Spain Champions of Euro' 08: The Armada Sails Again

The perennial underachievers Spain have done justice to the long acknowledged talent. Defeating Germany in an entertaining final 1-0 at Euro '08 at Vienna. Fernando Torres scored the only goal of the game in the first half. Spain deserved the cup as they had played good football through out the tournament.They were also undefeated through the tournament.

Going in to the final the Spanish were the team with the most important change David Villa was out with a muscle problem. The 69 year old Luis Arogones decided to go with a five man midfield with the lone striker formation. A brave man some would say considering it was D.Guiza the top scorer in La Liga who was being overlooked.

In the first few minutes Spain seemed to be suffering from a case of stage fright as they just seem to freeze and were playing with no intensity. The midfield having Iniesta, Xavi, Silva and Fabregas appeared to be a zombie unit. But just as the Germans were beginning to control the game, Spain snapped out of their slumber and awoke to life. Slowly and steadily their movement, passing and intensity was getting better and better.

As Spain began to get sharper the chances began to come. Forcing some spectacular saves from Lehman. Torres even hit the upright with a header, one just felt the goal for Spain was only a matter of time. And it was, Torres latched on to a ball from Iniesta, to sweetly dink it over a fast approaching Lehman to open the scoring. Torres who has had a quiet tournament by his high standards showed that form is temporary and class is permanent with that goal.

The second half went pretty much the way the first ended, Spain dictating the pace. The Germans brought on Jansen, Kurayni in search of the equaliser but to no avail. It just seemed the Spanish midfield had just run the Germans out of the game, something that does not happen very often. Marcos Senna had a chance put the game beyond doubt but missed the ball with the goal at his mercy. But Spain reached home comfortably to take there second European trophy.

Personally I felt that the scoreline flatters the Germans and the match was not as close as the score line suggests. The Germans Uncharacteristically lacked belief, imagination and intensity.
After a long time a team playing the beautiful game has won the tournament. Spain completely deserve to be crowned champs and it has been a long time coming.

Viva Espana!!!