So we are down to the last two teams in EURO 2008 and I for one am not surprised at all by the two teams that will be there. However, you would have to say at times that the Germans haven’t looked totally convincing along the way. The game against Croatia, for example, but in true German style, they have battled it out yet again in another major championship and no one will be surprised they are there in Vienna.

On the other hand, Spain came into these Championship yet again looking great on paper but nobody would have been surprise if they had started well only to fall at the customary Quarter Final stage. But this time Spain haven’t fallen, in fact if anything they have got better as the tournament has progressed and the second half display in the Semi Final against Russia was quite excellent. The Germans would have been watching that back in their hotel. Did it scare them or only strengthen their resolve? We will find out tonight.

One issue the Germans will be worrying about though is there appears to be a slight calf injury to their captain, Chelsea’s Michael Ballack. No matter which team you want to win, it would be a great shame should the Final be robbed of one of the world’s most exciting and dynamic players. Ballack’s driving runs and aerial ability would certaintly provide the Spanish defence with their toughest test so far. To be honest, Puyol et al haven’t really been tested yet. The Final will be different though, with or without Ballack.

Spain, of course also have their injury worries. It looks almost 100% likely that the tournament’s leader scorer so far, David Villa, will be out of the Final following the injury he picked up in the Semi Final against Russia. Villa has currently scored 4 goals in the tournament and it looks as though he won’t have the chance to add to that total in Vienna.

If neither Ballack nor Villa play, it will be a blow, not just for the two countries involved, the thousands of colouful and noisy fans that will descend on Vienna but also for all fans of football generally around the world who will tune in to watch the showpiece event.

Of course, we all hope that the Final will live up to all the hype and expectation and provide a game fitting to end a tournament that has produced some excellent and exciting attacking play. There has been games full of passion and quality and not too many cagey “cat & mouse” games you so often get in these tournaments, especially in the early group stages.

In a way, we couldn’t have asked for a better match-up in the Final, at least on paper. We have the legendary teutonic power and determination of the Germans against the latin flare, artistry and excitment of the Spanish. You could say it is a classic encounter between two european heavyweights.

But of course beneath those rather generalised stereotypes are a litany of sub-plots and subtleties that will decide the game - from the tactics employed by the two managers, right down to the intricate technique of players. But of course, the big questions on everyone’s lips are who will end the tournament triumphant, who will left the trophy, who will be the hero, will there be a villain?

Well, I’m going to put the kiss of death on Spain to win. If they can continue where they left off against Russia, play with the belief that seems to have grown over the last three weeks, I think they can finally put all those years of under achievement and false expectation behind them and finally lift a major trophy. Their passing and movement in the second half of the Semi Final was quite superb and Germany, for all their strength and determination, will have to be on the very top of their game, with or without Ballack, if they are to win regain the trophy they have won 3 times before.

Enjoy the game!

Rik

The Soccer Blogger

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