Y Viva Espana! Spanish celebrate victory

It’s been a long wait, but Spanish football fans finally have something to cheer about. After 44 years without a trophy, their team have at last won a major title. They beat Germany 1-0 in the final of Euro 2008 in Vienna, triggering street parties in towns and cities across Spain.

The Spaniards played the best football of the tournament and continued to do so in the match that really counted.

They were always in control of the game. Liverpool striker Fernando Torres scored the game’s only goal on 33 minutes. He completely outwitted Germany’s hero in the semi-finals, defender Fillip Lahm, before shooting past veteran goalkeeper, Jens Lehman, to net the winning goal.

Germany tried desperately to equalise in the second half and captain Ballack came close. But Spain, who knocked Russia out in the semi-final, refused to let them into the game. Luis Aragones’ side launched wave after wave of counter-attacks, and looked more likely than Germany to score as the game progressed.

At the final whistle, fans across Spain poured on to the streets for a night of partying. Forty-four years of hurt have been washed away, national pride restored.

Meanwhile, the celebrations have been marred by unrest in the country's capital. Twelve people were reportedly detained during violent clashes between fans and far-right groups in Madrid overnight. Fans wearing red and yellow Spanish flags and armed with glass bottles set fire to litter bins. Police resorted to tear gas to calm the violence.

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