After two weeks matches, Euro 2008 finally came to an end today with Spain beating Germany 1-0 in Vienna. For the Spaniards, its the first major tournament win since 1964, a drought that is unbelievable considering the amount of individual talent the team turns out every year. And the hero today was the one player who many considered to be the biggest Spanish underachiever in the tournament thus far...Fernando Torres. In the 33rd minute, El Nino, as he has been dubbed, tucked the ball away beating a very aged Jens Lehmann (and unlike wine, goalies don't necessarily get better with age). Though early, that goal proved to be an anti-climatic finish to what was a very bizarre Euro 2008.
Sure the Championship saw two European powerhouses duke it out to a 1-0 finish, which set aside seems very basic. But what lead us to this point was anything but a humdrum tournament. You had four teams dominant the group stages...and then, almost as quickly as they won their group, 3 of the 4 teams were knocked out of the tournament in the first round of knockouts. France, the World Cup runner ups couldn't even advance out of their group (granted they were in the group of death). Then there was Turkey, perhaps the story of the tourney because of their 3 consecutive come from behind wins when no other team in the tournament could even produce one comeback victory. And of course, Turkey's highlights culminated in what some believe is a a nominee for game of the year with Turkey and Croatia playing a marvelous game including goals in the 119th and 120th minute to send things to PK's. There was also the classic game between Italy and Spain that ended in Italian heartbreak. And right beside Turkey were the Russians, who came from no where with the youngest team in the tournament to almost play for the championship. But when it was all over, it was the Spaniards, with Villa who lead Euro 2008 in goals despite missing almost all of the final two matches, Puyol and Ramos who anchored a defense that shut down powerhouses Germany and Italy and only allowed 3 goals all tournament.
Those were some of the major highlights from Euro 2008 and if you missed out, don't worry, it will be back in 4 years and hopefully better than ever. In the meantime, there is always World Cup 2010 from South Africa which will bring just as much passion, fervor and excitement to countries all around the world. And even if the U.S. game bores us to death, that doesn't mean we can't take delight in watching the pure joy and agony that the rest of the world goes through when their team plays.
Lastly, I'll leave you with the call of the tournament from non other than Adrian Healey:
"Its a dutch oven and the French are toast!"
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