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Euro Wrap: Spain 1-0 Germany

   


Photo credit: FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images

It’s really happened. Spain are Euro 2008 champions with a well earned 1-0 win over Germany.

Review of the game and video of Fernando Torres’ winning goal below…

FINAL June 29th, 2045 CET, Vienna (Austria)
Germany

0
VS Spain

1
  Torres 32′


Only 1-0 in the end, but probably the most convincing 1-0 win I’ve seen in a long time. Spain were just… better.

Pre-match thoughts that Frings and Ballack would physically dominate the diddy-men of Spain’s midfield proved false. Cesc Fabregas maybe didn’t do much, but Xavi pulled several strings while Marcos Senna did the much needed enforcement. After Senna’s performance, one 11th of this trophy should go to Brazil.

Rough day for Micheal Ballack. He started even though his fitness was questionable, and had a decent game. But didn’t put in the expected domineering performance. Ballack’s record in big finals is now: runner up in the 2002 and 2008 Champions League finals, suspended for the 2002 World Cup final despite dragging an average German team there with his bare hands feet and no runner-up in the Euro 2008 final.

In truth, Germany haven’t been particularly impressive at Euro 2008. They dismantled Portugal but lost to Croatia, got lucky against Turkey and were average against Poland and Austria.

Spain on the other hand have been electric. Lots of possession and short passes, lots of inventiveness and incisive through balls, a solid enough defence (looking at you Carles Puyol and Iker Casillas) and a constant attacking threat.

The goal that made the difference today came from Fernando Torres. He out-muscled and out-hustled Phillip Lahm for a through ball and chipped it over Mad Jens who had made a mad dash to come out and meet him. Anyone who still says Torres isn’t a natural goalscorer should be quiet now.

Tough as it is to praise a grumpy old racist like Luis Aragones, the Spain coach made all the right moves today. With David Villa injured he picked a five man midfield and didn’t give Germany enough room. I thought starting Torres up front on his own was a mistake, but clearly I was wrong.

So, after 44 years of disappointment, Spain are European champions. All the old adages about Spain “falling apart” and “struggling when it matters” and all that stuff can be thrown in the bin. Spain are European Champions for the next four years, and a very serious force in world football for the foreseeable future.


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Comments
By Martin | June 29th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Top

The End.

Posted from United States United States

By Chris | June 29th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Top

Who won the bracket?

Posted from United States United States

By Marco Pantanella | June 29th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Top

Olé.

By Daryl | June 29th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Top

Chris,

We don’t know yet, but Ian will announce final standings soon.

Posted from United Kingdom United Kingdom

By Beethoven | June 29th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Top

From Germany:

The better team won. Congratulations!

For a sad “second best” team there lies some solace in the fact that they were beaten by not only the better team in the final, but by the best team of the tournament. (A difference to the WC final 2006.)

Welcome Spain in the club of the very best.

By Julien | June 29th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Top

It’s been a superb tournament from the beginning. Congrads to Spain for showing that attacking beautiful creative play can win championships as well. Most entertaining tournament since 2000…

By CSD | June 29th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Top

What I love the most is that they didn’t lose a single game and beat teams that really mattered, twice in some cases.

Posted from United States United States

By Dom | June 29th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Top

Roberto Rosetti
He is fired!!!
Spain was great but they won becuase of the southern euro $$$$$$.
Robert is Mafia!!

By James | June 29th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Top

Hey guys.. is it ok if I took the credit for the win? This time?

I never get the glory! :(

By Kevin | June 29th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Top

Can someone explain to me why did they take out Lahm….I mean damn, he is the fastest player on the German Squad…and we clearly saw how the Spanish clubs speed and quickness overwhelmed the BIG Germans…What was the coach thinking?

Posted from United States United States

By Jan | June 29th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Top

The coach thought Lahm was injured and he was.

By Hana | June 29th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Top

What a wonderful blast this was, honestly. Euro 2008 was such an awesome experience. Viva La Furia Roja, 2008 Euro Champs! Complete euphoria today.

By Diane | June 29th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Top

Beethoven, that may be the classiest comment I’ve seen on the offside (not that they’re encouraged ;-) but still…). Gracias.

By diana | June 30th, 2008 at 6:49 am
Top

Hana, congrats to your Spain. They deserve to be the Euro 2008 champions. 44 years of hurt…it has finally ended for you guys.

Posted from Singapore Singapore

By bob | July 3rd, 2008 at 3:55 am
Top

heya gr8 game m8’s

By bob | July 3rd, 2008 at 3:56 am
Top

i love fottie it the best game in the fucking world go football yeah yeah

By Millie | July 6th, 2008 at 2:02 am
Top

After having lived in Spain for 12 years, I can only say I wish I was there for this victory.

The Spanish people really, really deserve this win. ViVa Espana!

Posted from United States United States

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