Germany v Spain, 29 June 2008

Score1-0 to Spain
RefereeRoberto Rossetti
CompetitionUEFA European Championship Finals final
VenueErnst Happel Stadion, Vienna
Attendance51,428
Kick-Off: 8.45pm local Assistant referees: Alessandro Griselli (Italy) Paolo Calcagno (Italy) Fourth official: Peter Fröjdfeldt (Sweden) Man of the Match: Fernando Torres (Spain) Spain became European champions for the second time after Fernando Torres's first-half goal in Vienna proved enough to defeat Germany in the final of UEFA EURO 2008. Spain had won their only previous piece of silverware in this competition in 1964 and had not been beyond the quarter-finals of any tournament in 24 years, yet Luis Aragonés's men chose to use that history as an inspiration rather than a burden. After a strong start from Germany, seeking a fourth title themselves, Spain were the more dangerous side throughout an entertaining final at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion although it took just one goal – in the 33rd minute, courtesy of Torres's pace, perseverance and unerring finish – to end their long wait. Germany received a significant boost before kick-off with captain Michael Ballack included despite a much-publicised calf problem, and, perhaps buoyed by that news, Joachim Löw's team settled quickly. Much had been made of the contrast in style between the sides yet in the opening exchanges it was Germany whose passing looked crisper, Miroslav Klose and Thomas Hitzlsperger failing to make the most of glimpses of goal. Meanwhile Spain, shorn of four-goal leading scorer David Villa due to a thigh injury, struggled to find their feet in a new 4-5-1 formation in which Cesc Fàbregas was rewarded for a fine semi-final display with a starting place. As an indicator of the pattern of the match, however, Germany's bright beginning proved misleading. Spain soon worked their way into the contest, with Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann – becoming, at 38, the oldest player to appear in a UEFA European Championship final – forced into action for the first time in the 14th minute. Although his instinctive save came when his own defender, Christoph Metzelder, inadvertently deflected Andrés Iniesta's cross towards his own goal, Xavi Hernández's fine through pass had unpicked the Germany defence and showed the Spanish were finding their feet. Right-back Sergio Ramos was then allowed to cut inside and deliver a deep cross, Torres peeling away from Per Mertesacker to create space for the header only for the right-hand post to come to Lehmann's rescue. The warning signs were there for Germany, yet they failed to heed them and duly fell behind three minutes past the half-hour. Again Xavi was the architect, playing a pass in behind the Germany back line towards Torres, who outmuscled a hesitant Philipp Lahm and clipped the ball over the diving Lehmann and just inside the far post. David Silva then volleyed over Iniesta's cross when given time and space inside the area as Spain threatened to increase their lead. Spain had more openings in the early stages of the second half, Lehmann getting the merest of touches to Xavi's low shot before Ramos nearly guided in Silva's drive from the resulting corner. Yet a hint of the threat Germany still posed arrived on the hour, substitute Marcell Jansen and Bastian Schweinsteiger combining for Ballack to shoot centimetres wide. Klose then deflected a Schweinsteiger effort past the post and, in response to Germany's renewed menace, Spain coach Aragonés promptly introduced Xabi Alonso and Santi Cazorla in place of Fàbregas and Silva. The switches reinvigorated Spain instantly, Lehmann making smart stops from Ramos and Iniesta while Torsten Frings blocked another Iniesta effort on the line. As the final moved into the last 20 minutes, Spain had had seven shots on goal to Germany's one, but with the Mannschaft having turned virtually one in two of their attempts on target into goals en route to the final, that would have been scant consolation to Aragonés and his side. In the event, however, it was Spain who continued to carve out chances as the match reached its conclusion, Marcos Senna narrowly failing to apply the finishing touch to an unselfish header from substitute Daniel Güiza – but the celebrations would not be delayed much longer.

0  Germany

Manager: Joachim Low

1  Spain

Manager: Luis Aragones

Goals:

Goals:

Fernando Torres 33 G

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann
Defender Arne Friedrich
Defender Philipp Lahm
Defender Per Mertesacker
Midfielder Michael Ballack (captain)
Midfielder Torsten Frings
Midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger
Forward Miroslav Klose

Starting lineup:

Iker Casillas Goalkeeper (captain)
Capdevila Defender
Marchena Defender
Puyol Defender
Sergio Ramos Defender
Cesc Fàbregas Midfielder
David Silva Midfielder
Iniesta Midfielder
Marcos Senna Midfielder
Xavi Midfielder

Substitutions:

Marcell Jansen for Philipp Lahm 46
Kevin Kurányi for Thomas Hitzlsperger 58
Mario Gómez for Miroslav Klose 79

Substitutions:

Xabi Alonso for Cesc Fàbregas 63
Santi Cazorla for David Silva 66
Dani Güiza for Fernando Torres 78

Cards:

Michael Ballack 43 Y
Kevin Kurányi 88 Y

Cards:

Iker Casillas 43 Y
Fernando Torres 74 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Rene Adler
Goalkeeper Robert Enke
Defender Marcell Jansen
Defender Heiko Westermann
Midfielder Tim Borowski
Midfielder Clemens Fritz
Midfielder Simon Rolfes
Midfielder Piotr Trochowski
Forward Mario Gómez
Forward Kevin Kurányi
Forward Oliver Neuville
Forward David Odonkor

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Andres Palop
Goalkeeper Pepe Reina
Defender Álvaro Arbeloa
Defender Juanito
Defender Fernando Navarro
Midfielder Rubén de la Red
Midfielder Raúl Albiol
Midfielder Santi Cazorla
Midfielder Xabi Alonso
Forward Dani Güiza
Forward David Villa

Comments:

- As well as winning the European Championship three times (1972, 1980, 1996), Germany have now also lost three European Championship finals (1976, 1992, 2008). - At the age of 38 years and 232 days, Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann became the oldest player ever to appear in the European Championship final, breaking the record set by Arnold Muhren (37 years, 23 days) in 1988.

Comments:

- Spain have won the European Championship for the second time. In 1964, they also lifted the trophy after beating the Soviet Union 2-1 in the final. In 1984, they also reached the final but lost 2-0 against France. - Just as Greece four years ago, Spain have kept clean sheets in all three knock-out rounds after the group phase. - With four goals, David Villa has become top scorer at Euro 2008 without having played in the final. That is the fewest goals for a European Championship top scorer since 1992, when Dennis Bergkamp, Tomas Brolin, Henrik Larsen and Karl-Heinz Riedle all scored three goals. - At the age of 69 years and 337 days, winning coach Luis Aragones has become the oldest coach ever to appear in the final of a European Championship. Aragones is more than four years older than Otto Rehhagel (65 years, 327 days) was four years ago when Greece beat Portugal in the Euro 2004 final.

0  Germany

Manager: Joachim Low

Goals:

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann
Defender Arne Friedrich
Defender Philipp Lahm
Defender Per Mertesacker
Midfielder Michael Ballack (captain)
Midfielder Torsten Frings
Midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger
Forward Miroslav Klose

Substitutions:

Marcell Jansen for Philipp Lahm 46
Kevin Kurányi for Thomas Hitzlsperger 58
Mario Gómez for Miroslav Klose 79

Cards:

Michael Ballack 43 Y
Kevin Kurányi 88 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Rene Adler
Goalkeeper Robert Enke
Defender Marcell Jansen
Defender Heiko Westermann
Midfielder Tim Borowski
Midfielder Clemens Fritz
Midfielder Simon Rolfes
Midfielder Piotr Trochowski
Forward Mario Gómez
Forward Kevin Kurányi
Forward Oliver Neuville
Forward David Odonkor

Comments:

- As well as winning the European Championship three times (1972, 1980, 1996), Germany have now also lost three European Championship finals (1976, 1992, 2008). - At the age of 38 years and 232 days, Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann became the oldest player ever to appear in the European Championship final, breaking the record set by Arnold Muhren (37 years, 23 days) in 1988.

1  Spain

Manager: Luis Aragones

Goals:

Fernando Torres 33 G

Starting lineup:

Iker Casillas Goalkeeper (captain)
Capdevila Defender
Marchena Defender
Puyol Defender
Sergio Ramos Defender
Cesc Fàbregas Midfielder
David Silva Midfielder
Iniesta Midfielder
Marcos Senna Midfielder
Xavi Midfielder

Substitutions:

Xabi Alonso for Cesc Fàbregas 63
Santi Cazorla for David Silva 66
Dani Güiza for Fernando Torres 78

Cards:

Iker Casillas 43 Y
Fernando Torres 74 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Andres Palop
Goalkeeper Pepe Reina
Defender Álvaro Arbeloa
Defender Juanito
Defender Fernando Navarro
Midfielder Rubén de la Red
Midfielder Raúl Albiol
Midfielder Santi Cazorla
Midfielder Xabi Alonso
Forward Dani Güiza
Forward David Villa

Comments:

- Spain have won the European Championship for the second time. In 1964, they also lifted the trophy after beating the Soviet Union 2-1 in the final. In 1984, they also reached the final but lost 2-0 against France. - Just as Greece four years ago, Spain have kept clean sheets in all three knock-out rounds after the group phase. - With four goals, David Villa has become top scorer at Euro 2008 without having played in the final. That is the fewest goals for a European Championship top scorer since 1992, when Dennis Bergkamp, Tomas Brolin, Henrik Larsen and Karl-Heinz Riedle all scored three goals. - At the age of 69 years and 337 days, winning coach Luis Aragones has become the oldest coach ever to appear in the final of a European Championship. Aragones is more than four years older than Otto Rehhagel (65 years, 327 days) was four years ago when Greece beat Portugal in the Euro 2004 final.