Spain Are Euro 2008 Champions
Sunday June 29, 2008
Spain have been crowned European champions after beating Germany 1 - 0 in the Euro 2008 final in Vienna, Austria. Liverpool striker Fernando Torres scored the decisive strike in the first half to ultimately bring the trophy back to Madrid after a 44 year wait from their last European Championships victory back in 1964.
The Spanish were worthy winners both on the night and over the duration of the tournament. Their style of skilful attacking football will have won them many neutral fans and players such as Torres, Xavi, Iniesta and David Silva will all have increased their own personal standing after several outstanding performances.
Germany's warriors looked rather bereft of ideas tonight and only a few brief spells of German possession showed anything of their willingness to actually engage Spain in a game of top-level football. The Spanish midfield simply passed and moved them out of the game and with a figurehead such as Torres in full flow, Spain were always most likely to score.
The final was actually an enjoyable, end to end game of football with defensive frailties on both sides giving each coach no end of heart flutters. In the end the talent of the Spanish was enough to see off the dogged determination of the Germans and captain Iker Casillas lifted the trophy from UEFA president Michel Platini, the man who, 24 years previously, had denied Spain victory in their last major final appearance.
Comments
Talented Spain were rewarded for their consistency. Congrats to La Selecçion Espanola.
One felt other powerful group leaders like Portugal, Holland and Croatia lowered their guard somewhat by fielding too many reserves in their final group games.
Having qualified with two emphatic wins out of two matches, these hugely blessed teams decided on providing exposure to the other members of their squads effecting massive changes, something in the region of 8 or 9 fresh faces in the starting line up.
One has to acknowledge that all these players are top class internationals playing for the elite clubs all over Europe. But the momentum of the core group was to some extent disrupted with the wholesale changes.
In the QFs Portugal, Holland and Croatia struggled and eventually bowed out to their second placed opponents from other groups who had fought their way after their individual defeats in their respective pool games.
Though not so young any more, winning coach Luis Aragones showed tremendous wisdom and foresight in doing his stuff in his own tried and tested way.
The no-nonsense somewhat older guy went fast and in full speed crossing hurdle after hurdle, over-taking youngsters Joakim Loew, Guus Hiddink, Billic, Marco and so many others who also ran the race in the Group of 16.
Well done coach Senor Luis Aragones. Viva La Furia Roja.
I choose these team going through d final Match Portugal VS Holland but Spain deserved to win.
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Soccer Drills
they have perfect game