Spain Claims Euro '08 Title

After 44-year wait, nation finally wins a major soccer trophy
By Chip Bayers,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 29, 2008 4:23 PM CDT
Spain Claims Euro '08 Title
Spain's Fernando Torres scores the opening goal during the Euro 2008 final between Germany and Spain in the Ernst-Happel stadium in Vienna, Austria, Sunday, June 29, 2008, the last day of the European Soccer Championships in Austria and Switzerland.    (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

After beating Italy and Germany to win its first title in 44 years,  Spain no longer needs to think of itself as an underachieving soccer nation. The "Red Fury" won their second European Championship, playing with flair, finesse, and a determination that the team had lacked in so many previous competitions.

The Spaniards may not have as many trophies as the Germans or Italians, but the sparkling performance in Euro 2008 finally ended Spain's curse of exiting major tournaments in the quarterfinals. The Spanish team had a weak start to qualifying for Euro 2008, with losses to Northern Ireland and Sweden, but it recovered with eight wins and one draw to claim its group. (More Euro 2008 stories.)

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