get any power into his shot and Igor Akinfeev cleared with his feet.

Villa Akinfeev to test himself when cutting infield from the left before leaving to fly with a shot that goalkeeper Russian Palmer away from a corner.

Arshavin, of whom much was expected after his impressive displays in the last two games, are struggling to impose himself in the game and will convey to his fellow Roman Pavlyuchenko posed a greater threat in the first half. The striker was set up by Yuri Zhirkov, but his curling left foot shot sailed just wide of the post.

Spain suffered a blow on 34 minutes when David Villa was forced to leave the field through injury. The leading scorer in the competition seemed to jar his leg after a long range free-kick. Cesc Fabregas was brought in place of Villa, but its introduction was a need for a change of formation, with Spain and the adoption of a 4-5-1 set-up.

As half-time had come little to choose between two evenly matched sides. Spain had shadow that sometimes, but Russia is playing its part in a tactical encounter intriguing. The opportunities were at a premium, but there was much to admire and none of infertility that has hit Spain in the quarter-finals with Italy stagnation.

Five minutes after the break Spain were ahead. It is a goal created and completed in Barcelona with Iniesta cut infield before crossing for Xavi to volley past Akinfeev from close range.

The goal boosted by the Spanish and within two minutes that could have doubled their advantage when Torres was Xavi received a cross only to shoot. The striker squandered more chances to extend Spain to the head and was eventually replaced by Danny Giza.

Guus Hiddink rang the changes in Russia by introducing Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and Dmitri Sychev, but with anonymity throughout Arshavin, substitutes are unable to make any impact on proceedings. Perhaps distracted by the praise from his luxurious way in recent days, Zenit St Petersburg playmaker was removed from the game tonight, and without him, Russia simply does not work after the break.

It was the substitute Giza that Russia finally ended the hopes of a return when they picked up a beautiful weighted chip Fabregas and finished coolly past the promotion of Akinfeev.

Fabregas, a growing influence on the game, was very active in Spain's third goal when he sailed to the left touchline and set up David Silva, who took a touch before calmly stroking the ball past Akinfeev.

Thus, Spain, the perennial underachievers have finally come good. They face a battle scars from Germany at the end of Sunday, but it produces enough in these results indicating that the game will start as favourites.


Spain 0-3 Russia

Annotation: Xavi 50, Daniel Giza 73, David Silva 82

Half: 0-0

Teams:
Russia: 1-Igor Akinfeyev, 22-Alexander Anyukov, 2-Vasily Berezutsky, Sergei Ignashevich 4, 18 Yuri Zhirkov, 17-Konstantin Zyryanov, 11-Sergei Semak, 20-Igor Semshov (15 Diniyar Bilyaletdinov 56), 9 - Ivan Saenko (21-Dmitry Sychev 57), 10-Andrei Arshavin, 19-Roman Pavlyuchenko.

Spain: 1-Iker Casillas, 15-Sergio Ramos, 5-Carles Puyol, 4-Carlos Marchena, Joan Capdevila 11-, 19-Marcos Senna, 6-Andres Iniesta, 8-Xavi (14-Xabi Alonso 69), 21 -- -- David Silva, 7-David Villa (10-Cesc Fabregas 35), 9-Fernando Torres (17-Daniel Giza 69)

Referee: Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium)