Spain bring down curtain in style

Captivating tale
News on the eve of the match that Germany captain Michael Ballack was suffering from a calf injury and might not play was just the latest cliff-hanger in a captivating tale that had kept a global audience enthralled since kick-off on 7 June. As the late evening sun beat down on a heaving Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna, that opening game in the rain of Basel seemed a long way off, so much had happened in between.

Late drama
Both host nations bowed out in the group stage for the first time at a UEFA European Championship, but it hardly mattered in the scheme of things. The Netherlands got the party started on and off the pitch, their flamboyant football matching the brilliant orange of their fans, and it kept going long after they had bid an early farewell. That was thanks in large part to Turkey's penchant for late drama. You could not take your eyes off the action as last-gasp goals turned games in one direction, and often in the case of Fatih Terim's side, then another.

Torres steps up
One constant between the first week and the last, though, was the quality of Spain's play. They kicked off with a 4-1 rout of Russia and did not let up until the final whistle had blown on their victory against Germany in the final. Not only were Luis Aragonés's team playing with freedom and confidence, but also with a consistency that set them apart from their rivals. In turn the likes of David Villa, Iker Casillas, Marcos Senna and Cesc Fàbregas contributed match-winning displays. Tonight it was Fernando Torres who stepped up.

Centre stage
Playing alone up front in the absence of injured strike partner Villa, he seized his chance to take centre stage. Questions had been raised about his form coming into the game. He scored 24 Premier League goals for Liverpool FC last term, but a return of just one in five matches here had raised concern. Not, however, with Aragonés and there was no doubting his sharpness. First he took the aerial route, heading Sergio Ramos's cross on to the post, before the moment Spanish supporters had waited so long for finally arrived.

Platini connection
Xavi Hernández's pass into the right channel on 33 minutes looked more hopeful than threatening, but Torres outsprinted then outmuscled Philipp Lahm to get round the Germany left-back and to get to the ball before chipping over Jens Lehmann and into the net. Torres was only three months old when Spain last reached the final of a major tournament, the UEFA European Championship in 1984. Ironically, the man who broke Spanish hearts that day, Michel Platini, handed them the trophy this time. It was a link between the present and the past as Torres's goal brought long-awaited joy to a whole new generation of Spanish fans.