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Spain Claims Euro '08 Title

After 44-year wait, nation finally wins a major soccer trophy

By Chip Bayers,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 29, 2008 4:23 PM CDT
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(Newser) – After beating Italy and Germany to win its first title in 44 years,  Spain no longer needs to think of itself as an underachieving soccer nation. The "Red Fury" won their second European Championship, playing with flair, finesse, and a determination that the team had lacked in so many previous competitions.

The Spaniards may not have as many trophies as the Germans or Italians, but the sparkling performance in Euro 2008 finally ended Spain's curse of exiting major tournaments in the quarterfinals. The Spanish team had a weak start to qualifying for Euro 2008, with losses to Northern Ireland and Sweden, but it recovered with eight wins and one draw to claim its group.

Spain's Fernando Torres scores the opening goal during the Euro 2008 final between Germany and Spain in the Ernst-Happel stadium in Vienna, Austria, Sunday, June 29, 2008, the last day of the European Soccer Championships in Austria and Switzerland.
Spain's Fernando Torres scores the opening goal during the Euro 2008 final between Germany and Spain in the Ernst-Happel stadium in Vienna, Austria, Sunday, June 29, 2008, the last day of the European...   (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Spain's Andres Iniesta, right, congratulates his teammate Fernando Torres who scored the opening goal during the Euro 2008 final between Germany and Spain in the Ernst-Happel stadium in Vienna, Austria, Sunday, June 29, 2008, the last day of the European Soccer Championships in Austria and Switzerland.
Spain's Andres Iniesta, right, congratulates his teammate Fernando Torres who scored the opening goal during the Euro 2008 final between Germany and Spain in the Ernst-Happel stadium in Vienna, Austria,...   (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
Spain's Iker Casillas holds up the trophy at the end of the Euro 2008 final between Germany and Spain in Vienna, Austria, Sunday, June 29, 2008. Spain won 1-0.
Spain's Iker Casillas holds up the trophy at the end of the Euro 2008 final between Germany and Spain in Vienna, Austria, Sunday, June 29, 2008. Spain won 1-0.   (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Spain's Sergio Ramos celebrates after winning the Euro 2008 final between Germany and Spain in the Ernst-Happel stadium in Vienna, Austria, Sunday, June 29, 2008, the last day of the European Soccer Championships in Austria and Switzerland. Spain defeated Germany 1-0.
Spain's Sergio Ramos celebrates after winning the Euro 2008 final between Germany and Spain in the Ernst-Happel stadium in Vienna, Austria, Sunday, June 29, 2008, the last day of the European Soccer Championships...   (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
A young boy reacts during the soccer EURO 2008 final match between Germany and Spain in Vienna, Austria, in a public viewing area in Bremen, Germany, Sunday, June 29, 2008.
A young boy reacts during the soccer EURO 2008 final match between Germany and Spain in Vienna, Austria, in a public viewing area in Bremen, Germany, Sunday, June 29, 2008.   (AP Photo/Joerg Sarbach)
Spain's Iker Casillas lifts the trophy after Spain won the Euro 2008 final against Germany in Vienna, Austria.
Spain's Iker Casillas lifts the trophy after Spain won the Euro 2008 final against Germany in Vienna, Austria.   (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)
A fan of the German national soccer team is seen during the Euro 2008 soccer final match between Germany and Spain in a public screening of the match in the city center of Frankfurt, central Germany, on Sunday, June 29, 2008.
A fan of the German national soccer team is seen during the Euro 2008 soccer final match between Germany and Spain in a public screening of the match in the city center of Frankfurt, central Germany,...   (AP Photo/Daniel Roland)
Spain's head coach Luis Aragones is celebrated by his players after the Euro 2008 final between Germany and Spain in the Ernst-Happel stadium in Vienna, Austria, Sunday, June 29, 2008, the last day of the European Soccer Championships in Austria and Switzerland. Spain defeated Germany 1-0.
Spain's head coach Luis Aragones is celebrated by his players after the Euro 2008 final between Germany and Spain in the Ernst-Happel stadium in Vienna, Austria, Sunday, June 29, 2008, the last day of...   (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger reacts during the Euro 2008 final between Germany and Spain in the Ernst-Happel stadium in Vienna, Austria, Sunday, June 29, 2008, the last day of the European Soccer Championships in Austria and Switzerland. Spain defeated Germany 1-0.
Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger reacts during the Euro 2008 final between Germany and Spain in the Ernst-Happel stadium in Vienna, Austria, Sunday, June 29, 2008, the last day of the European Soccer...   (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Spain's Fernando Torres, center, challenges for the ball with Germany's Jens Lehmann, right, as Per Mertesacker, left, looks on during the Euro 2008 final between Germany and Spain in the Ernst-Happel stadium in Vienna, Austria, Sunday, June 29, 2008, the last day of the European Soccer Championships in Austria and...
Spain's Fernando Torres, center, challenges for the ball with Germany's Jens Lehmann, right, as Per Mertesacker, left, looks on during the Euro 2008 final between Germany and Spain in the Ernst-Happel...   (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
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Viennese waltz for Spain
Times (UK)

 
Spain • Germany • soccer • Vienna • Euro 2008

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