FIFA have announced their Euro 2008 team of the tournament and, as expected, the Spanish contingent dominated the starting XI.

The European Champions were outstanding from start to finish during the Championships and they had no trouble en route to lifting the Henri Delaunay trophy.

World football’s governing body has now recognised the Spanish effort and they have included no less than six Furia Roja players in their team selection.Russia, Holland, Portugal and Germany share the five remaining places.

FIFA’s EURO 2008 starting XI:

Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Puyol, Pepe, Lahm; Senna, Xavi, Ballack, Sneijder; Villa, Arshavin.

David Villa finished the championship as top-scorer with four goals. Three of those were a hat-trick against Russia in their first group D game.

Fernando Torres’ strike in the final clinched victory over the Germans and Xavi Hernandez was officially the player of the tournament.

Ref from Salvatore Landolina - goal.com

The Spain midfielder Xavi has been named the best player at Euro 2008 by Uefa’s technical committee. The 28-year-old Barcelona midfielder, the heartbeat of his team’s midfield during the tournament, was voted the Castrol player of the tournament by a nine-strong panel of Uefa’s technical experts.

There was no place for Cristiano Ronaldo in the 23-man squad of the tournament, which included the Manchester United’s keeper Edwin van der Sar, Michael Ballack and José Bosingwa from Chelsea, Arsenal’s Cesc Fábregas, Liverpool striker Fernando Torres and Tottenham-bound midfielder Luka Modric.

Uefa’s technical director Andy Roxburgh explained Ronaldo’s absence was due to the fact Portugal did not progress further in the tournament. “This is entirely about the tournament and not about reputations or how well you started,” he said. “Of course he was mentioned - and if Portugal had gone further, there’s no argument he has been in this group because he’s a fantastic player. He was in our Champions League all-star squad for the season, and the beginning of the tournament he threatened he was going to be in this one. But then it came abruptly to an end. When it comes to a squad of the tournament, those that go to semis and final dominate things like this.”

Nine of the 23 players in the squad of the tournament were Spanish, but Roxburgh said Xavi stood out. “We think he epitomised the Spanish style of play - he was extremely influential,” Roxburgh added. “We are not all that surprised, because for more than a decade now the top youth teams in Europe have been Spanish and we have been watching Xavi and others in this squad from a very young age. Torres scored the winner in a youth final, and Fábregas was the star of the Under-17s. In this tournament, Fábregas’ influence in the periods when he did play was extremely significant.”

Roxburgh also singled out the Germany captain Ballack for praise. “Ballack was a major influence on Germany all the way to the final and he scored the best set-play goal of the competition with his free-kick against Austria,” said Roxburgh.

Ref From guardian.co.uk

Spain ended their 44-year trophy drought by defeating Germany 1-0 with a Fernando Torres goal and are crowned champions of Europe.

Two completely different schools of football went head to head in Vienna for the European Championship. Spain were the favourites after winning all their games, albeit needing penalties to see off Italy in the quarter-final, but had not won silverware since 1964 and their last major Final was 24 years ago. Germany went into a record sixth Euro Final and have proved their mental toughness on more than one occasion.

Top scorer David Villa was out of action due to a thigh strain, so Cesc Fabregas came in to adopt a more creative and packed midfield. Michael Ballack passed a last-minute fitness test to start despite a calf problem. Torsten Frings returned to the starting XI after recovering from a broken rib.

There was an early scare after three minutes when a poor Sergio Ramos backpass was intercepted by Miroslav Klose, but the Bayern Munich man was unable to make the most of this gift. Thomas Hitzlsperger had a tame shot from the left flank as it was all Germany early on with Iker Casillas dealing with some corner kicks.

However, it was nearly an own goal at the other end when a brilliant through ball found Andres Iniesta, it ricocheted off Christoph Metzelder and forced a fantastic reaction save out of Jens Lehmann.

A hopeful Xavi Hernandez free kick over the wall was easily gathered and Per Mertesacker did well to stand his ground and cut short a dangerous Fernando Torres counter.

Spain were visibly improving with every minute and should have scored on 22 minutes. Torres got behind Mertesacker for a towering header that cracked against the base of the near post! As the move continued, Capdevila blasted wide.

Germany wanted a penalty for Sergio Ramos’ handling offence to block a Ballack volley, but replays showed he made contact with his ribcage. Lukas Podolski wasted a promising opportunity when he hesitated with his weaker right foot, then another clearer handling offence by Marcos Senna was waved on.

A Fabregas strike was smothered by Lehmann, but the German defence’s utter howler handed Spain the opener on 33 minutes! Lehmann came rushing out low to gather the Fabregas pass, but Torres anticipated both the shot-stopper and Philipp Lahm to flick it over Lehmann into an empty net.

Moments later Iniesta set up a great chance for David Silva, who shinned it over with only the goalkeeper to beat. To make matters worse, Germany went down to 10 men momentarily as Ballack was left bleeding after an accidental knock to the eyebrow from Senna.

Bastian Schweinsteiger horribly wasted a free kick, while Silva’s first touch sent a good through ball out for a goal kick. Ballack got into a tussle with Casillas and Carles Puyol, with both the Chelsea and Real Madrid men booked. Spain continued to threaten on the counter as Iniesta was charged down for a corner.

Inevitably, Joachim Low had to make a change and Marcell Jansen replaced Lahm at left-back. It made little difference to a shaky defence and Lehmann got a fingertip to Xavi’s shot across the face of goal. The resulting corner fell to Silva, whose effort was nearly flicked in off Sergio Ramos. Spain almost performed a replica of the first goal, but this time Lehmann managed to scramble hold of the ball just before Torres could connect.

Time was running out and Low threw on striker Kevin Kuranyi for the disappointing midfielder Hitzlsperger. Sergio Ramos’ cross flashed past everyone and the back post, but Germany finally woke up and had a great scoring opportunity as Ballack’s low drive skimmed a coat of paint off the base off the upright from Schweinsteiger’s assist.

There was a curious moment with Torres down after a knock, but the referee did not stop play and Schweinsteiger went over to the Liverpool striker with the ball to his feet and tried to pick him up! Play continued anyway and as the move progressed Kuranyi just failed to get his head to a dangerous Ballack cross.

Schweinsteiger went on the counter with three against three, but his shot came off teammate Klose for a goal kick. Luis Aragones also made a change, adopting a 4-1-4-1 with Juventus target Xabi Alonso replacing Fabregas.

Germany were furious with Italian referee Roberto Rosetti, as Podolski appeared to be butted lightly when he went head-to-head with Silva, but the officials did not take action. Understanding the risk that had been run, Aragones replaced him with Santi Cazorla.

The Germans were uncharacteristically disastrous at defending from a free kick, as Sergio Ramos was totally unmakred and his free header palmed out by Lehmann. From the corner Frings had to clear off the line from Iniesta’s eight-yard effort.

Santi Cazorla threaded through for Iniesta again clear on goal and tested the ‘keeper. At the other end Casillas punched away a Frings free kick and Torres was carded for an elbow on Mertesacker.

Torres skipped past Mertesacker moments later, but his touch was too heavy and allowed Lehmann to gather. Spain had a flowing counter-attack only for Torres to see both crosses charged down. It was Torres’ final contribution, as he made way for Roma transfer target Daniel Guiza. Germany made their final change with Klose replaced by Mario Gomez, who has had a disastrous tournament up until now.

Spain would have made it 2-0 with nine minutes left had Senna been able to make contact with Guiza’s cutback, but he was at full stretch with the goal gaping from five yards! Xavi curled a free kick over and Kuranyi saw yellow for a clumsy challenge on Senna. Gomez ruined a good chance by barging into Capdevila in the final minute, but Spain were celebrating at the final whistle.
Germany: Lehmann; Friedrich, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Lahm (Jansen 46); Frings, Hitzlsperger (Kuranyi 58); Schweinsteiger, Ballack, Podolski; Klose (Gomez 78)

Spain: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Marchena, Puyol, Capdevila; Senna; Iniesta, Xavi, Fabregas (Alonso 63), Silva (Santi Cazorla 66); Torres (Guiza 78)

Ref: Rosetti (Ita)

Ref From channel4.com