Spain ended their 44 year wait for a major international title when they beat Germany 1-0 in the final of the 13th European Championship at the Ernst Happel stadium in Vienna. A goal from Fernando Torres was all that separated the two sides at the final whistle, but it would certainly not be unfair to say that La Furia Roja did not deserve to win, for, they were in control for most parts of the game.

Spain looked a bit cagey in the initial minutes, and one wondered whether they were the feeling the pressure of being in a major final. Sergio Ramos's horrendous pass in the 3rd minute was almost seized upon by Miroslav Klose, but Puyol put in a timely interruption. Ten minutes later, Xavi stopped a Germany move in its tracks and passed to Iniesta on the left. The Barcelona midfielder's cross took a wicked deflection off Metzelder, but Lehmann managed to get it out of harm's way. In the 23rd minute, Sergio Ramos cross found Torres, who leapt above Mertesacker only to see his header hit the inside of the post. Joan Capdevila attempted a long range shot after the ball had come out of the German area, but his effort was off target. At the other end, Michael Ballack's volley was blocked by Ramos' ribs, and Germany desperately pleaded for handball when the ball hit Capdevila's arm. Referee Rosetti determined that it was not deliberate, and allowed play to continue. In the 33rd minute, Spain did get the lead they were threatening to take. Lahm was the favourite to take care of Xavi's pass into the German box, but Torres went around him, and then produced a superb finish by clipping the ball over the advancing Jens Lehmann. Barely seconds later, Michael Ballack had to be taken off for eye treatment after a collision with Marcos Senna. Andres Iniesta then set up an unmarked David Silva with only Lehmann to beat, but the midfielder wildly put his shot into the stands.

Joachim Loew replaced Lahm with Jansen at half time, and then followed it up by bringing on Kuranyi for Hitzlsperger. The ten odd minutes that followed Kuranyi's substitution were easily Germany's best of the game, as balls kept flying into the Spanish area. Jansen robbed Puyol off the ball near the flagpost and slid the ball into Ballack's path, but the German skipper's shot found the other side of the post. Aragones replaced Cesc Fabregas with Alonso and then removed David Silva who escaped punishment despite headbutting Podolski, with Santi Cazorla. Spain slowly regained control, and Sergio Ramos had a header saved from point blank range by Lehmann. Ten minutes before full time, Cazorla crossed into the box to substitute Guiza who headed it into the path of Marcos Senna, but the Brazilian was unable to connect, with the ball missing his toe by millimetres.

Germany, who ended up with Brazilian born Kuranyi and half Spaniard Mario Gomez as their strikers, grew frustrated as the game reached its conclusion, and could simply not get the goal they wanted. Spain ran out deserved winners, and bagged 23 million euros in addition to the Henri Delaunay trophy for their efforts at Euro 2008.