It’s exuberance versus experience, the nearly-rans against the winning mentality, as Spain or Germany will lift the European Championship trophy on Sunday.

The history behind these two teams going into the Euro 2008 Final could not be more different. The Furia Roja have just one piece of silverware in their entire trophy cabinet – the 1964 European Championship – and have not reached the Final since 1984. The Germans are the most successful side in this tournament and play the decider for the sixth time, having won in 1972, ’80 and ’96.

Their styles of football are also in sharp contrast, although for all Germany’s pragmatism they have scored 10 goals in the previous five games and won the knockouts against Portugal and Turkey by a 3-2 result. Joachim Low’s men have been unusually shaky at the back, although the entire squad has improved since switching to a lone striker system and leaving the unfortunate Mario Gomez on the bench. The versatility of Lukas Podolski and Bastian Schweinsteiger means they can take wide positions and cause serious problems for opposition lines.

Spain may also be forced to adopt a similar tactic, as top scorer David Villa is out of action. The Valencia star limped off during their 3-0 semi-final victory over Russia after taking a free kick caused a small tear in the back of his right thigh. “I’m a little sad that I won’t be there to take part but it’s better that a teammate who is fit plays instead of me, particularly as my injury has left me limping quite badly,” said the man who has bagged four goals.

There are two options open to Luis Aragones, as although Daniel Guiza has proven himself on this stage with two goals coming off the bench, the impact that Cesc Fabregas had on the semi-final cannot be underestimated. The Arsenal midfielder replaced Villa after that injury and went on to set up two of Spain’s three goals against Russia. Considering the strength of Germany’s midfield, having Fabregas there could be the key. Bearing in mind also that Andres Iniesta is not in great shape and has looked sluggish so far, we could see Juventus transfer target Xabi Alonso step in.

Low does not have changes forced upon him, but he may well consider them anyway following the disappointing performance in the semi-final. Turkey were extremely unfortunate to go out 3-2 in stoppages to Philipp Lahm’s clincher and it will take a considerable step up in form to stop Spain. Simon Rolfes is likely to make way for Torsten Frings, who had failed a fitness test due to his broken rib ahead of that game only to come on for the second half anyway as Rolfes got a nasty knock to the head. Thomas Hitzlsperger also looks certain to be in the starting line-up in Vienna, as he was the one who set up Lahm’s dramatic winner.

The concerns are at the back, where Germany have been wobbly throughout the campaign. Jens Lehmann was far from blameless against Turkey and his confidence may have been hit, while there is precious little mobility from centre-backs Christoph Metzelder and Per Mertesacker. When Fernando Torres and Fabregas are running at them, it’ll take every ounce of German calm to avoid pressing the panic button.

Euro 2008 has been dramatic and unpredictable from start to finish, so this Final looks set to be no different.

Key clash: Fernando Torres v Christoph Metzelder
These two have already battled many times in the Madrid derby, though Torres has developed his game in the last year at Liverpool. Real Madrid’s Metzelder is Germany’s man on the inside, having seen most of Spain’s players from close up and identifying their weaknesses, but he is not the world’s fastest full-back and so far his team’s defence has not impressed.

Italian connection
Spain progressed past the quarter-final stage thanks to a victory on penalties against Italy. That was also the only game they have not won in 90 minutes and in which they have failed to score. Although none of the squad members play in Italy, that could soon change. Xabi Alonso has been on the verge of joining Juventus for several weeks, while the Bianconeri are sending representatives to this Final to watch Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski. Luca Toni has said he is now cheering on Germany for his Bayern Munich teammates, but Fabio Cannavaro is a Real Madrid man on the other side of that divide.

Did You Know..
David Villa could become the first player since Marco Van Basten in 1988 to be both top scorer and the recipient of a winners’ medal.

Germany go into their record sixth European Championship Final, but there is a curious trend. They won in 1972, ’80 and ’96, losing the last clash in the ‘between’ campaigns of 1976 and ’92. If that continues, they are due a defeat in 2008.

The only Spanish triumph was when they were hosting the tournament in 1964 and saw off the USSR 2-1 in Madrid thanks to a late Marcelino strike.

Luis Aragones would be the oldest ever Coach to lift the trophy, aged 69 years and 337 days.

The Mannschaft have won three of their five meetings with Spain in major tournaments, but lost a friendly fixture 3-1 in February 2003. Germany have not beaten the Iberians since a 4-1 thrashing in August 2000.

Spain are the only group winners to get past the quarter-finals and could be the first side since 1984 to win the trophy after a 100 per cent record in the opening phase. France took that victory by beating Spain in the Final.
Germany (probable): Lehmann; Friedrich, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Lahm; Hitzlsperger, Frings; Schweinsteiger, Ballack, Podolski; Klose

Spain (probable): Casillas; Capdevila, Marchena, Puyol, Sergio Ramos; Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Senna; Silva, Fabregas; Torres

Ref: Rosetti (Ita)

Ref From channel4.com

Spain have booked a place in the Euro 2008 Final after shrugging off Russia 3-0 with a second half tour de force.

Spain started a stormy night in Vienna looking to join Germany in what would be their first European Championship Final in 24 years.

The fancied Spainards were favourites after squeezing past Italy on penalties, but they were expected to face a stern test against a Russia side who stunned Holland in the quarter-finals.

The Spanish side, who made no changes from their clash against the Azzurri, were forced to wear yellow against the red of Russia, much to the annoyance of their traditionalist Coach Luis Aragones.

Russia made one change with Vasili Berezutski filling in for suspended defensive sharp-shooter Denis Kolodin.

Aragones’ men enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges as the rain started to pour down and Sergio Ramos caused some problems running at the Russians.

Fernando Torres had the first shot of the game in the fifth minute when he hooked a shot on the turn from just inside the box, but his effort was blocked by Igor Akinfeev’s outstretched leg.

Akinfeev was again alert to make a diving parry from David Villa, but the Russians were getting into the game and in-demand forward Andrei Arshavin was brought down on a menacing run.

Roman Pavlyuchenko blasted the resulting free-kick just over the bar and the pace slowed.

Andres Iniesta had half a chance in the box, but he couldn’t connect and the danger was cleared.

Konstantin Zyrianov brought down David Silva outside the box with a cynical challenge, but he escaped a booking and Villa’s strike was easily gathered.

The ball broke to Pavlyuchenko on the edge of the area and his strike curled agonisingly wide.

Villa went to ground injured and left the field after 35 minutes to be replaced by Cesc Fabregas.

Pavlyuchenko had the ball taken off his feet from seven yards out and caused trouble with an ambitious diving header attempt from 10 yards.

The first half ended in a tense stalemate with neither side making a cohesive case for a place in the Final.

Xavi made it 1-0 to Spain five minutes after the break when he connected with a Iniesta cross from six yards.

Torres missed a golden chance to double the lead when he fired over from 12 yards out at a tight angle.

The Liverpool man went close from a Fabregas ball and drilled wide of the post before he was surprisingly replaced by Dani Guiza.

But the change proved to be inspired as just minutes later Fabregas flicked Ramos’ ball into the path of Guiza to place it past Akinfeev for 2-0.

The Russians looked deflated and Spain began to stroke the ball around with an arrogant swagger.

With eight minutes remaining any lingering doubts were extinguished when Fabregas’ inch-perfect ball found Silva in space in the box and he took a touch before placing it home for 3-0.

Iker Casillas made an excellent stop to deny Dmitri Sychev’s close-range header, while Akinfeev denied Guiza with his feet in the final minute of normal time.

A sodden Guus Hiddink can be proud of his side’s tournament, but it’s Spain who have a date in Vienna on Sunday evening.
Russia (probable): Akinfeev; Anyukov, Ignatsevich, V Berezutski, Zhirkov; Semak; Bilyaletdinov, Saenko (Sychev 57), Zyrianov; Arshavin; Pavlyuchenko

Spain (probable): Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Puyol, Marchena, Capdevila; Senna; Iniesta, Xavi (Xabi Alonso 68), Silva; Villa (Fabregas 35), Torres (Guiza 68)

Ref: De Bleeckere (Bel)

Ref From channel4.com

Germany out Turkeyed the Turks with a last-gasp win in arguably the best match of the tournament. Turkey dominated the possession and made the most chances, but the Germans came from behind to take the lead before surrendering the advantage and then dealing a last-minute knockout blow.

Germany lined up against Turkey as strong favourites after disposing of Portugal in the quarter-finals. Coach Joachim Low opted to stick with the 4-2-3-1 system that had worked so well, with Miroslav Klose again taking the lone striker role. Behind him Michael Ballack took a more advanced role, while Lukas Podolski and Bastian Schweinsteiger held the wide positions. Arne Friedrich, Thomas Hitzlsperger and Simon Rolfes all kept their places after Torsten Frings failed a late fitness test.

Turkey boss Fatih Terim faced some tough decisions going into this game with so many absences. No less than four players were suspended and a hefty injury list, including stars Nihat Kahveci, Servet Cetin and Emre Belozoglu, meant Ayhan Akman, Ugur Boral and Semih Senturk all made their first starting appearance of the tournament.

The match started with a message of mutual respect from the two captains Rustu Recber and Ballack, asking the fans to unite in a celebration of football and denounce racism. Once the niceties were concluded Germany took control of possession in the early stages, although it was Turkey who came closest to opening the scoring in the first five minutes, with the German defenders twice having to clear dangerous crosses from inside their six-yard box.

The Crescent Stars also had the first shot as Colin Kazim-Richards struck a long-range effort into the chest of German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, and the veteran No 1 was soon called into action again as he smothered the ball at the feet of Hamit Altintop after the midfielder had caught Philipp Lahm in possession on the edge of the area.

Turkey continued to threaten and Kazim-Richards was unlucky to see his rocket fly back off the crossbar following a slick move after Schweinsteiger had given the ball way in midfield, resulting in the English-born winger striking the cut back around the penalty spot.

It was Germany’s turn to worry the opposition defence next though, as Podolski managed to poke a loose ball ahead of Ballack in the penalty area, but makeshift centre-back Mehmet Topal cleared the threat with an excellent last-ditch tackle. However, Low’s side were still struggling to keep possession in Turkey’s half and were surprisingly second best.

The Turkish domination was represented in the scoreline after 22 minutes when Kazim-Richards’ looping shot hit the crossbar again, but this time the rebound fell to Ugur Boral to strike the ball through the legs of Lehmann, just ricocheting over the line under the desperate goalkeeper’s body.

But their lead lasted just four minutes. Podolski found acres of space on the left wing and slid the ball low across goal for Schweinsteiger to beat his marker to the cross and flick the ball with the outside of his foot, leaving Rustu with no chance from such close range.

Lehmann was nearly caught out when he started to come out of his goal early for a floated Hamit Altintop free-kick, before the Stuttgart new boy back-pedalled and managed to tip the ball over the bar at full stretch.

Germany looked set to complete a comeback when Hitzlsperger set Podolski free on the half way line, but after sprinting clear of the Turkish defenders the Bayern Munich forward fired his shot just over the bar after opting for power over accuracy.

Lehmann redeemed himself after his nervy start to the game when he pushed away Hamit Altintop’s free-kick, with the German-born midfielder trying to catch the former Milan ‘keeper by surprise with a powered shot from a tight angle.

Ayhan Akman and Rolfes both had to go off the field for treatment after a nasty clash of heads left both players bleeding, although the German’s cut around his eye was the most worrying. The temporary reduction of players saw the game open up though, as Germany and Turkey both broke quickly before Sabri Sarioglu’s powerful shot fizzed narrowly over the bar.

The injury to Rolfes proved to be more serious than originally thought and seemed to have forced Low into a gamble, as Frings prepared to come on despite failing his fitness test before the match. However, a change of plan saw Rolfes came back on to the field of play still looking a little dazed from the collision with two minutes left before half time.

He didn’t have to wait long to get a longer rest though, as Swiss referee Massimo Busacca called time on a thoroughly entertaining first half, even if the Turkish would be by far the happiest of the two teams after exploiting the space in the German defence and looking the most dangerous.

Frings was introduced by the start of the second half after a closer inspection of Rolfes’ injury. Low resisted the urge to change his tactics though, with Frings being a straight replacement beside Hitzlsperger as one of the two holding midfielders.

Germany were outraged five minutes into the second half when Lahm cut inside on the left wing and went down under a challenge from Sabri right on the edge of the penalty area. The Turkish full-back certainly seemed to make contact with the Bayern Munich star, but the referee waved away the fierce protests for a penalty as Turkey played on.

The second half continued a lot more even than the first, although Germany were still suffering due to their poor distribution from the back. Both teams were finding chances much harder to come by though, even if Turkey did start regain the advantage as the game entered the final 20 minutes of normal time.

Ugur Boral kept Lehmann on his toes as he cut inside from the left wing, but his shot was hit straight at the German shot stopper at the near post. Hitzlsperger responded immediately with a trademark left-foot drive from range that skimmed the outside of the post with Rustu beaten.

It was Germany who took the advantage with 11 minutes left, completely against the run of play. Lahm crossed deep from the left and Rustu rashly rushed off his goal line to punch, but was beaten to the ball by Klose who headed into the gaping net.

It wasn’t to last though as Turkey once again showed their resilience by hitting back almost immediately. Full-back Sabri beat Lahm on the right wing and crossed low into the six-yard box. Semih met the ball first and flicked the ball on towards the near post, where it rolled over the line past Lehmann who had already gone down to collect the cross.

With 30 seconds remaining of normal time there was one final twist left as the Turkish bench got involved in a row as they tried to bring on their third substitute. Lahm found himself free in the penalty area with his back to goal and turned well before striking the ball above the dive of Rustu and into the roof of the net to give Germany the lead.

There were three minutes of injury time still to play, but Turkey couldn’t find one of their trademark late comebacks to deny Germany a place in the Final despite the Crescent Stars dominating much of the game.
Germany: Lehmann; Friedrich, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Lahm; Hitzlspelger, Rolfes (Frings 46); Schweinsteiger, Ballack, Podolski; Klose (Jansen 92)

Turkey: Rustu; Sabri, Mehmet Topal, Gokhan Zan, Hakan Balta; Mehmet Aurelio; Kazim-Richards (Tumer Metin 92), Hatim Altintop, Ayhan Akman (Mevlut Erdinc 81); Ugur Boral (Gokdeniz 84); Semih Senturk

Ref: Busacca (Swi)

Ref From channel4.com