Torres takes Spain to Euro title
Spain secure their second European Championship title with a 1-0 win in Vienna [GALLO/GETTY]
Spain won their second European Championship title with a thrilling 1-0 victory over three-time champions Germany in a pulsating Euro 2008 final at the Ernst-Happel Stadium in Vienna.
Fernando Torres's first half strike was enough for Spain, 1964 champions, to break their run of disappointments at major tournaments and shake off the tag of perennial underachievers.
Torres scored the decisive goal in the 33rd minute when he beat German left back Phillip Lahm to a sublime Cesc Fabregas pass, before chipping advancing keeper Jens Lehman with a delicate right-foot shot.
Lahm's winning goal at the death in the semi-final against Turkey may have sent his side into their sixth European final, but it was his inability to stop Torres from getting his shot away that may have cost Germany their fourth title.
Spain became the first team to win the European Championship without losing a match in the tournament since France went through undefeated as hosts in 1984.
Germany had their chances, but failed to unlock the Spanish defence in an open and entertaining encounter.
"With the quality of football they've played throughout the tournament, I'm really pleased for Spain," Terry Venables, former England, Australia and Barcelona manager, said on Al Jazeera Sport.
Glenn Hoddle, former England manager, added: "They’ve taken the tournament by the scruff of the neck. They have attacked well and had a great defensive record, but they've played with flair and that's what the game needed.
"They’ve won the Euro playing some excellent football, and I think it's a great result for football."
Open match
Spanish singer Enrique Iglesias provided the pre-match entertainment, but it was Germany who were on song early with the best of the opening chances.
In the third minute, Sergio Ramos's weak pass across the back of the Spanish defence allowed German striker Miroslav Klose to pounce.
Klose perhaps should have taken a first-time shot rather than attempting to dribble further into the box as he was quickly shut down by defender Carlos Puyol.
Spain's first opportunity came in the 14th minute when Xavi Hernandez released Andreas Iniesta on the left, with his cross resulting in Jurgen Metzelder's deflection wrong-footing keeper Jens Lehman but going out for a corner.
In the 22nd minute Torres came agonisingly close to opening the scoring when his header hit the left post after he connected well with a Ramos cross from the right.
Soon after, German captain Michael Ballack, who was in doubt with a calf injury before the match, had his powerful shot blocked by Ramos as the match opened up into an end-to-end spectacular.
Ballack's calf was the least of his worries late in the first half when he left the field with blood pouring from above his right eye after a head clash with opposing midfielder Marcos Senna.
Master class
Joachim Loew, German coach, hauled Lahm off at halftime and replaced him with midfielder Jansen, and then brought striker Kevin Kuranyi on for midfielder Thomas Hitzelsperger 12 minutes into the second half in search of an equaliser.
The towering Kuranyi provided an extra target for Germany alongside Klose, with Germany raising their attacking intensity early in the second period.
With half an hour still remaining, Aragones countered his opposing coach's tactics by withdrawing the impressive Fabregas and sending on the more defensive minded Xabi Alonso to restore some order in the Spanish midfield.
Fabregas, whose appearances at the tournament had largely come from the substitute's bench prior to the final, gave a master class of passing with some deft touches and pin-point through balls.
In the end it was Spain's more adventurous play that paid off, as Michel Platini, 1984 European championship winner and now Uefa president, handed victorious Spain captain Iker Casillas the trophy.
Spain secure their second European Championship title with a 1-0 win in Vienna [GALLO/GETTY]
Spain won their second European Championship title with a thrilling 1-0 victory over three-time champions Germany in a pulsating Euro 2008 final at the Ernst-Happel Stadium in Vienna.
Fernando Torres's first half strike was enough for Spain, 1964 champions, to break their run of disappointments at major tournaments and shake off the tag of perennial underachievers.
Torres scored the decisive goal in the 33rd minute when he beat German left back Phillip Lahm to a sublime Cesc Fabregas pass, before chipping advancing keeper Jens Lehman with a delicate right-foot shot.
Lahm's winning goal at the death in the semi-final against Turkey may have sent his side into their sixth European final, but it was his inability to stop Torres from getting his shot away that may have cost Germany their fourth title.
Spain became the first team to win the European Championship without losing a match in the tournament since France went through undefeated as hosts in 1984.
Germany had their chances, but failed to unlock the Spanish defence in an open and entertaining encounter.
"With the quality of football they've played throughout the tournament, I'm really pleased for Spain," Terry Venables, former England, Australia and Barcelona manager, said on Al Jazeera Sport.
Glenn Hoddle, former England manager, added: "They’ve taken the tournament by the scruff of the neck. They have attacked well and had a great defensive record, but they've played with flair and that's what the game needed.
"They’ve won the Euro playing some excellent football, and I think it's a great result for football."
Open match
Spanish singer Enrique Iglesias provided the pre-match entertainment, but it was Germany who were on song early with the best of the opening chances.
In the third minute, Sergio Ramos's weak pass across the back of the Spanish defence allowed German striker Miroslav Klose to pounce.
Klose perhaps should have taken a first-time shot rather than attempting to dribble further into the box as he was quickly shut down by defender Carlos Puyol.
Spain's first opportunity came in the 14th minute when Xavi Hernandez released Andreas Iniesta on the left, with his cross resulting in Jurgen Metzelder's deflection wrong-footing keeper Jens Lehman but going out for a corner.
In the 22nd minute Torres came agonisingly close to opening the scoring when his header hit the left post after he connected well with a Ramos cross from the right.
Soon after, German captain Michael Ballack, who was in doubt with a calf injury before the match, had his powerful shot blocked by Ramos as the match opened up into an end-to-end spectacular.
Ballack's calf was the least of his worries late in the first half when he left the field with blood pouring from above his right eye after a head clash with opposing midfielder Marcos Senna.
Master class
Joachim Loew, German coach, hauled Lahm off at halftime and replaced him with midfielder Jansen, and then brought striker Kevin Kuranyi on for midfielder Thomas Hitzelsperger 12 minutes into the second half in search of an equaliser.
The towering Kuranyi provided an extra target for Germany alongside Klose, with Germany raising their attacking intensity early in the second period.
With half an hour still remaining, Aragones countered his opposing coach's tactics by withdrawing the impressive Fabregas and sending on the more defensive minded Xabi Alonso to restore some order in the Spanish midfield.
Fabregas, whose appearances at the tournament had largely come from the substitute's bench prior to the final, gave a master class of passing with some deft touches and pin-point through balls.
In the end it was Spain's more adventurous play that paid off, as Michel Platini, 1984 European championship winner and now Uefa president, handed victorious Spain captain Iker Casillas the trophy.
