Ghosts were laid to rest in Vienna last night. The ghosts of men in red
shirts, with the pain of failure in their eyes, who have come to
competitions such as this in expectation for many years and left reduced and
ridiculed.
The waiting is over. Spain are the champions of Europe, 44 years after their
previous victory, on home soil, in a fledgeling competition, played only as
a knockout. This was different. This was a big one. The modern European
Championship is arguably the most difficult prize to secure, so great is the
concentration of talent, and as a vivid crimson knot of players bounced up
and down in front of supporters who had known only disappointment on their
travels around Europe, it was as if four decades of suffering were being
released high into the night sky above the Ernst Happel Stadion.
The best team won the match and the tournament. Spain outplayed Germany in the
final, despite the slender nature of the scoreline, and although there were
a number of strong teams here and a great many fine players, no group passed
it quite like the champions. Now the psychological barrier has been broken,
a world of possibilities opens up. We waited for the choke, but it never
came and having at last found the winning mentality at a tournament, Spain’s
sublime technique will make them the team to beat in South Africa in 2010.
The collective marshalled astutely by Luis Aragonés, the veteran coach, rose
above considerable obstacles in this, their biggest test. Not only an injury
to David Villa, the competition’s top scorer, but the spectre of their
opponents, Germany, the team who always win on occasions such as this,
according to folklore. Yet, from the moment Fernando Torres scored in the
33rd minute, the result was barely in doubt. Despite an excellent
performance by Michael Ballack, who shed blood for Germany’s cause after a
collision with Marcos Senna and always seemed to be at the centre of the
action, whether in his team’s penalty area or that of Spain, the midfield
constructed by Aragonés held sway.
Xavi Hernández, in particular, was in exquisite form, making a mockery of
those who would have ditched him for Cesc Fàbregas. Indeed, Aragonés’s faith
in the quartet of Andrés Iniesta, Senna, Xavi and David Silva has been
thoroughly vindicated, just as his inclusion of Fàbregas for the injured
Villa was a wise one. Spain ran the game, not with giants and enforcers, as
is the modern trend, but with compact, nimble, intelligent thinkers. Is
there a lesson in this for the rest of football? We can only hope so.
The names of goalscorers live longest in the memory, yet while Torres was the
hero on the night, Spain’s was a shared victory, with champions all over the
field. Remember when a young Iker Casillas was mocked by television sages
such as Ron Atkinson when in goal for Real Madrid on Champions League
nights? He has been the goalkeeper of the tournament these past weeks and,
as captain, got to lift the trophy, too.
All of Spain’s defenders have been impeccable, in fact, as clean sheets in
every match since the group phase ended indicate. Yet it is the midfield,
perceptively identified by Fabio Capello, the England manager, as the best
in Europe, that has been key to it all. And the fact that when Villa was
cruelly denied his appearance in the final game by injury, Torres, his
fellow forward, rose to the occasion and defined it with a goal.
A pass from Xavi set it up - superbly weighted, devilishly incisive - but
Torres did the rest, helped by some catastrophically inattentive and rash
Germany defending from which Joachim Löw’s team never recovered. Philipp
Lahm, the left back, was the sleepy one when, running across to cover, he
looked to be shepherding the ball to safety, only to be caught out by
Torres’s determination at the crucial moment. Jens Lehmann, the goalkeeper,
was unsurprisingly the hot-head, charging from goal to turn a drama into a
crisis and going down at Torres’s feet, which succeeded only in making the
striker’s mind up, as he chipped the ball gently over his grounded figure
into the unguarded net.
Earlier, Torres, the Liverpool striker, had hit a post from a cross by Sergio
Ramos and at moments such as that there is always the suspicion that another
Germany victory of the spirit is about to take place. How many times have
Germany players won at a tournament when it should not have been their year?
This is not to decry their achievement, but how many great games have they
even played here? The win over Portugal at the quarter-final stage,
definitely, but beyond that? Yet this was their sixth European Championship
final and they were defeated by a single goal; one can only admire them for
it.
Perhaps what changed was that Spain unearthed an almost Teutonic mental
resolve. They were not disheartened by missed opportunities – and
an unmarked volley at the far post from Silva was a particularly savage
howler – and continued to press back the Germans, taking full
advantage of their lack of pace defensively with a series of witty,
intricate passing moves.
Aragonés, contrarian that he is, continued to make substitutions in the second
half that were a challenge to popular opinion. Off went Fàbregas, then
Torres, yet as he has done throughout this tournament, Aragonés kept Spain’s
tempo high with the injection of fresh blood and his team were as much a
threat late in the game - when Santiago Cazorla and Daniel Güiza, the
substitutes, combined to leave Senna an inch from converting the second - as
they were at the start. Ramos had a diving header saved by Lehmann and
Torsten Frings cleared a shot by Iniesta off the line. Germany, by contrast,
created little of note and managed three shots, one on target, all game.
Ballack was the best of it, just wide in the 59th minute.
Ultimately, the champions lived up to the ethos of a tournament that has been
open, attack-minded and highly skilled. Spain took flight from the start by
beating Russia 4-1 and were soaring at the moment of the last kick,
destiny’s end. Nothing could hold them back, not even their fear of the
ghosts.
Spain: Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Carles Puyol, Carlos Marchena, Joan
Capdevila, Xavi Hernandez, David Silva, Marcos Senna, Andres Iniesta, Cesc
Fabregas, Fernando Torres.
Germany: Jens Lehmann, Christoph Metzelder, Per Mertesacker, Philipp
Lahm, Arne Friedrich, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Hitzlsperger, Torsten
Frings, Michael Ballack, Lukas Podolski, Miroslav Klose.
Just to let you know that not everybody in Barcelona enjoyed the victory of Spain. My national team is Catalunya but unfortunately we are not allowed to compete yet. Hopefully that day will come soon. Meanwhile, England is my team, so come on Capello, we have to challenge Spain in the world cup.
Aleix, Barcelona, Catalunya
This is the world's most difficult tournament outside the World Cup. Thank u very much, Spain. U´ve been by far the best team not only in the tournament but in our hearts. Wonderful European competition. Viena was the place to be. Thanks a lot Spain. Viva España.
Joan C., Barcelona, Spain
Thank you guys from all over the world for your congratulations. It's been a superb Championship, in more than one sense. I think we Europeans have showed the world what peace and civilization can achieve. All players and supporters behaved as gentlemen almost without exception. Viva Europa!
Sergio, Madrid, Spain
Just to let you know that not everybody in Barcelona enjoyed the victory. Catalunya is at heart our national team but unfortunetely we are not allowed to compete yet. Hopefully, that will change some day. Meanwhile, England is my team, so come on Capello, we have to challenge Spain in world cup.
Aleix, Barcelona, Catalunya
A fantastic culmination to a fantastic tournament! I was rooting for Spain, partly because we Brits SO empathise with their 44 years of not winning, but also because they played beautifully.
So pleased for Spain and grateful for the spectacle they gave us all. Only hope England learn from them!
Dorje, Copenhagen, Denmark
We (spaniards) was hungry a long time and finally we had caviar and seafood last tournament. This is fantastic.
Thank you very much for congratulations friends.
Sergio, Almeria, Spain
we (spaniards) was hungry a long time, and finally we had seafood and caviar the last tournament. This is fantastic.
Thank you very much for congratulations friends.
Sergio, Almeria, Spain
From an spaniard who supports Real madrid and FC Liverpool: Thanks to all the people who allways support the smart football over the strenghtened football. not only as spaniard but as football lover, thanks to give us the ilussion to recover the real beauty of this great sport. Up RM & LFC forever
Pepe, Murcia, Spain
You know what the best bit was? England weren't there! No yobs to cheer on, no sullen faces to root for, no underwear models to hope to score. And best of all, no fans with the worst reputation in the world. Just pure football that we could all enjoy.
JD, London, England
we are not proud only NOW that the country has won - we were proud ALWAYS - win or lose. only difference NOW is that the world has seen that german arrogance and stiffness leads nowhere.
elektronene, barcelona, spain
To all the "lovers" of German football:
Germany made it to 6 of the last 10 World Cup finals, just like to 6 of the last 10 EURO finals, i.e. the German team reached exactly 60% of all major cup finals in the last 40 years.
England has made it to one final in100 years.
Any questions?
Chris , Bonn, Germany
Spain really deserved it. What football!!!
David, Merida,
it's not only that at last we got it.It's much more than it.we've made in style, showing the whole continent that smart football can beat german pure strenght.tonight, I swear,I'm proud of being born in spain more than ever.
VIVA ESPAÑA!
herméticocharlie, Alcorcón, Spain
Campeonessssss! I've been waiting all my life for this! As a Real Madrid supporter only the 7th Chmapions League can compare, but a feeling! We have won it 44 years later in style! Spain is ready to dominate internationalfootball for the next few years. Bring on the 2010 World Cup!!!!!
Carlos, London,
Great stuff Spain. I was rooting for Spain and finally they have shaken off the hoodoo and won a deserving victory. They were the most pleasing team to watch and it was as much a victory for football as it was for Spain.
aman, Toronto,
Spain was the best, Germany can´t stop us, Torres: the man.
VIVA ESPAÑA (& UK)
P.D. Euro2008 missed England
LaCobra, Santander, España
the best team of the tournament won
congratulations
we'll meet again 2010 in the final
johannes, canterbury, UK
The best team actually won for once. That is a nice change. Spain were clearly the best all over team. They deserve this win.
Viva Espana!
David, Norfolk,
for a change, the best team won. good journalism.
timothy sichela, Solwezi, zambia
The Germany soccer team was as boring as the the German culture. The game was not exciting and the luckyly Germans did not score last minute. Germans accepted the loss after Torrese's goal. I wished Euro final was between Turkey and Spain. Plz Germany and England stay away from the 2010 cup .
Marcello Ferrari, Newport Beach, usa
I absolutely agree with the article.An accurate assesment of what happened in the match.And I would like to add, that Spain, scores first, kepp on playing to score more goals.Few teams play in this way , without specualating with the result.Spain payed tribute to football game.
carlos, madrid, spain
We won!! And it is for real... Long at last we won an important Championship with the first team and playing a very nice football. Now we know how to do it we are not going to stop with sportsmen such as Rafa Nadal, Fernando Alonso, Alberto Contador, Pau Gasol...it will be very easy... Spain rules!
David, Madrid, Spain
That was a wonderful game! If anyone ever asks what the meaning of the term 'Total Football' is, point them in the direction of Spain in the 2008 final.
Congratulations Spain!
Simon, Lancaster, UK
Winning is sweet, but conquering the cup playing this way is a river of honey.
England, take the lesson and hire someone whose football philosophy is worth the ticket price.To lose playing well is less painful, but playing bad makes you think you have lost your money and your time.
¡Que viva España!
Canario, Las Palmas de GC, Spain
It's funny how things can change really quick. The eternal underachievers are now second in Euros records with two titles and one final lost. Germany is by far the best nation and France has won it twice but they haven't been in another final.
Did anyone notice that before? Funny eh?
pedro, aviles, spain
¡Viva España! The best team won! Congratulations to Spain - it's long overdue!
Tom, Brooklyn, USA
A team that plays the beautiful game beat the competition with passion, flair and skill. Now if that could only happen in the music industry!
John Young, Aylesbury, England
Oh, Spain, how great you are! You make the whole globe to have faith again in football. Brilliant and vivid football as never we've seen in the continent.
Philippe, Paris, France
Alonso, Nadal, Gasol... and then this team. We are proud of what you did yesterday, kids, eleven stars showing the world what sense of team and fair play are. Congratulations, you said Europe how Spanish people are nowadays!!!
Paca, Sevilla, Spain
Well done, Spain! An impressive und derserved win. Over here most people are quite content with a mediocre German team having made it to the final. And the lads put up a good fight, did they not?
Henne, Kiel, Germany
Amasing to hear the comments from all over the world. Really enjoyable football played by this team. Hopefully it will open the eyes to the spanish football operators to promote the local football schools stronger so we prepare our future promises even better.
Pepespain, Valencia,
From Spain,
Thank you all for your comments on the Spanish side. It's a victory for football!!
Angel, granada, spain
I hope that our champions give the English teams in those who play great moments of glory. They play furiously, with art, but especially with intelligence.
Javier, Cordoba, Spain
EH - VIVA ESPAÑA
the best team won, not just in the final, but throughout the tournament.
Spain - lets hope that this is the awakening of the european giant..................
Jose Reis, Cascais, Portugal
Congratulations to Spain!
They really deserve the title and it is good for football when the best team wins a tounament.
I pretended to support Germany but actually I prayed for Spain.
Juergen T., Stuttgart, Germany
congratulation to spain! they were the ones who deserved it most throughout the tournament! fantastic!!!
Josh, Göppingen, Germany
I don' t think England is the biggest underachiever. They achieved what they deserved. You can't expect a fair team with fair players can play as outstanding as Spain.
Kin, Hong Kong,
Anybody can understand what this victory means for us. Its just football but when it unites a whole country it justifies the passion and tears. Congratulations to all our rivals in the tournament ( from swedish to germans) because all of them behaved like gentlemen Danke Deutschland
José, madrid , spain
I expected more from Ballack. But even then Spain was a much better side & fully deserved the victory. The Germans looked good at the start but after 30 minutes got really lazy and tired. The Spainards were moving all over the place very fast & didn't lack their desire to win. They had more energy.
jayil, london, uk
thank you Aragones, you heard a lot of critics, but you believed in these players, A TRUE TEAM,
germany did a good match. but Torres was with us.
The show must go on!!
javier zurdo, majadahonda, spain
well done Spain - thanks to you I am a little bit richer today - nice one !
susan, glasgow,
Many congratulations to the Spanish team for their wonderful play and to all you good people in Spain. The welcome in Madrid this evening will be really something to behold and thoroughly deserved.
John, North Yorkshire. UK.
John Wilfred Burton, Stokesley, England
Spain is the strongest team in Europe. Congratulations!
Ivan, Moscow,
Well done Spain, the best team in the tournament without doubt.
Martin, Tenerife, Spain
Spain's is now. Don't worry!!! England's will be soon!!
Paco, Málaga, Spain
Champions at last! The mixture of Premier League players & La Liga players has turned out invincible. I wish British teams hired more Spanish players so that they learned how to compete, like Torres & co. He would have never got that killer instict had he stayed in Madrid.
Gonzalo, Palencia, Spain
Also, I don't think England football team is overrated. They are very good, but always under a hell of a lot of media pressure, just like Spain. Only this time no Spanish paper expected us to win just because a couple of Real Madrid players weren't in the team! So much for Raúl's fan-atics!
Gonzalo, Palencia, Spain
Great Torres!,Big team!..Now is England turn!...Enjoy Fernando in Liverpool..we love this team!!!
vic, mallorca, spain
We've been invencible!!!. We are the "Armada Invencible". By the way, where are the english pirats???
gustavo, madrid,
Viva España !!! Thanks UK for the support !!
Sergio, Barcelona, spain
Spainish played real football, their triumph made this game back to the pure football.
Weihsing, Shenzhen, China
Excellent football by a well deserving and highly skillful team.
Viva Espana!
James C, Marbella, Espana
Spainish performed best.They played pure football.They deserve the title.
Weihsing, Shenzhen, China
Hansen and Shearer's condemnation of germany was nothing short of racist. "Should have been 6-0"...what game were you watching? What's the point of having Shearer as a pundit; all he does is repeat Hansen's favourite phrases...passing and movement, passing and movement, terrible defending bla bla...
j wilson, KILMARNOCK, scotland
Great Spain finally won!!! History deserved it. La Furia's done perfect football in an incredible way. See you all at the world cup!
Viva España!!
Jaime, Bilbao, Spain
England does not inherit the title of underachiever from Spain, simply because to underachieve you must at least have a team with good chance of achieving something in the first place.
England remain just overrated.
bill, Madrid,
Nice team, right victory.
JJ, madrid,
Spain are the Champions! Great Football, great spirit! Great and fair competitiveness! Let´s enjoy football again like last night!
Ana, Madrid, Spain
Not only Spain won this cup, but also good football, and that's something everyone should feel glad for. I think the Spanish team deserved more goals against a dim German team from which I expected more fight.
Viva España!!
Next World Championship...... También podemos!! See you there England! :o)
Darko, Valencia, Spain
Bravo Espana!!!, Unlucky Ballack (sincerely)
phil, dalton, england
It has been one of the best tournement and spain one of the best teams I have seen play football. Thanks, football has been the winner, german or italy received a leeson this time.
wer, Teruel, Spain
Now that Spain have lost the tag as the "perennial under achievers", has this now been inherited by England?
Paul, West Midlands,
The t-shirt weared palop when received the medal was Arconada's t-shirt. All spaniards recognized it, goalkeaper Arconada was an idol in the 80's, but he had the error that made spain lost europeancup final in 1984, and Platini was who scored. It was a fantastic tribute for a hero of our infance
wer, Teruel, Spain
Congratulations, Spain.
For once we got to the end of the tournament and felt that the best team, won
I am 31 and as far as I can remember that only happened in 86, 88, 94, 00, 02 - maybe 90 and 98
Now England is indisputably the biggest underachiever in world soccer
Cameron, London,
We are so proud of that this team has achieved...getting the whole nation behind something, people who basically never agrees on anything, at once does it!!!
Hail to Germany and german supporters, a strong rival in the final with great supporters who know how to behave in victory and defeat
Jesus, Capileira, Spain
What an excellent piece Mr. Samuel, as always.
I'm extremely joyous that Spain finally delivered - a refreshing change to their usual inadequacy when it counts. A tireless performance and, although quite a scrappy game, a deserved victory!
Well done spain, football is proud of you.
Tony, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Spain were a pleasure to watch and gentlemen too!
Glad the balance of European football has shifted - it's the first time in years I've seen a team win that truly deserved to.
Torres - get back to Merseyside and do that next season! Why not bring some friends?...hint hint
Barney, Liverpool, UK
the phrase used all tournament for Spain has been 'perennial underachievers', a title that is all England's to bear now; all in all a fine display of football since the first whistle to the last.
bgmeikle, skipton, uk
With the exception of Schweinsteiger, Germany were awful, the worst German side I've ever seen in a final.
Their players were listless, lackining in passion and attack. Sure they were outclassed, but they could at least have made a fight of it.
Simon , London, UK
Michael Ballack was on the losing side yet again. How many times was it in the last month? He should have joint Man Utd when he had the chance and got 2 winners medals this year and one last year
Tony, Sheffield, uk
Well done Spain, a TEAM - which gave us back "The beautiful game" showing up our own "cart horses" as donkeys led by a professor.
For me, Senna was the star of the competition, strong and dependable but they were all superb.
Maureen Ferguson, Selby , UK
Sergio Ramos gave everything of himself last night and never even looked out of breath. Amazing workrate, and the t-short showed what a caballero he really is...Well Done Spain.
Julian, Dubai,
Watching Spain playing has been a pleasure. Beautiful football. This team can do even better in the future... Italy should beware because next time it could be the World Cup. Hope Lippi wil fix the mess Donadoni did.
Horace, Florence, Italy
The best team won the tournament, playing the best football from defence to attack, and the best striker in Europe scored the winner.
Football is the champion.
Thank You Spain!
P Flannery, Glasgow,
Beautiful football made spectacular show. Thank you, Spain. See you next world championship.
Dmitry, Moscow, Russia
respect spain !!! the best team won !!
thx for a good journalism! greeting from germany
corner, mainz , germany
Lets face it Turkey over all were lucky and poor quality until they reached the semifinal, and despite all the talk the fact is that they scored 2 goals that were scrappy and largely goalkeeping errors. Spain played well through the tournament and better in the final ,but not by much.
Antoine, Warsaw, Poland
I'd like Torres come back to spain early. Here Valencia C.F. thinks paid for him. Congratulations Torres and Liverpool !!
David , Valencia, Spain
Great end to a great tournament. Germany better than against Turkey, especially first 10 mins of each half, but Spain very superior. They could have scored 5, while goalie Casillas had a really boring game. Feel sorry for Michael Ballack, but Spain deserved to win the match & the cup. Viva Espana!
Mike, High Wycombe, UK
Well, the better team won, this time, thanks Goddess for not interfiring into men´s play. Thanks Luis Aragones for allowing us watch this creativity fooftball.
fran, paris, france
Bravo España!!! What a great team and great football! Not only you won the European, but you did it winning all matches. That's a Champion.
Estefanía, Lanzarote, Spain
Congratulations, Spain deserves the title. Germany was disappointing.
Christoph, Bielefeld, Germany
Top marks to Sergio Ramos who picked up his winners medal wearing a shirt dedicated to the gifted Spanish International Antonio Puerta who died last year whilst playing for Sevilla. To think of your friends in times of triumph, top man!
Paul Quigley, seville, spain
It has been a marvellous tournament, with fabolous matches where good football has won. Quality and technic are defeated strenght and defense tactics. The most complete and best team has obtained the trophy. Congratulations Spain, you had what you deserved. And it has been a great show to see it.
victor, vitoria, Spain
As a Liverpool fan I am so happy for Fernando, Xabi, Pepe but most of all, football has won as it is so unusual that a team playing the game as it was meant to be, triumphs.
Fuerza Espana !!
Marc , Liverpool, England
Well the Spaniards took there time but could'nt they have made a more convincing score?
Mary., Brighton, UK.
PUDIMOS (We could!). Pride is the only word that can describe how an entire nation feels today. Thank you, Furia, you gave us a dream and then made it true.
Aida, Bilbao,
we won, it's awesome, can belive it. Spain won 'cause we play just fine, we deserved to win, and we won.
Banzai Spain, Alcañiz, Spain
Germany ain't no Turkey that's for sure.
The Turks would have made the final 20 minutes hell for the Spaniards, and never given up.
Sadly instead we had to match a bore of a final.
Albert, London, UK