Metzelder looks to history

Germany defender ready to tackle Aragones' men

Last updated: 27th June 2008

Metzelder looks to history

Metzelder: Ready for Spain

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Germany defender Christoph Metzelder believes Spain's lack of final experience could count against them in Sunday's Euro 2008 showpiece.

Spain's last final appearance in a major final came in the 1984 European Championship when they were beaten by host nation France.

In the intervening period, Germany have featured in five finals, lifting the World Cup in 1990 and the European crown in 1996.

Luis Aragones' men finally laid to rest the hoodoo of five quarter-final exits this summer with victory over Italy, before seeing off Russia in the last four.

But Real Madrid centre-back Metzelder, who was on the losing side for Germany against Brazil in the 2002 World Cup final, believes history could haunt the country where he plays his club football.

Trauma

He said: "I know the Spanish have real respect for us, but there is a self-inflicted trauma in the team.

"It has taken them decades to move beyond the quarter-final of a tournament and that could be a factor.

"They will respect that, but this is a big game and big games have a different set of laws."

Analyst

And Metzelder is confident that Germany know just what to expect from Aragones' side - without any extra input from his time with Real.

He said: "We have been watching all of Spain's games for the last three years.

"Our senior analyst travels to Spain regularly to watch them play and we trust what he has told us.

"If I am asked any questions about them, I will be happy to answer, but there has been no need so far."