Spain united in joy as Euro 2008 victory proves Aragones has healed old divisions

Published on Monday 30 June 2008 23:54

MATCH-WINNER Fernando Torres hailed Spain's Euro 2008 success as "a great victory for a whole country". It is an assessment which perfectly sums up why on Sunday, 29 June in Vienna, after so many years of perceived underachievement, 'La Furia Roja' banished 44 years of bad memories.

The Spain team on show this summer finally came good on all that promise and did so in some style, not only winning the tournament with a 1-0 victory over Germany in the final, but also winning support for their free-flowing and attacking brand of football.

Coach Luis Aragones managed to transform a list of great names into a team of great players. And, as Torres pointed out, he did so by achieving a unity between Spain's deeply divided factions, highlighted most strongly in the rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

"This was not a victory for Madrid or for Barca, this was a victory for a country and a victory for football," said midfielder Cesc Fabregas, one of six players in the Spanish squad from the fiercely independent area of Catalonia.

While none of the Catalan players adorned themselves in Spanish flags following the final whistle, their contribution to the success on the pitch was immense, highlighted by the naming of Barcelona midfielder Xavi as player of the tournament.

For the first time in a long time, football came before identity to this group, and the results could not have been more positive.

And the credit for such an achievement has to be placed squarely upon the 69-year-old shoulders of Aragones.

Considered headstrong and stubborn by many observers, it is perhaps these traits which have served the coach best, as in the build-up to the tournament he stuck by his much-derided decision to leave out of the squad the golden boy of Spanish football: Real Madrid captain Raul.

More than a mere tactical decision, the move signalled the end of the dominance that La Liga's big two clubs had held over the national team, a dominance which many suspected had prevented the evolution of any kind of team spirit in the Spanish camp at previous tournaments. The decision shocked and angered the Madrid-based press, who could not understand why La Liga's player of the year and the all-time record goalscorer for Spain was being overlooked.

The fans greeted Aragones with chants of "Raul, Raul" when he arrived in Malaga for a friendly against France in February. But the controversial coach, who also survived an unsavoury race row involving comments directed towards Thierry Henry, stuck by his decision, arguing with one shocked supporter: "How many major tournaments have Spain won with Raul in the squad?"

He has proved his critics wrong, by winning.

As if to emphasise the point further, the Spanish dominance of the tournament was made complete with Xavi's best player award, David Villa's Golden Boot (the first ever for a Spaniard), and the inclusion of nine Spanish players in the squad of the tournament.

Aragones will not continue as Spain coach due to the criticism he received prior to the tournament, but he still believes that this win can be the first of many for what is now a highly-talented team.

"We've won this tournament brilliantly, it's a happy day for the players, the background staff, me, all Spaniards," he said after the win over Germany.

"Now we can start saying that we can win titles. I hope Spain will go on in this way and bring lots of triumphs."

Captain Iker Casillas believes Spain's successful campaign has also enabled the country to shake off their tag as perennial underachievers.

Casillas was well protected by a back four in which Sergio Ramos shone at right-back, the midfield was a masterclass of 'pass-and-move' while tournament top scorer Villa led the attack.

The final was a one-sided affair apart from a late German onslaught as they tried unsuccessfully to force extra-time.

"We have done a great job together as a team," said Casillas. "I'm delighted for my team-mates and for myself because we have shown we are great players. I think we needed to prove that point in Europe. We have done our nation proud."

Despite being home to one of the top domestic leagues in the world, Spain have struggled in international competition. They were knocked out in the first round of Euro 2004 and two years later they lost to France in the quarter-finals of the World Cup with Aragones in charge.

Spain have waited 24 years for a return to a European final and the side were eager to deliver.

Fluidity and creativity have been Spain's trademarks in Austria and Switzerland and Casillas believes that was the only way Spain could finish the job in Vienna.

"I believe we have played great football," said the Real Madrid goalkeeper. "Had we not played so well we wouldn't have been able to win this European Championship.

Casillas also hailed Aragones, who leaves his post on a high. "Aragones has done a great job," Casillas said. "He made us believe that it could be done from day one."

The victorious squad returned home yesterday to parade the trophy through the streets of Madrid.

"I don't think what we have achieved will sink in until the next few days," Casillas added.

Benitez 'very proud' after Torres silences his critics

LIVERPOOL manager Rafa Benitez was doubly elated after his country's triumph at the European Championship, with Spain's goal coming from Anfield striker Fernando Torres.

Torres struggled throughout the tournament to rediscover the touch that produced 33 goals for Liverpool last season, but the 24-year-old clipped a shot over advancing goalkeeper Jens Lehmann in the 33rd minute on Sunday to seal a 1-0 win over Germany and earn Spain's first trophy in 44 years.

"I am very proud, especially after he has been criticised from some journalists in Spain," said Benitez. "Everyone remembers the Marcelino goal from 44 years ago (in the 2-1 final victory over Russia], and the last final Spain were in was 24 years ago.

"Now people will talk about Torres in the same way."

Benitez watched the game on TV from his Liverpool home as he prepared for yesterday's first pre-season training session. Torres and fellow Spaniards Jose Reina, Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa have been given a further three weeks of vacation. "Spain played well," Benitez added. "For ten minutes at the start of each half Germany were pressing, but after that Spain controlled the game.

"The first goal changed the game. Spain had three or four players in the middle with real quality and played good football."

FACT BOX

UEFA's squad of the tournament

Goalkeepers

Gianluigi Buffon (Italy)

Iker Casillas (Spain)

Edwin van der Sar (Netherlands)

Defenders

Jose Bosingwa (Portugal)

Philipp Lahm (Germany)

Carlos Marchena (Spain)

Pepe (Portugal)

Carles Puyol (Spain)

Yury Zhirkov (Russia)

Midfielders

Hamit Altintop (Turkey)

Luka Modric (Croatia)

Marcos Senna (Spain)

Xavi Hernandez (Spain)

Konstantin Zyryanov (Russia)

Michael Ballack (Germany)

Cesc Fabregas (Spain)

Andres Iniesta (Spain)

Lukas Podolski (Germany)

Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands)

Strikers

Andrei Arshavin (Russia)

Roman Pavlyuchenko (Russia)

Fernando Torres (Spain)

David Villa (Spain)