Fernando Torres' strike wins Euro 2008 for Spain as Germany say goodnight Vienna

By Henry Winter in Vienna
Last Updated: 2:30am BST 30/06/2008Page 1 of 2
Germany (0) 0 Spain (1) 1
This wonderful festival of football finished in style, settled by that stylish finisher Fernando Torres. In ending 44 years of hurt, Spain possessed too much heart, too much invention, and too much Torres for Germany.

In pics: Spain beat Germany to end 44-year wait
Tim Rich: Germany settle for second best
Player ratings: Germany | Spain
The Spanish striker took his goal expertly, racing through and lifting the ball over the otherwise excellent Jens Lehmann, but there was steel to these Spaniards as well as silk. Xavi was again magnificent in midfield, making tackles, making attacks, driving his team on to their first silverware since the 1964 European Championship.

Crowning moment: Spain hold aloft the European Championship trophy after 44-year wait

This was a triumph of Spanish courage and skill and also brilliant management by Luis Aragones. He set up his team well, ensuring constant support to the lone front-running Torres, and used his substitutes superbly, constantly setting Germany problems they could not solve. No wonder his players grabbed Aragones at the final whistle and threw him up in the air.

As hard as Michael Ballack worked, Spain were simply superior in all departments, and in Torres they possessed the cutting edge the Germans lacked.

Torres had not been at his electric best in reaching the final but he had immediately began reminding everyone of his Liverpool form, perhaps inspired by the pre-match rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone. The Liverpool striker swiftly linked with Cesc Fabregas, who was playing the Steven Gerrard support role to Torres. His goal, when it came, was conceived in Villarreal and Barcelona, in the quick-thinking of the superb Marcos Senna and Xavi.

Spain would be hopeless on Mastermind - too many passes - but they took a more direct route for Torres' stunning first-half strike. The reward their pressure had been promising soon came, a marvellous goal, showcasing all that is good about Aragones' side, the touch and vision, yet also a celebration of simplicity.

advertisement
Two fast passes down the middle and Germany were opened up. Senna found Xavi, who instantly swept the ball down the inside-right channel for Torres to chase. Philipp Lahm and Lehmann still guarded the avenue to goal. Not well enough.

For these are the openings Torres craves, a defender reacting too slowly and then a keeper diving at his feet. Having outpaced Lahm with almost embarrassing ease, Torres glided into the box. As Lehmann threw himself forward, Torres lifted the ball over the prostrate German goalkeeper.

It was a goal fit for a king and a queen, and the Spanish royal couple leapt to their feet in delight. Fernando Torres: goals by Royal Approval. It was a glittering goal that echoed another final gem by a Liverpool striker, Kenny Dalglish's elegant chip over the Bruges goalkeeper, Birger Jensen, to win the 1978 European Cup.

Yet Spain had been forced to endure a testing opening 10 minutes. Germany had clearly decided to target the space behind Sergio Ramos, knowing that Spain's right-back loved to push upfield. Ramos briefly suffered a torrid time.

Poor control by the Real Madrid defender let in Miroslav Klose, who just over-ran the ball. Ballack then outpaced Carles Puyol and Ramos, who still managed to snake out a leg and take the sting out of the Chelsea midfielder's cross. Ramos' uncertainty then allowed a glimpse of goal for Thomas Hitzlsperger, whose low shot was gathered by Iker Casillas.

For all Germany's threat, for all Lukas Podolski's pace constantly worrying Ramos, Spain gradually imposed their superior technique. Torres began to show. Lurking right of goal 20 yards out, Torres placed the ball back to Xavi, whose diagonal pass behind Arne Friedrich was weighted perfectly for Andres Iniesta. His cross was drilled hard, the ball rising and catching the bearded Christoph Metzelder and deflecting goalwards. Lehmann reacted marvellously, stretching out a fist and beating the ball away.

Germany sensed the rising tide of Spanish ambition, saw that Xavi, Iniesta and Fabregas - the Three Amigos - were beginning to cause havoc. Ballack sought to break the baton of Spain's conductor, Xavi, stamping on the Barcelona midfielder's ankle.

Alan Smith: Nearly man Ballack settles for silver
As it happened: Spain crowned champions
Spain homepage | Germany homepage
Spain would not be cowed and began building to their first-half goal. Fabregas sent Ramos rampaging down the right, the full-back lifting over a magnificent cross that Torres, timing his climb superbly to elude Per Mertesacker, headed against the post. He was getting closer.

Germany briefly hit back, Ballack appealing for a penalty when the ball struck the ribs of Ramos and more legitimately when Joan Capdevila appeared to handle. But Spain held firm, and conjured up that moment of first-half magic from Torres. source : www.telegraph.co.uk


wanna see really sexy model, really sexy girls, playboy models, click www.sexy-girl-bagas.blogspot.com
search actress america gossip and sexy playboy models click : www.sexyartist-bagas.blogspot.com
search indonesian culiner, indonesian recipes click :www.indonesianfoodrecipes.blogspot.com