Spain Beats Germany to Win Title
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Tuesday 1st July, 2008 !European Championship Final 2008 Spain beats Germany to win title by Stuart Condie midfield marshaled by bounced up to hit his hand, but ref- VIENNA, Austria (AP) - Michael Ballack and eventu- eree Roberto Rosetti waved away Fernando Torres finally lived ally wore out their opponents the appeals. up to his billing as one of the until it seemed Spain was Moments later, Torres showed world's great strikers Sunday simply counting down time why he is rated one of the best by scoring to give Spain a 1-0 until the final whistle. strikers in the world. win over Germany and the Red-shirted fans started to With leading tournament scorer European Championship greet each successful pass Villa absent because of injury, title. with cheers of "Ole!" before Torres was the sole outlet in attack Torres, who had been erupting into relieved deliri- but flipped the ball over Lehmann overshadowed by teammate um on the whistle. and watched it roll softly into the David Villa all tournament, The overjoyed players corner for his second goal of Euro scored in the 33rd minute of gathered to throw the 69-year- 2008. the final to down the three- old Aragones into the air in "Lahm was in a better position, time European champions celebration, while the massed but for a moment he relaxed and and earn his nation's first ranks of Spanish fans sang that was to my advantage," Torres major title in 44 years. themselves hoarse with "Viva said. "It was a little detail. We have Touching a sliding pass Espana" as fireworks went off grown and can control these little from Xavi Hernandez past overhead. details." Philipp Lahm, Torres ran "It is the most important Ballack, who had already past his marker on the oppo- day in Spanish football in received treatment for a head site side, collected the ball many, many years," Torres wound and was railing against and lifted a shot over sliding said. every decision against Germany, goalkeeper Jens Lehmann Germany, playing in its shot past the post and almost set up and into the far corner. seventh European substitute Kevin Kuranyi with a "Fernando is a great play- Championship final, had a cross that goalkeeper Iker Casillas er," Spain coach Luis strong appeal for a first-half just tipped away. Aragones said. "He can go penalty turned down but, But aside from isolated passages anywhere. Why not? He real- despite Ballack's imperious of play, it was all Spain. ly has extra speed, he knows performance, could not find a Sergio Ramos sent a diving how to dribble and we always way past the Spain defense. header onto the bar from Xavi's tell him he is so young he can Ballack's tender right calf deep cross, Iniesta almost scored learn everything and be one had meant that, until right with a near post shot that Torsten of the best players in the before kickoff, it looked like Spain's Fernando Torres, 2nd right, holds the trophy after the Euro 2008 final between Germany and Spain in the Ernst-Happel stadium Frings blocked, and Marcos Senna world - no doubt." he was about to add a missed in Vienna, Austria, Sunday, July 29, 2008, the last day of the European Soccer Championships in Austria and Switzerland. Spain defeat- just missed a cross in front of an Spain had more chances European Championship ed Germany 1-0. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev) open goal in the 82nd. but Torres' goal was enough final to the World Cup final "All those that love football want to give the country its first he sat out in 2002. ous headers. He put the first just were quite nervous and Germany Germany then was left to rue its just that," Aragones said. "Teams title since the 1964 European But he took his place in over the bar before sending the was better," Aragones said. "But luck in what could have been the that make good combinations, make Championship. the lineup and, against a second against the foot of the post from the shot on the post, I saw we decisive moment of the match in it to the penalty area and score "We had some good match- team with even slightly less with Lehmann beaten. could win and that we could score the 29th. Fullback Joan Capdevila goals. I think people will look up to es, but the Spaniards were skill and passion, could have "The first 10 minutes today we any moment." mis-controlled the ball and it clearly this Spain and how we play." constantly good throughout been the driving force in out the tournament and another German win. played at a very high level," "He is very important for Germany coach Joachim our team," Loew said. "He did Loew said. "So they deserve a lot of very, very special Sanath celebrates 39th birthday to be champions." things in this tournament In the end, Spain was a and he was the leader for our deserved winner of the 13th team." European Championship. Germany dominated the Long known as an under- opening exchanges until a with century to reach cup final achiever that peaked between lucky break in the 14th gave KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) - Sanath final. taining 130 off 88 balls while against Bangladesh in the group tournaments rather than at the Spanish their first chance Jayasuriya - celebrating his 39th Bangladesh - with- Sangakkara continued his match and scored a matchwinning them, the team reached the on goal and a boost that clear- birthday - and fellow opener Kumar out a point - is now out of supreme form with 121 off 128 112 against Pakistan on Sunday, final at Ernst Happel ly lifted their play. the deliveries - his third one-day once again anchored the batting Stadium with a string of Iniesta sent a cross into reck- international century in the before he was bowled by left-arm beguiling attacking displays the box from the left and oning last four matches. spinner Abdur Razzak in the 45th orchestrated by a vibrant Germany defender Christoph and will Bangladesh never over. meet host looked like threatening midfield - and held true to its Metzelder stuck out a boot to Pakistan Sri Lanka’s total values in the highest pres- send the ball rocketing in its last although Raqibul SCOREBOARD sure match. toward his own goal. Only a Super Four Hasan made a fighting "I hope this is good for diving reaction save by Jens match Friday. 52 off 63 deliveries Sri Lanka Innings football as well as for Spain, Lehmann kept it out and pre- Jayasuriya and opening bats- S. Jayasuriya c Iqbal b Kapali 130 because the best team won," vented an own-goal. celebrated his man Nazimuddin K. Sangakkara b Razzak 121 Torres said. "This is not Spain never looked back. 39th birthday made 47. M. Jayawardene c Ashraful b Kapali 20 always the case. We are dou- Per Mertesacker had to with an enter- Earlier, C. Kapugedera c Kapali b Hossain 1 after C. Silva lbw b Reza 5 bly happy." dispossess Torres in the area T. Dilshan run out 2 Xavi, Andres Iniesta and with a well-timed sliding Sangakkara smashed centuries electing Monday as Sri Lanka marched into C. Vaas c Hasan b Reza 7 David Silva swapped posi- tackle before Torres found T. Thushara b Mortaza 10 the final of Asia Cup with a crush- tions constantly against a space for a couple of danger- N. Kulasekera not out 18 ing 158-run victory over Bangladesh A. Mendis not out 8 in the Super Four match. Extras: (3lb, 5w, 2nb) 10 Defending champion Sri Lanka Total: (for 8 wickets) 332. posted an imposing 332-8 from its 50 Overs: 50. overs and then spinner Muttiah Fall of wickets: 1-201, 2-235, 3-243, 4- Muralitharan grabbed 5-31 - his 263, 5-267, 6-292, 7-304, 8-310. ninth five-wicket haul in one-day Did not bat: M. Muralitharan. internationals - to bundle out Bowling: Mortaza 10-0-78-1 (3w), Bangladesh for 174 in 38.3 overs. Hossain 7-1-46-1 (2w), Razzak 10-0-71-1 Sri Lanka carried forward (2nb), Reza 9-1-51-2,Mahmudullah 8-0- two points from group 43-0, Kapali 6-0-40-2. matches and defeated Bangladesh Innings T. Iqbal c Dilshan b Vaas 8 Pakistan on Sunday M. Nazimuddin run out 47 to take its points M. Ashraful c Dilshan b Thushara 14 tally to six. It will R. Hasan c J’wardene b M’tharan 52 take on India in M. Rahim c J’wardene b Muralitharan 8 its last Super to bat first, A. Kapali lbw b Muralitharan 9 Four match Sri Lankan M. Mahmudullah c sub b Mendis 8 Thursday, but hard-hitting A. Razzak b Muralitharan 7 the points are opener F. Reza c Jayawardene b Mendis 5 enough for Jayasuriya, a M. Mortaza c Silva b Muralitharan 2 them to veteran of 414 S. Hossain not out 0 qualify one-day interna- Extras: (6lb, 7w, 1nb) 14 for the tionals, smashed 16 Total: (all out) 174 July 6 fours and six massive Overs: 38.3 Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-53, 3-96, 4-116, sixes in his 26th 5-135, 6-158, 7-162, 8-168, 9-172. ODI century. Bowling: Vaas 5-0-21-1, Kulasekera 6-1- Sangakkara, who made 101 26-0, Thushara 5-0-36-1 (2w, 1nb), Mendis 7.3-0-29-2,Muralitharan 10-1-31-5 Sri Lankan batsman Sanath Jayasuriya cel- (5w), Kapugedera 5-0-25-0.