大象传媒

Vienna

The most gifted and complete team won Euro 2008 - and for that I am truly thankful. I thought at one stage it might be the Dutch before I briefly flirted with the idea that Russia may well exceed expectations. But ultimately there can be no arguing with Spain's status as worthy champions.

It could have been so different had Miroslav Klose capitalised on Sergio Ramos's awful pass to Carles Puyol after just three minutes but destiny ensured victory was with the deserved.

In here at the Ernst Happel Stadium on this balmy June evening, Spain not only ended 44 years of international failure and frustration but delivered a gift rich in significance to those who subscribe to a brand of football that truly is the beautiful game.

Spain may have encountered physically superior opponents in Germany but their ability to retain possession, utilise space and undermine their opponents with a defence-splitting pass was evident for all to see.

Many had questioned whether the Spanish would suffer a serious bout of stage fright. Speaking to journalists from across Europe during the day, the majority of them predicted a Germany win despite accepting that Spain were the more talented team.

For the opening 10 minutes of the final, it looked as though those fears might prove true as Joachim Loew's team started impressively while Spain, coached by the w, played too many uncharacterised long and errant passes.

Once the latter found their rhythm, though, it was clear they were the superior team. Had they scored more goals, it would not have been an unfair reflection on the game.

Xavi Hernandez was superb, playing a number of piercing passes that exposed the frailties of the German central defensive pairing of Per Mertesacker and Christoph Metzelder.

Germany rattled Spain at times - witness David Silva's idiotic and unpunished headbutt on Lukas Podolski - but Loew's side lacked the fluency and guile of their opponents. That German striker Kevin Kuranyi was making tackles yards from his own goalline with seconds remaining underlined the ease with which Spain closed out the final.

, the Brazilian-born defensive shield, has been superb for Spain throughout Euro 2008, allowing those in front of him to express themselves while protecting the defence behind him. It would be no huge surprise if he was named as the player of the tournament.

Spain scored 12 goals and conceded just three to claim the , making a mockery of the press that so hounded Aragones after .

The final was Aragones's last match in charge of Spain, and the victory is vindication of his single-minded approach, his stubborn insistence on doing things his way.

The 69-year-old's relationship with his domestic media has often been testy, and he could have been excused a wry smile as he faced the Spanish press after the final to the sight of many of them wearing his team's colours. Furthermore, he has made it clear he feels the preceding the tournament, a decision that now looks short-sighted.

Yet, most importantly, his players respected him and had a firm belief in his methods, many revealing he was a different person away from the glare of the media, happy to joke and make everyone feel at ease. Match-winner Torres declared after the final that Aragones was a "12th man" for the team and an inspirational force.

Aragones warned his team on the eve of the game that nobody would remember the losers. They obviously listened.

The watershed match for many was Spain's quarter-final victory over Italy on penalties, a win that led to an upsurge in self-belief among their supporters both here and back home.

Spain have often been regarded as a team that lacked unity, with strong regional differences undermining their cause. In this regard, Euro 2008 could prove to be a symbolic as well a purely footballing victory. The idea that it is OK to be Spanish as well as, say, Catalan.

Time will tell if that feeling lasts, but there is no doubt Spain are worthy winners of Euro 2008.