Watch out, Cristoph Metzelder just hoofed another clearance in your direction.
Pregame odds were split relatively evenly between Spain and Germany. What I'd like to have seen where the odds that that ABC's pre-Euro 2008 final MLS tilt between DC United and the Los Angeles Galaxy would have been the more exciting affair than Spain's 1-0 triumph.
Take nothing away from Spain, which was the class of the tournament, but the slightly favored Germans were dreadful. First and foremost Michael Ballack might just have well sat this one out with his alleged calf injury. Talk about choking on the big stage. Germany clearly needed a leader out there and they didn't have one. Guess he'll have the scar to remember Vienna by.
Aside from maybe Bastian Schweinsteiger (a big maybe) did anyone on the German side play well? More specifically, did anyone not play poorly?
Lukas Podolski must have thought he was wearing the red-and-white hoops of Bayern, because he was invisible. Same thing for Miroslav Klose...and everyone else. Outside the first 10 minutes and a brief flurry in midway through the second half, Germany didn't show anything. Where was the much talked about German resolve? At home with a Black Forest chocolate cake?
Did Iker Casillas even make a save?
Perhaps that's a testament to how dominate the Spanish passing game was on the game. Down a goal in the last 15 minutes, Germany couldn't even win the ball thanks to the back-checking by Xavi, Dani Guiza, Santi Corzola and Marcos Senna.
Not against script for a game that truly was a pick 'em, it was won by a moment of brilliance by Torres (or perhaps a moment of senility by Jens Lehmann). Not that Germany had any other options, but Torres vs. Metzelder and Mertesacker was a bigger mismatch since Charles Barkley vs. the Angolan National basketball team. Torres ran them ragged and came close a couple more times. Maybe, like the Russians, the Germans were simply scared shitless by the Spanish.
Sergio Ramos, even with the many free kicks conceded, was frankly awesome and was unlucky not to head Spain to a 2-0 lead before the half.
There's really not to much to say about this one. Spain's passing coupled with Germany's inaction equaled Espana's first major trophy since 1964. If you look back, the only real danger Spain ever dealt with during the entire tournament -- the Greek game doesn't count, even though they fell behind -- was when Casillas used his left leg to turn back Mauro Camorensi in the quarterfinals.
Six up, six down. Put it in the books for Spain, a thoroughly deserving champion.
Luis Aragones, you are the shit.
Pregame odds were split relatively evenly between Spain and Germany. What I'd like to have seen where the odds that that ABC's pre-Euro 2008 final MLS tilt between DC United and the Los Angeles Galaxy would have been the more exciting affair than Spain's 1-0 triumph.
Take nothing away from Spain, which was the class of the tournament, but the slightly favored Germans were dreadful. First and foremost Michael Ballack might just have well sat this one out with his alleged calf injury. Talk about choking on the big stage. Germany clearly needed a leader out there and they didn't have one. Guess he'll have the scar to remember Vienna by.
Aside from maybe Bastian Schweinsteiger (a big maybe) did anyone on the German side play well? More specifically, did anyone not play poorly?
Lukas Podolski must have thought he was wearing the red-and-white hoops of Bayern, because he was invisible. Same thing for Miroslav Klose...and everyone else. Outside the first 10 minutes and a brief flurry in midway through the second half, Germany didn't show anything. Where was the much talked about German resolve? At home with a Black Forest chocolate cake?
Did Iker Casillas even make a save?
Perhaps that's a testament to how dominate the Spanish passing game was on the game. Down a goal in the last 15 minutes, Germany couldn't even win the ball thanks to the back-checking by Xavi, Dani Guiza, Santi Corzola and Marcos Senna.
Not against script for a game that truly was a pick 'em, it was won by a moment of brilliance by Torres (or perhaps a moment of senility by Jens Lehmann). Not that Germany had any other options, but Torres vs. Metzelder and Mertesacker was a bigger mismatch since Charles Barkley vs. the Angolan National basketball team. Torres ran them ragged and came close a couple more times. Maybe, like the Russians, the Germans were simply scared shitless by the Spanish.
Sergio Ramos, even with the many free kicks conceded, was frankly awesome and was unlucky not to head Spain to a 2-0 lead before the half.
There's really not to much to say about this one. Spain's passing coupled with Germany's inaction equaled Espana's first major trophy since 1964. If you look back, the only real danger Spain ever dealt with during the entire tournament -- the Greek game doesn't count, even though they fell behind -- was when Casillas used his left leg to turn back Mauro Camorensi in the quarterfinals.
Six up, six down. Put it in the books for Spain, a thoroughly deserving champion.
Luis Aragones, you are the shit.
The Spanish definitely deserved to win with the way they played throughout the tournament. You have to wonder where Lehmann was going on the goal by Torres. He was headed to a very difficult angle all by himself. If Crazy Jens just stays at home it would have taken a great shot to beat him.
I'm disappointed that Aragones goes out as a winner though. He should have been fired for his unbelievably awful comments about Henry a few years ago. Only in a country where it is acceptable to make monkey noises and throw bananas at black players does that go so lightly punished.
Great tournament, and great coverage here on the site.
It's always nice when the most deserving team wins, since that's never a guarantee in soccer. And it's especially nice when a team wins by playing actual soccer, as opposed to, say, the combination of luck, douchbaggery, goaltending, acting, and timewasting that the Italians used just a couple years ago.
And isn't it ironic that Spain beat Germany through sheer speed and strength (on Torres' goal)? Literally, Germany had one Spanish-sized player on the field (Lahm), and Spain had two German-sized players on the field (Torres and Ramos), but Spain was able to find the right matchup when they needed it.
On Aragones: I was in Spain at the time of that comment, and I can safely say that it's not so much a reflection of Aragones being a dick, so much as it is the complete lack of political correctness in Spain. It wasn't said in a malicious way, but rather in a typical Spanish way of speaking. And considering Eto'o, who had played for the coach in Mallorca, as well as others, came out strongly in his defense, as well as the extreme show of support by his players today, I think Aragones is probably a decent guy.
Great tourney, great coverage. But, man, no mention of the epic kick to the nuts in Euro tourney history?!
Close match, and Spain took advantage when they had a sliver of an opportunity (as the good teams do). In such a close contest ...
The Germans got what they deserved for playing an attacking midfielder (Lahm) in defense. He scored a great goal for them against the Turks, but Lahm also gave away a couple. In the final, asking a guy to do his un-specialty hurt them.
Decent game and at least no deciding PKs.
By the admittedly low standards of a big final between national teams, it was a beauty.
Btw, spain has to be one of the most diminuitive teams I've ever seen on the pitch, yet it didn't seem to hurt them too much against the gigantic Germans.
Also... if Ramos isn't yet at his peak in terms of technical skill, field awareness and speed, that's a terrifying thought for those of us who support teams other than Real. I don't think there's another player in the world right now who covers as much real estate as he can. If I were forming my Dream XI tomorrow, I'd start with him, even before Ronaldo or Messi.
Ramos good? Uhh not really. Did you see his horrific back pass that almost gifted Germany with a goal? His header was not even good (straight at keeper) and only reason he had it so open is Podolski for no reason wandered behind to keep him onsides when the offsides trap had been easily sprung on him.
We could easily be hailing Germany as the victors if not for a Lahm and Lehman complete gaff that gave Spain a free goal. Granted Spain looked the better team but they were extremely fortunate to get that goal.
Actually, Shane, I thought Ramos played a great tournament. He's always being maligned for the occasional boneheaded play, mostly for moving up too brazenly. But at least his mistakes are the result of trying to accomplish something. Conversely, Germany lost because they seemed afraid to try anything risky.
Ramos did have a strong tourney but his youth shows. I think he could be incredible in a few years though. You could count easily 3-4 occasions in the tournament where he made a large mistake. Fortunately, none of those blunders resulted in goals so we don't hear about them, but they still happened.
Ramos is a loose cannon, but incredibly fun to watch. I for one would like to see him stay at Real.
I'm irked at people saying Casillas didn't have anything to do in this game, but I remember at least 2, perhaps 3 clearances from crosses/set pieces that totally cut through the defense of Portugal, but Iker cleared safely and confidently. That kind of security and confidence built the basis for a solid defense that not for nothing failed to concede in the elimination phase.
To me, Iker's the goalie of the tournament.