|
Euro 2008 Final Spain Beat Germany |
|
|
|
|
Written by Administrator
|
|
Sunday, 29 June 2008 |
|
Euro 2008 Final – Spain v Germany
Spain met Germany in the Euro 2008 Final with the Spanish looking the better side over the last few matches but the Germans, being 3 time winners weren't going to be an easy side to beat.
Even when behind you can't discount the Germans, they have a track record of coming back from behind to win big football matches but tonight wasn't going to be their night and the Germans couldn't get back into the match after the Spanish team scored.
In the end, by far the best team won, with Spain beating Germany 1-0.
The first 10 minutes of the final saw Germany looking a much better side than they did in their semi-final match against Turkey with a good deal of possession and they were trying to make a few chances, lacking in their last match.
The Spanish however, in the 13th minute attacked strongly and it was almost an own goal when the ball comes off Metzelder but the German goalkeeper, Lehmann made a marvellous save, keeping the ball out.
Torres in the 25th minute made a great run with the ball but lost it close to the German keeper but he kept the pressure on, continuing to run at the ball and the goalkeeper had to scramble to clear the ball for a throw in. The Germans counter-attacked with a run back to the Spanish half, winning a corner. It was headed away by Puyol and the ball falls to Ballack who takes a shot but it's blocked by Ramos. The German fans called for a penalty but it looks like he used his chest and play carried on.
Torres, after keeping the pressure on the Germans, finally got his pay-off in the 32th minute when he chipped the ball over Lehmann, making it 1-0 to Spain, a beautiful finish!
Ballack takes a knock in the 35th minute and is out of the match with blood on his face for a few minutes, after coming on, he's promptly sent back off to get the blood taken off his face. He's in trouble again a few minutes later with Puyol after a foul on Fabregas. Casillas is booked at the same time for taking part in an argument that wasn't his.
Half time and the Spanish are certainly having a much better game than the Germans and are showing flair and style. They are so sharp and fast on the break that they're giving the Germans real problems and no doubt Joachim Low had a few choice words with his side during the break.
Klose received an accidental kick in the groin from Marchena shortly after the second half started, stopping play for a couple of minutes and Klose was taken off for treatment.
Torres continued to put pressure on the German goal and managed to get in a few good shots in the 53rd and 54th minutes, missing narrowly in both cases, Lehmann managing to keep the shots away from goal.
The Spanish had full control of the match at this stage but in the 59th minute, Ballack was lucky not to score as the German side desperately tried to get back into the game.
Tempers flared in the 63rd minute as Podolski is pulled off the ball and Silva then seemed to aim a head butt at Podolski. A free kick is awarded but the Spanish coach pulls Silva off and replaces him with Cazorla, possibly due to his temper.
Interestingly, Spain replace Torres with Guiza in the 78th minute, even though Torres is having a great match. Germany swap Gomez for Klose in the 79th.
A minute later and Spain almost make it 2-0 and seem in complete control of the game. With so many chances and near misses, it only seemed a matter of time before the Spanish put the game beyond the realms of the German side. The Spanish fans are urging their team on and singing the National Anthem as they start to see the end in sight.
Even in the closing minutes of the game, the Spanish team took the game to the German side, playing lovely attacking football whereas Germany are playing slowly and even though their chances of winning were dying out, they don't seem to have any urgency about them.
As the final whistle sounded, the fans went wild as the substitutes and Spanish bench ran on the park to celebrate a well deserved victory and their first major tournament win since the 1964 European Championship.
A fantastic match for the Spanish but the Germans just didn't really make anything of the game. The way in which the Spanish team have performed throughout the Euro 2008 tournament are what others inspire to be. Fantastic winners for the best team in the tournament. |
Home 
All Football News 
