FanNation - The Republic of Sport

The anticipation is about to reach its climax in Switzerland, and all aroud the world as the final of the european championships is about to begin.  This is a spectacal that will be relished around the world, because it is rare to see a final with the two top free flowing and attacking teams playing in the final.  Yeah, it's been fun over the past few major tournament s having teams like Greece or a stout defensive team that only allows a couple goals in a tournament.  This being said, what every soccer fan really wants though is a game that goes from endline to endline for the entire ninety plus minutes, and that is what has finally arrived.  It has been a long two year wait since the world cup that Spain and Germany have had to endure.  One that began after a decent finish in the world cup, but an all around dissapointing finish.  Both teams tore through the group stage in the previous World Cup only to fall in a tough defeat in the knockout phases.  Yes, Germany did have a pretty good third place finish and Spain went out in a heartbraking quarterfinals game to the eventual runners up, but these are two teams from proud countries that will not settle for decent.  Both teams took care of buisness fairly easily in qualifying with Spain qualified with an eight point margin, and Germany a ten point margin.  Then as the finals began it got tough for each team.  For Spain other than their to easy victories over Russia they were tied with Sweeden until stoppage time when David Villa worked his magic, and then faced their biggest road block in the Italians which they won in PK's.  For all of Spains difficulties Germany certainly matched their struggles and more.  Germany started off with a bitter rivaly game with Poland in which they came up with a hard fought to goal win.  Next up was the Croatians who gave them all that they could handle and more giving the Germans a 2-1 loss.  So it came down to the final goup match against Austria, in which Michael Ballack determined the difference with a free kick goal which is probably the best of the tournament.  In the group stages against Portugal Germany stepped it up, and while the score was close they fairly easily handled Portugal.  The semifinal game presented a large probem for the Germans from the undermanned Turks with Philip Lahm netting the winner in the 90'th minute.  While both teams did struggle they also showed the championship trait of perservering even when it looks like fate is against you.  Now lets step out of what has been a great month, and look towards and break down todays match.  Spain will probably fall back into the 4-5-1 since David Villa is out for the finals, and I expect Germany will have no line up changes as this is not a match that Ballack would miss.  Expect Podolski and Klose to put alot of pressure on a Spanish defense that has been relatively untested, putting alot of pressure on Cassilas coming up big.  The midfield battle is basically a draw, the only thing from the midfield that you can expect to have a large impact on the game is from the right foot of Marcus Senna.  Expect him to sneak up into the attack and unleash a rocket from twenty plus yards out against a shaky Jens Lehman.  Up top expect Torres to be basically shut down by the German defense, but having the heart to fight through a poor tournament to be the difference in the game. 

Prediction:  Spain 2-1

Goals: Torres right before half time

             Podolski about fifteen to twenty minutes into the second half

             Senna in the last fifteen minutes of the game to win it