The Hindu

Vienna, Austria, Jun 30: Fernando Torres finally lived up to his billing as one of the world's great strikers by scoring Sunday to give Spain a 1-0 win over Germany in the European Championship final.

Torres, who had been overshadowed by teammate David Villa all tournament, scored in the 33rd minute to down the three-time European champions and earn his nation's first major title in 44 years.

Touching a sliding pass from Xavi Hernandez past Philipp Lahm, Torres turned and ran past his marker on the opposite side, collected the ball and lifted a shot over sliding goalkeeper Jens Lehmann and into the far corner.

Spain had more chances but the goal was enough to give the country its first title since the 1964 European Championship.

Germany had a strong appeal for a first-half penalty turned down but, despite captain Michael Ballack's imperious performance at Ernst Happel Stadium, could not find a way past the Spain defense.

Ballack's tender right calf had meant that, until right before kickoff, it looked like he was about to add a missed European Championship final to the World Cup final he sat out in 2002.

But he took his place in the lineup and, against a team with even slightly less skill and passion, could have been the driving force in another German win.

Germany dominated the opening exchanges until a lucky break in the 14th gave the Spanish their first chance on goal and a boost that clearly lifted their play.

On a rare foray forward, midfielder Andres Iniesta sent a cross into the box from the left and Germany defender Christoph Metzelder stuck out a boot to send the ball rocketing toward his own goal. Only a diving reaction save by Jens Lehmann kept it out and prevented an own-goal.

Spain never looked back.

Per Mertesacker had to dispossess Torres in the area with a well-timed sliding tackle before Torres found space for a couple of dangerous headers. He put the first just over the bar before sending the second against the foot of the post with Lehmann beaten.

Germany then was left to rue its luck in what could have been the decisive moment of the match in the 29th. Fullback Joan Capdevila mis-controlled the ball and it clearly bounced up to hit his hand, but referee Roberto Rosetti waved away the appeals.

Moments later, Torres showed why he is rated one of the best strikers in the world.

With leading tournament scorer Villa absent because of injury, Torres was again the sole outlet in attack. He took Xavi's pass and finished off his chance by flipping the ball over Lehmann and watching it roll softly into the corner for his second goal of Euro 2008.

Germany replaced the struggling Lahm with Marcell Jansen at halftime but David Silva still got in a 54th-minute shot that right back Sergio Ramos almost deflected in with a back heel.

Ballack, who had already received treatment for a head wound and was railing against every decision in Spain's favor, shot past the post and almost set up substitute Kevin Kuranyi with a cross that goalkeeper Iker Casillas just tipped away.

But from then on, aside from isolated passages of play, it was all Spain.

Ramos sent a diving header onto the bar from Xavi's deep cross, Iniesta almost scored with a near post shot that Torsten Frings just managed to block, and Senna just missed a cross in front of an open goal in the 82nd.

It was a dramatic change from the start of the match, when all the attacking had come from Germany.

Exploiting space left by Ramos, who was pushing forward down the wing and leaving captain Carles Puyol to cover, Miroslav Klose, Lahm and Ballack all found openings.

Klose could have had a shot in the third, but his poor touch took the ball out for a goal kick, Lahm sent a cross too far across the area, and Ballack beat Puyol before the recovering Ramos got a toe to the cross to deflect it from danger.

That was about as good as it got for Germany.

Lineups:

Spain: Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Carles Puyol, Carlos Marchena, Joan Capdevila, Xavi Hernandez, David Silva (Santi Cazorla, 66), Marcos Senna, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas (Xabi Alonso, 63), Fernando Torres (Dani Guiza, 78).

Germany: Jens Lehmann, Christoph Metzelder, Per Mertesacker, Philipp Lahm (Marcell Jansen, 46), Arne Friedrich, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Hitzlsperger (Kevin Kuranyi, 58), Torsten Frings, Michael Ballack, Lukas Podolski, Miroslav Klose (Mario Gomez, 79).