Spain finally wins big game
VIENNA, Austria - A big-game flop no more, Spain won the European Championship 1-0 over Germany on Sunday for its first major title in 44 years.
Fernando Torres scored in the 33rd minute, and the Spaniards never backed down against such a formidable opponent. Their last significant title came in the 1964 Euros at home.
"It is a privilege to be in the national team and live through the most beautiful moment of getting the cup," Torres said. "It will be good not only for Spain but also for football because the team that played best won."
In beating a team that makes a habit of appearing in championship finals, the Spaniards put to rest a reputation for underachieving. Always loaded with talented players, Spain has spent four decades falling short of expectations.
That all changed at these Euros, where the Spaniards swept their first-round games, eliminated World Cup champion Italy in a penalty-kicks shootout in the quarterfinals, then routed Russia 3-0 in the semifinals.
"We have won in a brilliant way," coach Luis Aragones said. "We will be able to start saying we can win, a European championship as well as any other thing."
Against the highly accomplished Germans, they weren't intimidated. They got the 1 goal they needed - from a slumping striker, no less - and set off chants of "ES-PANA," and "Ole, Ole Ole" at the final whistle.
The entire Spanish squad ran over to the huge rooting section of red and gold, exchanging hugs, while many of the spent Germans collapsed to the turf.
"It is to me the most important day in Spanish football in many, many years," Torres said.
When Spain goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas accepted the trophy on a stage, the Spanish fans began chanting the melody to their national anthem, which has no words. Thousands of camera flashes went off as the players jumped in place, then headed onto the field to show off their prize.
The Spaniards weren't close to finished with their celebration that was so long in the making. They marched to their rooting section, hoisting the cup and saluting their flag-waving, firecracker-exploding fans.
Germany has won three Euros and three World Cups but was no match in this final. Captain Michael Ballack, questionable before the game with a calf injury, started but hardly was noticeable - except when he left for several minutes to have a bloody right eye treated.
"We had a great tournament but made one mistake too many," Ballack said. "We were lacking of power against a great Spanish team. We couldn't keep up with them."
Torres, who had 33 goals for Liverpool this season but has been invisible in Euros, came through off a brilliant feed from Xavi Hernandez.
Spain has never made a World Cup final and was in one other Euros final, aside from the 1964 triumph. That was a loss to France in 1984.
Otherwise, there had been nothing but disappointment and early exits from big tournaments. Two years ago, the Spaniards were dynamic in the opening round in Germany, then fizzled against France.
With two of the world's top clubs, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, the nation has tons of talent. What it has lacked is fortitude.
No one can say that anymore.