EURO 2008 Final

[Rajiv]

Germany and Spain have reached the final of the Euro 08. Who do you think will be the winner ?


European Championship and World Cup Record

Spain: La Selección
1 x Euro champion 1964
1 x Euro Finalist 1984
0 x World cup Champion
0 x World cup Finalist

Germany: Die Mannschaft
3 x Record Euro champion 1972, 1980, 1996
2 x Euro Finalist 1976, 1992
3 x World cup champion 1954, 1974, 1990
4 x World cup Finalist 1966, 1982, 1986, 2002

[BGM3]

I think Germany will win.
Actually i wanted Holland to win the euro cup, but they lost with Russia. And Russia played very bad yesterday.

[JNUS]

The infos may not give pressure to take over by one team....
I am hoping that Germans could take the title.
But Spain ... can't say this time.

! DeustchLand !

[Mati]

I'm for the BRAZIL - all time favorite but REAL Madrid if we talk of clubs!!!

In Europe I have moral support for Portugal, we all know they can't win it with this current team against these big guns.

About final, I have strong support for Spain who has bad history in BIG Tournaments!!! This time they are doing great! It is very sad to see extremely positive striker David Villa not making up to final!!!

Germany are very positive. They have gut to fight back, turn the game other way round, and they will keep up the pressure till the dying seconds! Long ball, air ball, long range shoot, strong midefield with Balack and great presence with Miraslov Klose and young energetic Podosky looking dangerous all the time. And the GREAT History will be going for Germany. So Germans look good but I will cheer for Spain who need to lift important international trophies for their great culture, business and promotion of international football with their extremely quality and technical football from "La Liga".


Best of Luck SPAIN!


Whatever it is the out come, it will be very good game.


Best wishes,
mati

[dr.genius]

from the beginning of the tournament, i am the supporter of both the germany and spain. and now the time have come for me to chose between my two favourate team. beside i am also the supporter of england.
now i will support for spain in the final . i don't know who is stong team but my support is for spain despite being a weak team as shown by history.

[Srijan]

Well, I'm going for Spain cause I'm a liverpool fan and Spain has a few players from the club... I just hope Aragones is going to play Xavi Alonso sooner into the second half becos he knows how to feed the ball ahead to Torres... however, Iniesta, X. Hernandez and C. Fabregas aren't doing bad either! Did u see that semi-final win over Russia!

[Rajiv]

source Injured Ballack Doubtful for Euro 2008 Final | Sports | Deutsche Welle | 28.06.2008

28.06.2008 Injured Ballack Doubtful for Euro 2008 Final


Germany captain Michael Ballack is doubtful for the Euro 2008 final on Sunday against Spain. An injury to his right calf prevented him from attending the team's final training session.



Germany coach Joachim Loew confirmed Ballack's injury just a day before the 31-year-old midfielder was posed to lead his team against Spain in the European Championship in Vienna.
"Michael Ballack hasn't been able to train for two days. His calf has hardened up," Loew told the press.

"It wasn't possible for him to train today either but we will see how the situation develops overnight. Our medical team is working constantly to try to give him every possible chance of playing."
Not all hope is lost

Ballack has complained since Friday of the problem to his right calf muscle.
"It's not exactly the optimal situation. Yesterday (Friday, June 27), he noticed a strain in the calf muscle. He is now undergoing constant treatment. We aren't giving up hope," said team manager Oliver Bierhoff.
The German Football Federation said that a decision on whether Ballack can play on Sunday is still open and will be decided at short notice.
The Germany captain is a key player in the team. Scouring two goals during the Euro 2008 tournament, Ballack was also designated the outstanding player in the 3-2 win over Portugal in the quarter-finals.
Ballack was less impressive against Turkey in the semi-finals, but his absence would be a huge blow to the team, who are bidding for their fourth European Championship title.
Bildunterschrift: Ballack scores the opening goal after a free kick during the Austria match June 16

Borowski or Schweinsteiger as replacement

If Ballack fails to recover in time for the final match, Loew said either Tim Borowski or Bastian Schweinsteiger would fill his forward midfield role.
Bierhoff told the German national broadcaster ARD that he expected the team to rally together to overcome the final hurdle against Spain.
"The players want to take that final step," he said. "The team has shown determination throughout the tournament to get through the highs and lows. The players now want to take that final step."
Ballack has never played in a major final for Germany. He missed the 2002 World Cup final against Brazil due to a suspension and Germany was knocked out of the 2006 semi-final against Italy.

DW staff (ktz)

[sanz]

Haha!without a doubt germany is definitely gonna grab this championship tittle.....spain's teamwork is fantastic but the germans prove no less.Plus they are armed with flashlight speed and teamspirit...tonight is the night.....i'm either gonna win or lose a hell great of a deal......i cross my finger......

[SUMAN-SAJAN]

Im for spain
Spain gonna win the title .................................................. ..................

[Rajiv]

Without any doubt there are far more people going for la victoria de España than for Sieg der Deutschen. Spain have been the best side in overall tournament. They play tactical and fast games, perfect short passes and can really entertain fans. And the German side have been giving some mixed kind of feeling.

Problem is the fact that one can never anticipate how Germany will play. In many recent tournaments they have never been a good favorite. But they comprise some extra ordinary quality, which despite their not much impressive team, allows them to reach the final and sometimes to raise the trophy. They play 1-0 against Austria, lose against Croatia, but at the same time they can thrash Portugal, probably the anticipated winner of this tournament, and send them home.

I cannot tell much about Spain, but living in Germany for more than half a decade now, I can discuss few things about the teamgeist of Germany. There is no doubt Germany is the heavyweight of Europe. If you compare the success of the Mannschaft in major tournaments, there is no other country in Europe comparable to Germany. So, how come this happens when Germany is never thought to be winner prior to referee's whistling ? - I think the Teamgeist, German Fans and the Media are responsible for it. No matter how weak their squad is, German people are always sure that they will be the winner. Prior to begin of tournament, they start celebrating as if they have already won. They cannot believe that they have not won the EURO since 1996, it's been already 12 years, knowing the fact that some other favorites like Spain haven't made it since 1964, 48 years of blockade. The spirit of fans resulted in the German invention of Fanmeile (Public viewing) during WC 2006, which is now popular around the world.

See pictures:
Photo Gallery: Germany's World Cup Fan Miles - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News

And same does the media, they feature it in the matter, the team and the fans feel like they are the champion.

I think both of the teams have respect for each other. Germany respect Spaniards playing tactic and Spain respect Germany for their winning power.

I hope that the final will be a great entertainment and Germany will win.
Long Passes, direct game and headers !!!!

Expecting Das Wunder von Wien !!!

If Spain wins:
They deserved it, for Germans, they again reached the final and one my friends, a xenoMED adv lost 100 pounds.

If Germany wins:
they also deserved it, we will have a great time here in Germany, and my friend will win some money, hope he will make some profit, despite his prior lose of 150 Pounds earlier.