Spain surprise favorite
VIENNA, Austria – Germany is one of soccer’s biggest winners, Spain one of its main underachievers. They meet today for the European Championship with a twist: Spain is favored.
Most of the Spaniards won’t admit what the oddsmakers are quoting. They are understandably wary considering their opponent owns three World Cup titles and three Euros and entered the tournament as the favorite.
Deny it as they might, though, the Spaniards have been the most impressive performers through a perfect opening round, a dull but successful quarterfinal they won in a shootout against world champion Italy and a 3-0 rout of Russia in the semifinals.
Now comes Germany, which could be missing captain Michael Ballack. He sat out Saturday’s last practice with a right calf problem.
“They are fast and deadly in this kind of game,” said Marcos Senna, a midfielder for Spain. “I think both teams will try to do what they know.”
Senna had better be referring to what Spain has done this month, not what it has known through the years.
The Spaniards have won only a single major crown, the 1964 Euros, despite a wealth of talent and two of the continent’s top clubs: Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. Each time they’ve come to a World Cup or a European Championship, they have shown only glimpses of the skill, drive and perseverance it takes to compete.
Just two years ago at the World Cup in Germany, Spain swept through its first-round group, outscoring the opposition 8-1. Then it fizzled against the French, who struggled to get into the second round.
Spain again overwhelmed its group. But this time, it built on that showing, most notably surviving Italy’s ultra-defensive tactics and having the fortitude to win on penalty kicks, the most gut-wrenching kind of victory.
Against Russia, which was sensational in three previous matches that included an upset of the Netherlands,the Spaniards dominated.
“The result was brilliant,” midfielder Xabi Alonso said. “Hopefully on Sunday, we will repeat another performance like that. Let’s hope we can play a good match and lift the cup, which would be historic.”
Not all the Spaniards are bowing to the more-accomplished Germans.
“I think Spain will win because we are better,” said coach Luis Aragones, who will be working his final game for his nation. “Since the start of this tournament we’ve entered the field with the attitude that we’re going to win. Then, anything can happen.”
Alonso also doesn’t want to hear too much reverence, even with his team missing striker David Villa (hamstring).
“I don’t think there’s a clear favorite,” he said. “The teams are pretty close, and anything can happen in a final. They have a great team with a lot of experience. Two years ago, they had a great World Cup. They changed their coach but have continued on the same line.”
Which is something the Germans tend to do in every big event. Their struggles in the last two Euros were exceptions. In 2006, as the World Cup host, they finished third with a new team and a fresh, offensive approach.
They remain a force with the ball, particularly down the wings, and on set pieces. The Germans have taken what Juergen Klinsmann built as coach of the World Cup squad and expanded on it under Joachim Loew.
“Spain is the only team in the tournament that has played with consistency. They have very good ball control, great precision in passing,” German defender Christoph Metzelder said. “But I think we’ll be playing well and I know they’ll have a lot of respect for us. They respect the way we play and the way we win. You need special qualities in a final and we have them.”