Germany 0 Spain 1
Spain claimed their first major title for 44 years after winning Euro 2008 with a deserved victory over Germany.

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres was Spain's goal hero, striking after 33 minutes when he cleverly lifted Xavi's pass over Germany keeper Jens Lehmann. Spain dominated the final throughout, with Torres heading against the post and Marcos Senna almost adding a second from close range after 80 minutes.

Michael Ballack came close for Germany, shooting narrowly wide after the break. Spain have long had a reputation as under-achievers on the big occasions, but this was a richly-merited victory for veteran coach Luis Aragones and a team that played outstanding football throughout the tournament. Germany were outclassed, and for captain Ballack his catalogue of misery in major finals continues having lost two Champions League finals and also been suspended for the 2002 World Cup final when they lost to Brazil.

Match-winner Torres enhanced the reputation he forged at Liverpool last season, but this was an all-round effort for a side that is young enough to already be marked down among the favourites for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Germany were lifted by Ballack declaring himself fit after a calf injury - but he had little impact on a first 45 minutes in which Spain were the vastly-superior side.

Andres Iniesta almost created the opening goal for Spain in the 13th minute when his driven cross took a deflection off Christoph Metzelder, but Lehmann pulled off a fine reflex save. And they came even closer nine minutes later when Torres rose to meet Sergio Ramos's cross, but his header bounced to safety off the post.

But he was not to be denied and put Spain ahead with a trademark piece of sharpness in front of goal after 33 minutes. Xavi's pass created uncertainty for Germany defender Philipp Lahm and Torres shrugged him off the ball to lift a superb finish beyond Lehmann. Germany's problems threatened to worsen when Ballack needed lengthy treatment for an eye wound after a clash of heads with Marcos Senna.

David Silva then wasted a perfect opportunity to double Spain's advantage when he was set up by Iniesta, but he rushed his finish and shot wildly over the top. Germany made a change at half-time, sending on Marcell Jansen for Lahm, but it was still Spain who dominated.

Xavi and Silva were both off target - but Germany were sticking to their task and almost grabbed an equaliser when Ballack shot just wide after Carles Puyol had conceded possession in a dangerous area. Spain continued to look the more threatening side, but there was still the lingering prospect of Germany's refusal to accept defeat yielding an unlikely equaliser.

Silva was fortunate to stay on the pitch when he appeared to motion to head-butt Germany's Lukas Podolski, but Italian referee Roberto Rosetti decided against taking any action. Ramos should have put the game beyond Germany's reach after 66 minutes when he headed straight at Lehmann from point-blank range as he got on the end of Xavi's free-kick.

Iniesta then had a shot cleared off the line by Torsten Frings and another effort saved by Lehmann as Spain looked in the mood to add a second. And Germany had a remarkable escape after 80 minutes when substitute Daniel Guiza - on for Torres - headed the ball straight into Senna's path right in front of goal, but he could not apply the final touch. Spain were not made to pay for their generosity in front of goal and ran out worthy winners.

Stylish Spain win thrills Torres
Match-winner Fernando Torres said Spain deserved to win Euro 2008 because they played the best football. Torres struck in the first half as Spain beat Germany 1-0 in Vienna to win their first major trophy for 44 years and Torres's first trophy of any kind.

The Liverpool striker said: "I feel a tremendous joy. It still hasn't sunk in what we've achieved with this victory. The team that played the best football at Euro 2008 won the title and we have a place in European football history." He added: "It's just a dream come true. This is my first title and I hope it's the first of many. "Victory in a Euro, it is almost as big as a World Cup. We are used to watching finals on television, but today we were here and we won. My job is to score goals. I want to win more titles and be the most important player in Europe and the world."

Coach Luis Aragones, who now steps down after four years in the job, paid tribute to Torres after the final whistle. "Fernando is a great player for Liverpool and for our team and he can go anywhere because he has really extraordinary speed and he knows how to dribble," said the 69-year-old. "We always tell him he's a player who is so young that he can learn to do everything and there is no doubt he can be one of the best players in the world."

Aragones, who could barely contain his delight with his side's resounding victory, believes the way they won the tournament may inspire other teams to try and play the same brand of football in the future. "All those that love football want to see it played that way," he said. "People want players who can pass well and get into the penalty area and score goals. They'll look up to Spain as a model of how to play football. We've won this tournament brilliantly, it's a happy day for the players, the background staff, me, all Spaniards."

Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas hailed his team's triumph as a "victory for beautiful football". The 21-year-old said: "It feels amazing, this is the best day of my life in football, I don't think we've realised yet what we have achieved. It's been a long time since a team playing this kind of beautiful football won a tournament like this. It is 44 years after Spain last won anything. This is one of the best trophies you can win as a footballer and I did it, we did it. We play football on the ground, we try to pass the ball and we won this tournament in style. We gave football the success it deserves. You know what a young squad this is, so hopefully we can think about winning the World Cup in two years' time."

Liverpool's Xabi Alonso, who came off the bench in the second half, added: "It feels great, of course - so many years without winning anything. It was very important for everyone - for the supporters, for the players, for the staff - and now we are absolutely happy and we want to enjoy the moment."

Low admits Spain deserved victory
Germany coach Joachim Low admitted Spain deserved to beat his side in the Euro 2008 final in Vienna. He said after the 1-0 defeat: "Spain played better, we couldn't match their level. We did not play at our best. We will analyse over the next couple of days what went wrong and work on that for the near future. Spain played very well during whole tournament and they were technically excellent. We had no answer after Spain found their rhythm."

But Low had praise for Germany after they battled their way through to another major final. He said: "I have to compliment the team for what they have achieved over the past few weeks. It has been fantastic. The players are obviously disappointed, but they have every reason to hold their heads up high."

The defeat was another bitter blow for Germany captain Michael Ballack, who added the loss in the Euro 2008 final to reverses in two Champions League finals as well as being suspended for the 2002 World Cup final in Japan. The 31-year-old said: "It is very sad to lose when one has come such a long way. All the team battled away. "This tournament has come at the end of the season and physically it has been tough. However we have made too many errors in this match." Germany midfield man Thomas Hitzlsperger expressed his sympathies for Ballack, and added: "We are all disappointed, he has played in many finals and lost some of them. Hopefully we can get him in another final in two years time, he has that quality to lift the side."

Meanwhile, Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann believed referee Roberto Rosetti was biased and criticised the Italian over two decisions that went against his side. "He clearly saw a head-butt from a Spanish player (David Silva) towards Lukas Podolski - he didn't book him or give him a red card," said the former Arsenal player. "Just before the end, we had a good chance in the penalty area - and all of a sudden, he gave a foul against us where even the Spanish players were surprised to get a free-kick. It was very disappointing. He was very arrogant and in my opinion he was biased." The 38-year-old added: "This was my last European Championship match. That's why losing is so hard to bear at this moment."

TRIVIA
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.

As well as winning the European Championship three times (1972, 1980, 1996), Germany have now also lost three European Championship finals (1976, 1992, 2008).

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 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.

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.

Germany: Lehmann, Friedrich, Metzelder, Mertesacker, Lahm (Jansen 46), Hitzlsperger (Kuranyi 58), Frings, Podolski, Ballack, Schweinsteiger, Klose (Gomez 79).
Subs Not Used: Enke, Adler, Fritz, Westermann, Rolfes, Neuville, Trochowski, Borowski, Odonkor.

Booked: Ballack, Kuranyi.

Spain: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Puyol, Marchena, Capdevila, Senna, Iniesta, Fabregas (Alonso 63), Xavi, Silva (Santi Cazorla 66), Torres (Guiza 78).
Subs Not Used: Palop, Reina, Albiol, Fernando Navarro, Villa, Sergio Garcia, Arbeloa, Juanito, De la Red.

Booked: Casillas, Torres.

Goals: Torres 33.

Att: 51,428

Ref: Roberto Rosetti (Italy).