At last the misfiring Spanish midfield began to click. Xavi Hernandez produced a beautiful reverse pass that carved open the German defense and sent Iniesta sprinting into the German box. His hard drive across goal cannoned off German centre-back Metzelder and produced a fabulous reaction save from Lehmann, arcing to his right to prevent an own-goal.
In the 17th minute a mistake in the German midfield surrendered possession to Spain. Torres was almost clean through, his control letting him down at the last second, but the Spanish striker was coming on to a great game.
Despite his height, the boyish face and slim frame made him seem a flimsy opponent for the giant German partnership of Mertesacker and particularly Metzelder, but Torres has plenty of strength in that slim frame, and speed and skill too. He tempted Metzelder out onto the right wing, then turned and nutmegged him deftly. The German responded with a foul for which he might have been booked, but the referee was still feeling charitable and let the offence go.
Spain's Fernando Torres (C) scores as Germany's goalie Jens Lehmann (L) saves during the Euro 2008 championships final between Germany and Spain in Vienna, Austria, on June 29, 2008. A first-half goal from Fernando Torres earned Spain the first UEFA European Championship in 44 years.(Xinhua/Lu Mingxiang)
Minutes afterwards came the first high drama of the game. Spain attacked up the right. There was a neat interchange between Fabregas and Sergio Ramas, and the defender chipped the ball to the back post. Torres was strong in the jump and sent a powerful header down towards goal, but it cannoned back off the base of the post with Lehmann beaten, and the bounce went the wrong way for the inrushing Hernandez, alone in front of an empty net.
If Germany were not troubling Casillas unduly they were still producing plenty of football. From a corner on the left the ball broke to Ballack, who hammered in a firm shot. Sergio Ramas leaped to block, and the German fans roared for a penalty, but replays showed that the ball had played his chest. While the German players were still contesting the decision the Spanish again broke upfield, and Torres once more almost fought his way free.
Then came the goal, and Spain began to sense that this might be their day after all. They were the team that was now producing the attacking goods. Two minutes later, and it should have been two. Fabregas this time produced a beautiful through ball to send Iniesta clear on the left. Torres was screaming for a pass in the center, but he was closely covered and Iniesta made the right call, chipping the ball to an unmarked Silva on the right. He had time to pick his spot – too much time, perhaps. His volley was woeful, slicing its way into the night sky.
Shortly afterwards Ballack picked up an ugly eye injury and left the field streaming with blood. He needed stitches in the cut and it was some time before he returned.
Spain's Xabi Alonso controls the ball during the Euro 2008 championships final between Germany and Spain in Vienna, Austria, on June 29, 2008. A first-half goal from Fernando Torres earned Spain the first UEFA European Championship in 44 years. (Xinhua/Liao Yujie)
Half time would have seen both sides in a positive frame. Spain were ahead and making chances, but Germany had no reason to think the match beyond them.
The second half started as the first had, with the Germans moving forward in strength and pressuring the Spanish defense, and Spain unable to secure or retain good possession. But by now the Spanish defensive forces were marshaled, and Germany were struggling to turn their superiority into chances.
Klose broke through and appeared to be fouled in the box, but he had already been signaled offside. Metzelder was now making marauding runs upfield, and his advances were leaving gaps in the German defense that Spain were keen to exploit.
Silva again had time in the box to line up his shot. It flew past Ramos, and if the defender had managed to touch it he would surely have scored. In the 55th minute we almost had a carbon copy of the Spanish goal, Torres going through on his own, but he pushed the ball a little too far and this time Lehmann gathered.
In the 60th minute Germany came back once more. A mistake by Puyol in the corner on the German left allowed Klose to steal possession. He squared to Schweinsteiger, who set up Ballack. The German fans roared in triumph as his shot rippled the net, but their joy was short-lived - it was the wrong side of the post. Then Ballack sent over a cross from the left that the outrushing Casillas only just managed to fingertip of the head of Kuranyi. Schweinsteiger broke up the right and shot. The ball deflected off one of his own players and fell once again on the wrong side of the post.
In the 63rd minute came the only ugly moment in the game. Podolski pushed his forehead against Silva's and the Spaniard foolishly responded with a butt. He might have been ordered off, but the referee was lenient, showing only a yellow to both. The Germans voiced their anger, but as the instigator of the incident Podolski had no real complaint. Aragones prudently removed Silva from the action.
In the 65th minute Spain had their best chance of the second half. From a free kick on the right Ramos timed his run perfectly, and with the Germans screaming wrongly for offside he had a free header, but Lehmann pulled off a great save. From the ensuing corner a shot from Iniesta was cleared off the line at the post by Frings.
Spain's failure to take advantage of their opportunities would have worried their supporters, but Germany seemed to be running out of appetite for the fight. Over the last fifteen minutes they produced little to trouble the Spanish defense. In the 80th minute Cazorla, Guiza and Senna almost combined to make it 2-0, and Guiza ran the line to urge support from the Spanish fans, who responded admirably.
Spain's players celebrate victory as Germany's midfielder Torsten Frings (L) walks by after the Euro 2008 championships final between Germany and Spain in Vienna, Austria, on June 29, 2008. A first-half goal from Fernando Torres earned Spain the first UEFA European Championship in 44 years. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)
Then, in the 89th minute, came the last moment of controversy. The Spanish defense failed to clear a long ball and Gomez managed to feed Schweinsteiger. The latter would certainly have scored, but the referee had blown for a foul on Marchena. It was a marginal decision - even in the replays it was difficult to see an offence, but it would have been a cruel injustice on the Spanish to have lost their lead at that late stage.
They played out the additional time in safety, and as the final whistle blew a deafening roar of relief and triumph enveloped the ground. The coaches' and substitutes' benches emptied, and the players charged over the stadium hoardings to celebrate with their fans, demanding Spanish flags to wrap themselves in.
The victory was justified to the best team on the day and the best team over the two-week competition. The forty-four year old bogey had finally been laid to rest, but there would be little rest for the Spanish fans, who would celebrate their longed-for victory all through the night.
(China.org.cn June 30, 2008)
