GERMANY V SPAIN
Overview
After Greece's pragmatism won the battle four years ago, entertainment seems likely to prevail in Euro 2008, which is certainly no bad thing. Gone are the days that Germany provided methodically boring football, their two knockout games so far have yielded an improbable 10 goals between the sides, and Spain turned on the style in the second half of their semi final to oust Russia, after seeing off the overly-defensive Italians in the quarter finals. It has been 44 long years since Spain last won a major trophy (incredibly, even England have won something since then), can the ceaseless bottlers keep their discipline for one final game?
The final will bring the curtain down on what has been, by and large, a hugely entertaining tournament, the Austria/Swiss hosted event providing goals a-plenty and more classic games than you could shake a DVD compilation at. Doubtless after all the fun, the final will inevitably disappoint, but hope springs eternal.
Team News
Germany have no pressing injury worries ahead of the final, though Torsten Frings may still be feeling the ill-effects of his earlier rib injury.
For Spain, the loss of striker (and current tournament top scorer) David Villa will hurt them, although ironically the change in formation that Villa's early withdrawal against Russia forced on them actually seemed to improve their game, with a lone striker playing in front of the marauding quadruple threat of Fabregas, Silva, Xavi and Iniesta. Coach Luis Aragones will have a straight choice for his replacement, either Fabregas and keep the system adopted against Russia, or bring in young starlet Daniel Guiza alongside Fernando Torres and stick with their stricter 4-4-2.
Neither side has any suspensions, which is always nice.
Probable Teams
Germany: Lehmann, Friedrich, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Lahm, Hitzlsperger, Frings, Schweinsteiger, Ballack, Podolski, Klose.
Subs: Enke, Adler, Fritz, Westermann, Gomez, Neuville, Rolfes, Jansen, Trochowski, Borowski, Odonkor, Kuranyi.
Unavailable: None.
Spain: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Marchena, Puyol, Capdevila, Iniesta, Xavi, Senna, Silva, Fabregas, Torres.
Subs: Palop, Reina, Albiol, Fernando Navarro, Santi Cazorla, Sergio Garcia, Alonso, Guiza, Arbeloa, Juanito, De la Red.
Unavailable: Villa (injured)
Potential Matchwinner
Germany: Bastian Schweinsteiger - Sent off in the German defeat to Croatia, Schweinsteiger has been influential in the victories his country has picked up in the knockout stages, with goals and assists by the bucketload. He'll need to be on top form again here, as opposed to the petulant form he showed in the slap that got him sent off in the first place.
Spain: Marcos Senna - No relation to the F1 driver, and not the most high-profile of Spanish players, but his role as the holding midfielder in front of the Spanish backline has been exemplary in Spain's last two wins, as he has tirelessly protected the back four from most opposition attacks. He will need to deal with the creative German midfield in a similar way in the final. Special mention for Fabregas, and for Sergio Ramos, who has been a marauder down the right hand flank from his position at full back.
Potential Bottler
Germany: Jens Lehmann - Ah, mad Jens. A reassuringly unreassuring last line of defence for Germany, like the unstable, gooey centre of a well wrapped Ferrero Rocher. He had been having a fairly dependable tournament for the most part, but showed signs of precipitous mental collapse with an awful display against Turkey. He was at fault for both goals and spent much of the first half flapping at crosses like a slightly confused dolphin, which will give Spain plenty of hope that he is building up to an epic final gaffe.
Spain: Fernando Torres - The Liverpool striker who so set the Premiership alight in his debut season has never really got going in this tournament. His first touch has been poor, though at times the service to him hasn't been much better, and he has been hauled off early in both of Spain's last two games. With Villa out of the picture, he will be needed to step up to the plate in the final, and on his shoulders may Spanish hopes rest.
Inspiration From The Bench
Germany: Precious little, and Joachim Low has limited his substitutions to late, tactical affairs more often than not. David Odonkor offers some attacking width if needed, while Mario Gómez remains an option up front after being dropped from the starting line up earlier on in the tournament for proving slightly less able in attack than a slightly palsied snail.
Spain: Assuming Fabregas starts, then the main impact player at Spain's disposal will be the young striker Daniel Guiza, who has two goals in the tournament already, and after a stuttering start against Greece seems to be rising to the occasion well. Other than him, Spain have the accurate passing game of Xabi Alonso to call on, should a shake up be needed.
Stat-u-Like:
Venue: Ernst Happel Stadium, Vienna
Capacity: 50,000
Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Italy)
On Patronise
Patronise will be describing the action from Vienna as only it knows how, i.e. badly written and slowly typed, right here from 19.00 BST on Sunday. Be here, or else.
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