Spain defeated Germany 1–0 to claim their second European Championship title, launching a six-year era of international dominance.
Key Facts
- Winning margin
- 1–0
- Goal scorer
- Fernando Torres (33rd minute)
- Attendance
- 51,428 supporters
- Referee
- Roberto Rosetti (Italy)
- Spain's last European title
- 1964
- Venue
- Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Germany and Spain each navigated the sixteen-team UEFA Euro 2008 tournament through a group stage and knockout rounds. Germany finished second in Group B and eliminated Portugal and Turkey. Spain topped Group D with three wins, then beat Italy on penalties and defeated Russia in the semi-finals, setting up a final between Europe's two strongest sides.
On 29 June 2008, Spain and Germany contested the UEFA Euro 2008 final at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna before 51,428 spectators. Fernando Torres scored the match's only goal in the 33rd minute, giving Spain a 1–0 victory and their second European Championship title, their first in 44 years. Torres was named UEFA's man of the match.
Spain's victory initiated an era of sustained international dominance: the squad went on to win the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and retained the European Championship at Euro 2012. As tournament winners, Spain also earned qualification as UEFA's representative to the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa.
Result
at Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria