Spain bask in Euro glory after 44-year wait
Tuesday, 1 July 2008
VIENNA, June 30 (AFP): Spain ended their 44-year wait for a major international title with a 1-0 victory over Germany at the Euro 2008 final here.
Fernando Torres scored the only goal of the game in the first half as football's perennial underachievers finally banished that unwanted tag to the history books.
It was the first time Spain had won the European title since 1964 and their first final since 1984.
For 69-year-old Spanish coach Luis Aragones there was a tinge of bitterness mixed with the moment of glory.
Approaching his 70th birthday he became the oldest coach to win the European title but he must have shed half his years as he watched captain Iker Casillas hold aloft the coveted Cup which Spain has only held in its hands once before in 1964.
However, in the immediate aftermath of the match he was repeating the mantra on the eve of it, of how disappointed he was at not being asked to stay on.
"We did things well, we won, period. I will not be staying on as coach because I have been given no possibility to," said Aragones.
Aragones had warned bleakly on the eve of the final that "no one remembers who comes second" - well he needn't have worried as Fernando Torres's first half goal ensured the world and his wife will recall his Spanish team for many a year to come.
For Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas it was a dream come true.
"This is great," said the 21-year-old Arsenal star.
"This is the best day of my life as a player.
For Torres too it was a dream realised.
"For me, it's a dream come true," said Torres.
"Victory in a Euro, is almost as big as a World Cup. I think that we have played very good football throughout the tournament and it was justice done when we won the final."
German coach Joachim Loew professed his admiration for his side, who defied expectations to reach the final.
"I have to compliment the team for what they have achieved over the past few weeks," said the 48-year-old.
"It has been fantastic. The players are obviously disappointed, but they have every reason to hold their heads up high."
For German captain Michael Ballack it was more disappointment in a major tournament.
"It is very sad to lose when one has come such a long way," said the 31-year-old, who missed the 2002 World Cup final because he was suspended and has also lost two Champions League finals.
"All the team battled away. This tournament has come at the end of the season and physically it has been tough. However, today (Sunday) we have made too many errors."
Spain seemed to start tentatively and a mistake from Sergio Ramos gave Miroslav Klose a glorious opportunity after just four minutes, but after taking the ball past Carles Puyol his next touch was too strong and he ran the ball out of play.
Spain gradually started to settle but three-time champions Germany still had the next chance, Thomas Hitzlsperger hitting a tame shot straight at Spain captain Iker Casillas.
Just before the quarter-hour mark Jens Lehmann came to Germany's rescue as a cross from Andres Iniesta deflected off Christoph Metzelder's boot and only a stunning reaction save from the Arsenal stopper prevented a goal.
Another reports from Berlin adds:Germany's three-week-long Euro 2008 party ended with a whimper Sunday as throngs of colourful supporters headed home forlornly after defeat to Spain, but looking ahead to the 2010 World Cup.
"How are we supposed to feel? We lost the match but we are still European vice champions, the second best team in Europe," said Yves, 24, as he left the "Fan Mile" where 600,000 supporters had watched the match in central Berlin.
"The Germans could have made better use of the chances they had and the (Spanish) goal was just a defensive error ... But we are still European vice champions."
"We have to get up early tomorrow so I don't think we are going to go and party now ... But if we had won we would have phoned up work and told them we were not coming in."
But Fred was already over the defeat and looking to the future.
"We were third in the World Cup, now second in the European Championship. But the next World Cup we are going to win," the 25-year-old predicted.
Fernando Torres scored the only goal of the game in the first half as football's perennial underachievers finally banished that unwanted tag to the history books.
It was the first time Spain had won the European title since 1964 and their first final since 1984.
For 69-year-old Spanish coach Luis Aragones there was a tinge of bitterness mixed with the moment of glory.
Approaching his 70th birthday he became the oldest coach to win the European title but he must have shed half his years as he watched captain Iker Casillas hold aloft the coveted Cup which Spain has only held in its hands once before in 1964.
However, in the immediate aftermath of the match he was repeating the mantra on the eve of it, of how disappointed he was at not being asked to stay on.
"We did things well, we won, period. I will not be staying on as coach because I have been given no possibility to," said Aragones.
Aragones had warned bleakly on the eve of the final that "no one remembers who comes second" - well he needn't have worried as Fernando Torres's first half goal ensured the world and his wife will recall his Spanish team for many a year to come.
For Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas it was a dream come true.
"This is great," said the 21-year-old Arsenal star.
"This is the best day of my life as a player.
For Torres too it was a dream realised.
"For me, it's a dream come true," said Torres.
"Victory in a Euro, is almost as big as a World Cup. I think that we have played very good football throughout the tournament and it was justice done when we won the final."
German coach Joachim Loew professed his admiration for his side, who defied expectations to reach the final.
"I have to compliment the team for what they have achieved over the past few weeks," said the 48-year-old.
"It has been fantastic. The players are obviously disappointed, but they have every reason to hold their heads up high."
For German captain Michael Ballack it was more disappointment in a major tournament.
"It is very sad to lose when one has come such a long way," said the 31-year-old, who missed the 2002 World Cup final because he was suspended and has also lost two Champions League finals.
"All the team battled away. This tournament has come at the end of the season and physically it has been tough. However, today (Sunday) we have made too many errors."
Spain seemed to start tentatively and a mistake from Sergio Ramos gave Miroslav Klose a glorious opportunity after just four minutes, but after taking the ball past Carles Puyol his next touch was too strong and he ran the ball out of play.
Spain gradually started to settle but three-time champions Germany still had the next chance, Thomas Hitzlsperger hitting a tame shot straight at Spain captain Iker Casillas.
Just before the quarter-hour mark Jens Lehmann came to Germany's rescue as a cross from Andres Iniesta deflected off Christoph Metzelder's boot and only a stunning reaction save from the Arsenal stopper prevented a goal.
Another reports from Berlin adds:Germany's three-week-long Euro 2008 party ended with a whimper Sunday as throngs of colourful supporters headed home forlornly after defeat to Spain, but looking ahead to the 2010 World Cup.
"How are we supposed to feel? We lost the match but we are still European vice champions, the second best team in Europe," said Yves, 24, as he left the "Fan Mile" where 600,000 supporters had watched the match in central Berlin.
"The Germans could have made better use of the chances they had and the (Spanish) goal was just a defensive error ... But we are still European vice champions."
"We have to get up early tomorrow so I don't think we are going to go and party now ... But if we had won we would have phoned up work and told them we were not coming in."
But Fred was already over the defeat and looking to the future.
"We were third in the World Cup, now second in the European Championship. But the next World Cup we are going to win," the 25-year-old predicted.