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Spain conquer Europe
Aragones' men cap off a wonderful tournament with deserved win
Last updated: 30th June 2008
Spain are the new champions of Europe following their 1-0 defeat of Germany in what was a glorious game in Vienna.
Fernando Torres made a mockery of those that have said he has not enjoyed the best of tournaments as his sublime first half finish separated the two sides and claimed Spain their first silverware since 1964.
Throughout the championships, in winning every game, Spain have played some wonderful attacking football and Luis Aragones can be praised for instilling in his players the confidence to play without restraint.
What are your thoughts on Spain's success? Does their stylish brand of football demonstrate that a bucannering approach can work in what is normally a more defence-orientated international arena?
No-one can deny Spain deserved to win on the night, but were they the best side in Austria and Switzerland over the course of the whole tournament?
Have your say by filling in the feedback form below...
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Comments
Henry Goldberg says...
Spain thoroughly deserved their win although can not agree that this was the best Euro ever. The competition was not good enough for that, with Spain coasting to the title without encountering too much in terms of problematic opposition. Still not sure ow good this Spanish side really is, mainly because for various reasons the big names Germany, Italy and France all were looking very mediocre and limited throughout the tournament. Having said that they can not more than beat what they are up against, but for me there was not enough genuine drama to really enjoy it.
Posted 19:18 2nd July 2008
Ameen Nsiah (Doncaster fan) says...
kudos spain. this is a mark of uplifting the spanish football and a success to the young stars like torres, fabregas and all.not onle i am excited as spain clinch the trophy but also enthused about their fabolous performance throughout the tournament. it is also a blessing for all liverpool players who missed the chance of winnig the champions league and sign of good luck for the liverpool thiis season.
Posted 15:23 1st July 2008
Alfredo Naranjo calderon (Arsenal fan) says...
Hola de Madrid!!! Over One Million People celebrating the arrival of LA COPA! I would like to thank all you British, for your support during the Torneo. Football is the winner, Football is Entertainment! I appreciate that Spain from a international perspective has always been a let down but at last our philospohy has worked and may it last. Espceially that todays game has too many primadonas, on astronomical wages. It is refreshing to see a young side hungary for succes. Average age 26 years and the way Luis Aragones had the "Cojones" to say to everyone, I am picking the squad and I will do it my way! Leaving the likes of Raúl and others behind. His assertivness has paid dividends. The first major win since 1964. In some respect a bit like Alf Ramsey, I do not pick the best players but the best team for the championships. We all know what good players Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard are in their respective teams but for England you can not always play them together. Like Luis had Cesc on the bench because he is very similar to Xavi. Who both were together in the Barcelona Academy, Cesc left for Arsenal because he could not get the firts team. Another factor was Spain had a great squad. Güiza to replace Torres, Cesc for Xavi, Carzola for Ineista, Reina for Casillas and so on. We in Spain are so happy, we have taken the monkey of our backs. The future is very bright for us. Viva España and thank you for the support from the country that brought the beautiful game to the world. Viva Los Campeones.
Posted 10:50 1st July 2008
Dhanjay Taukoor says...
Well done Spain...some of you has mentioned the German's defence as very bad...most of the defence in the tournament was bad...that why we had a great tournament..especially Holland defence was very bad and that why they did not go very far. Xavi definitely deserved the best player award..but I don't understand how Cesc Fabregas was counted among the best in this tournament...he did not do much.Thank God Ronaldo is not in the dream team...it would have been very unfair.
Posted 02:10 1st July 2008
Gareth Wright (Aberdeen fan) says...
Well done Spain.... fantastic win and to see the German crying was the icing on the cake! Torres was amazing and I was overjoyed to see him ram his doubters words down their throats. He is the best striker in europe and i'm so glad he has found the perfect club for him and Liverpool have found their perfect number 9. Well done Spain and Fernando
Posted 00:04 1st July 2008
Debbie Martin says...
Spain, you were brilliant. It is the best match I have seen in some time. Was so pleased that you beat the Germans. You most certainly deserved to win the CUP. Germany played like rubbish, and we at home were all behind you from start to finish. If Germany had won the cup it would have been a traversty, for you played the best and most consistent football thoughout the game. WELL DONE. :o)
Posted 14:43 30th June 2008
Philip Delgado (Arsenal fan) says...
RE: Spains best 2 players are Premiership based. Fabergas ran the show and has been brought up only on English football. At least English football can take credit for that! lol very biased! His youth/background (Fabregas) came from Barcelona! like Xavi, Iniesta & Puyol. Xavi and Iniesta were the reason he didn't make it as a first team player for Barcelona same for Spain, he only started because Villa was out injured, but he does make a good sub :-)
Posted 14:26 30th June 2008
Rosemary Salah el-dn (Liverpool fan) says...
Congratulations to Spain! They truly deserved to win. They had been playing fantastically well from day one. I am so glad they won as they were the clearly best team in the tournament. Hope they continue playing like this for the World Cup. They really played football with style and class. Well done Spain! Ole,Ole,Ole!!!!!!!!!
Posted 13:38 30th June 2008
William Wallace says...
Congrats go to Spain. Well done boys. Thet were defo THE best team in the tourney. Consistently brilliant. But how it annoys me that no matter who is playing or what happens its always got to go back to England. The what ifs, the "we would beat them", the "would we have done this". I am sick of it. We get 2mins, if we are lucky, discussing the games at half time then its some utter pointless interview with flabio crappello. YOUR NOT THERE,DEAL WITH IT!!! None of us were, so why not just spend the whole time talking about the Welsh, the Irish, us scots??? Or maybe, just maybe the ACTUAL game thats going on. Cos if i remember correctly there was some FANTASTIC football being played!!!
Posted 13:23 30th June 2008
Marianne Vigo (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...
Of course I was upset at England's failure to qualify as I was born and raised in London and as a first generation Brit, am more English than the English, but with an Italian mum and s Spanish dad, these past weeks have held more than just a neutral's interest for me. By the way, the last time Spain won the Euros in 1964, Luis Suarez was playing. He and my dad used to play football together as kids on the beach of San Amaro in La Coruna (and apparently the European Footballer of 1960's older brother was an even better player but never really made it big). This was a great tournament. I loved it that so many teams played attacking football against the recent trend of negative tactics.
Posted 12:55 30th June 2008
Ian G says...
The unsung hero Marcos Senna, broke down attacks again and again and provided a fantastic platform for the more creative players.
Posted 12:50 30th June 2008
Mike Caslin says...
As a Liverpool supporter I was backin Spain all the way, I thought Torres, Xavi, Fabregas and silva and were fantastic. Torres might have only scored 2 goals (one in the final...u dont get much better than that) but his work rate and running off the ball was top noch and very influential in nearly all of the goals spain scored, his proformance shouldnt be judged on his goals...look at rooney for instance doesnt score much but u wouldnt knock him for it! Rafa i would love to see silver on our wing! Well done spain!!
Posted 12:37 30th June 2008
Marta Mendiondo says...
Thanks to all the British fans who congratulate Spain, and thanks to Sky for that advert adopting us as the team to support. I think it was a deserved win but at the same time, shoking, given our record in previous tournaments. Being a Real Madrid fan, I honestly have to thank Cruyff, because, as a manager, he changed football in Spain. To all of those who think Fabregas is so great, believe me, all the credit to Johan: the best player of the tournament, Xavi, and Fabregas himself, are carbon copies of the midfielders Cruyff always played, starting with Guardiola. A great day for football, a great day for Spain. Thank you!!!
Posted 12:19 30th June 2008
Patrick Tan (Stoke City fan) says...
Well done SPAIN. Deserved CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE. Played football with precision and control. Not too many punts up and hope for the best. Even Casilla, Spains keeper, is keen to retain possession that he either rolls, throws or passes to another colleague to start another Spanish move/attack. This style is always indoctrinated in all Spanish players. RETAIN POSSESSION. KEEP THE BALL. Admittedly, all Spanish players, bar none have the ability and skill to hold on to the ball and look for the next pass. Unlike English players whom is always rushing for the next killer ball, the punt upfield for the forward to chase onto. England has to develop, have to learn to control the ball, learn to hold onto the ball. But, I suppose one cannot be expected to change one's style, which is high-intensity football. In order to keep up with the greats, ENGLAND have to change or adopt a style that will enable us to challenge the likes of Spain. Unless we do so, England will not get very far. Everyone has evolved and GOT BETTER. Look at Turkey, Croatia, Russia and even Holland. The likes of France, Italy and Germany who prided on their PAST have remained static and have lost time against their more illustrious counterparts as mentioned here. I'm afraid ENGLAND belongs to the latter group. EVOLVE or be left behind like France.
Posted 12:13 30th June 2008
Vikash Bhoyroo (Liverpool fan) says...
Well done Spain and well done Torres. Torres indeed made the difference on the night with the absence of Villa. A well deserve win in this competition as Spain have been the best team throughout this competition. I will again support Spain in 2010 provided Torres is in the team. I will now spend the month of July watching another spaniard lifting the trophy at the "Tour de France"....
Posted 12:12 30th June 2008
David Cronshaw (Liverpool fan) says...
Congrats to Spain! Im made up our man Fernando scored the match winner and played well this torny! But i was also very suprised on how well the other Spanish players did. Casillas, Silva, Villa an Xavi played very well. Lets look on the brightside too! Spain shared the reputation with England as the under achievers and they had a awesome tournament, lets hope England can come out of the shadows and prove they too can be underachievers and come out on top.
Posted 12:09 30th June 2008
Steve Burt (Norwich City fan) says...
Good on Spain. I was supporting Germany but there would have been no justice if some fluke goal or penalty had robbed them of victory. Without doubt they¿ve raised their game and were the best team in the competition. They¿ve also lifted themselves out from the bottom slot of under achievers in top European tournaments. Would you believe it it¿s now England who hold that dubious honour and as long as our new manager continues to play the same old faces in the same old formation we will remain there. Doubt we¿ll even qualify for S. Africa 2010 let alone get to the final. Come on Capello start thinking out of the box. You¿ve got two years to sort out England start being a bit inventive or we¿ll be waiting a great deal longer to lift a trophy. SB
Posted 11:38 30th June 2008
Cory James says...
Well what a game! I live in spain and me and my family went to a local bar/restaurant and there were about 100 + spaniards there and the atmosphere was brillaint! it was noly just considering that spain played the most consitent and best football the entire competition, their on the floor passes were pin-point. The entire tournament the whole team from from the casillas to Torres played like champions. I think that Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Capdevila, David Silva, Iniesta, fabregas, and the two forwards were3 by far Spains stronest players i'm slightly disapointed that sergio Ramos Didn't get a goal as for me he played the best!! Hopefully england will follow spain's example and play with as much skill as spain did in this tournament.
Posted 11:38 30th June 2008
Sukhdev Poonia (Manchester United fan) says...
Torres could have scored a few yesterday! He was unlucky with the header that hit the post and a few times if he had a better touch he would have had a few good chances! He gave the defenders a proper run around! Again though I don¿t understand why he was taken off! With more and more space as the game got on he could have had a few more chances! For me the Spain midfield was awesome! Simple passing and movement! How football was supposed to be played! I think Portugal will be kicking themselves! How did they loose to Germany?!?! The big difference between Portugal and Spain is that Spain pass through teams whilst Portugal try and run through them! Against a big strong team like Germany, Portugal didn¿t use their heads (not a pun on the fact they let in two stupid goals from set pieces)! It¿s a bit weird but when you look at Spain you would say they are good¿but they lack what most people would say you need in a team! They have a small team¿even the Goalkeeper isn¿t that tall! With the exception of Torres they haven¿t got too much pace through the team! And they don¿t have proper wingers or players like Ronaldo who take on defenders! Yet they play good simple football! Scored the most and conceded the least¿they deserved to win! It would have been good to see Spain vs Holland! That would have been a brilliant game!
Posted 11:36 30th June 2008
Claudio Hernandez says...
Thanks everyone who supported Spain!! As a great fan of Premiership and (of course) La Liga, it's fantastic!! We love the touch, the passing and stylish playing. Great news for football, and I'm not saying this 'cause I'm spanish. This is how an Euro Cup s meant to be. Thanks players and Aragones for such a performance and deserved win. Spain is a very very happy country!! It will be great summer ahead!! Thanks England for his support.
Posted 10:25 30th June 2008
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