An aerial view of the Ernst Happel Stadion ahead of the UEFA Euro 2008 final match between Germany and Spain.
Germany captain Michael Ballack was passed fit to play in the final after recovering sufficiently from a calf muscle injury.
Spain coach Luis Aragones drafted Cesc Fabregas into the starting lineup in place of striker David Villa who missed the match because of a thigh injury sustained in the 3-0 win over Russia in the semi-final.
Spain finally ended their 44-year wait for a trophy when Fernando Torres's exquisite first-half goal gave them a deserved 1-0 victory over Germany.
Germany captain Michael Ballack was passed fit to play in the final after recovering sufficiently from a calf muscle injury.
Spain coach Luis Aragones drafted Cesc Fabregas into the starting lineup in place of striker David Villa who missed the match because of a thigh injury sustained in the 3-0 win over Russia in the semi-final.
Spain finally ended their 44-year wait for a trophy when Fernando Torres's exquisite first-half goal gave them a deserved 1-0 victory over Germany.
Ballack (left) vies for possession with Spanish midfielder David Silva (centre) and Spanish defender Joan Capdevilla.
Germany had enjoyed the upper hand in the opening exchanges with Miroslav Klose and Ballack creating plenty of danger around the fringes of the area but they were unable to find the finishing touch to some promising attacking moves.
Germany had enjoyed the upper hand in the opening exchanges with Miroslav Klose and Ballack creating plenty of danger around the fringes of the area but they were unable to find the finishing touch to some promising attacking moves.
The upright comes in the way of Spain after German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann is beaten by a header from Fernando Torres.
Torres's powerful header hit the base of the post after good work by Sergio Ramos on the right.
Torres's powerful header hit the base of the post after good work by Sergio Ramos on the right.
Torres (centre) scores the opening goal past German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.
The striker wrestled his way past Germany left back Philipp Lahm to meet a fine through ball from Xavi and then dinked the ball over keeper Lehmann and into the net 12 minutes before halftime.
The striker wrestled his way past Germany left back Philipp Lahm to meet a fine through ball from Xavi and then dinked the ball over keeper Lehmann and into the net 12 minutes before halftime.
Torres celebrates after scoring the opening goal.
The Germans survived a few more anxious moments but went into half-time down by only that one goal.
The Germans survived a few more anxious moments but went into half-time down by only that one goal.
Spain defender Carles Puyol is challenged by Germany's Marcell Jansen.
Spain's precision delivery earned them several more half-chances early in the second half but none were taken and Germany, never a team to give up on a trophy without a fight, raised their game.
Spain's precision delivery earned them several more half-chances early in the second half but none were taken and Germany, never a team to give up on a trophy without a fight, raised their game.
Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas catches the ball in front of German forward Kevin Kuranyi.
Coach Joachim Loew threw on Kuranyi but Spain then had a flurry of chances of chances as Lehmann saved well from Sergio Ramos and Iniesta, and Torsten Frings cleared Iniesta's shot off the line all in the space of two minutes.
Germany captain Michael Ballack wears a dejected look in the dying moments of the final.
Ballack, fit to play after a calf strain, had spent most of the first hour fighting fires but he went close with a low volley as his side hit back and ramped up the temperature with a few lively tackles.
Coach Joachim Loew threw on Kuranyi but Spain then had a flurry of chances of chances as Lehmann saved well from Sergio Ramos and Iniesta, and Torsten Frings cleared Iniesta's shot off the line all in the space of two minutes.
Germany captain Michael Ballack wears a dejected look in the dying moments of the final.
Ballack, fit to play after a calf strain, had spent most of the first hour fighting fires but he went close with a low volley as his side hit back and ramped up the temperature with a few lively tackles.
Spanish midfielder Marcos Senna came close to adding the second goal, but narrowly missed.
As Germany pressed, for the equaliser the gaps opened and Torres almost broke clear twice more but was somehow thwarted by the German defence.
The Spanish players celebrate after the final whistle.
The contrast in the final was clear. The Germans played stereotypically solid soccer. The Spaniards played football of flair and fantasy.
After the match the entire Spanish squad danced a conga inside the stadium as they sang "Viva Espana".
As Germany pressed, for the equaliser the gaps opened and Torres almost broke clear twice more but was somehow thwarted by the German defence.
The Spanish players celebrate after the final whistle.
The contrast in the final was clear. The Germans played stereotypically solid soccer. The Spaniards played football of flair and fantasy.
After the match the entire Spanish squad danced a conga inside the stadium as they sang "Viva Espana".
Spain coach Luis Aragones is chaired by his players following the triumph.
In the end, Spain had 13 shots on goal to Germany's four, and seven on target to Germany's one, statistics which better reflected the margin of the Iberian triumph.
Aragones came under great pressure in the media to recall Spain's leading scorer Raul but kept faith with a group who have played themselves into great form over an unbeaten run that now stretches to 22 matches
In the end, Spain had 13 shots on goal to Germany's four, and seven on target to Germany's one, statistics which better reflected the margin of the Iberian triumph.
Aragones came under great pressure in the media to recall Spain's leading scorer Raul but kept faith with a group who have played themselves into great form over an unbeaten run that now stretches to 22 matches
Spain captain Iker Casillas celebrates with the Euro trophy.
"It's a dream come true," Torres said after the match. "It's our first title [together] and we hope it will be the first of many. We've still got the World Cup to come, we have to be ambitious.
"At last justice has been done because the team that played the best football won the tournament
"It's a dream come true," Torres said after the match. "It's our first title [together] and we hope it will be the first of many. We've still got the World Cup to come, we have to be ambitious.
"At last justice has been done because the team that played the best football won the tournament
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