Spain beat Germany 1-0 to lift Euro 2008 title

 Spain’s players celebrate with the trophy after the Euro 2008 championships final between Germany and Spain in Vienna, Austria, on June 29, 2008. A first-half goal from Fernando Torres earned Spain the first UEFA European Championship in 44 years. (Xinhua/Guo Yong)

Spain won the Euro 2008 title after beating Germany 1-0 in Ernst-Happel Stadion on Sunday.

Striker Fernando Torres’ strike at the 33rd minute proved the winner of the match.

The Spanish team, without leading scorer David Villa due to injury, fielded a five-player midfield and thus took an upper handover their German opponents which adopted the same formation.

The Spanish team dominated the midfield through fluent passing and Torres was a constant threat to the German goal.

Torres could have broken the deadlock at the 20th minute but his header was denied by the post.

Cesc Fabregas, who made his first start in the tournament, seemed not used to his new role and was substituted out in the second half.