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Torres Ends 44-Year Spanish Jinx

Written by Adeleke Afolayan

Monday, 30 June 2008

A moment of persistence from Fernando Torres in the 33rd minute was all Spain needed to end a long, 44-year wait and lift the 2008 European Championship at the expense of Germany.

Preceded by a performance from Spanish music star Enrique Iglesias, Spain dominated the first half as expected and saw many scoring chances go by including a Torres header coming off the post in the 22nd minute and Fabregas forcing a save from Jens Lehmann in the 31st.

Torres was however spot on two minutes after Fabregas, beating the offside trap to latch on Xavi's incisive pass from midfield and in a show of his speed and power, he went around Philip Lahm, still got to the ball ahead of the Bayern Munich defender before chipping over an onrushing Lehmann for the finals' lone goal.

David Silva should have added an immediate second for Spain when he was found free by an enticing cross from Xavi but he skewed his volley high over the German goal with all the space in the world to bring the ball under control.

Germany meanwhile came into the game on the hour mark in their best spell of the tense encounter and a sweeping move saw Lukas Podolski's cross coolly laid off by Bastian Schweinsteiger for Michael Ballack, his snapshot however hit the sidenetting.

Spain however regained control of the match and came even closer to a goal when Andres Iniesta's shot off a short corner was cleared off the line by Torsten Frings' knee. Just before then, Sergio Ramos had forced Lehmann to a one-hand save with his firm header.

The victory ensures Spain end a long wait for triumph in a major tournament with the triumph in the European Championship of 1964 the last time Spain won a major tournament in the national team level.

Spain will now represent Europe at the FIFA Confederations Cup holding in South Africa in 2009. The Confederations Cup is an assemble of the champions of each continent competing in a dress rehearsal for the World Cup the following year.

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