Being a huge German National Team fan, I was upset that the German failed to win the title match again Spain tonight. Truth be told, it would have been shocker if Germany managed to win this match at the end. Spain played with style, motivation and a harmony that can earn this team the Dream Team’s title of Spain.
Since the kickoff of this tournament, Germany seemed to be struggling to come out as a consistent performer. Although some of the teams’ players are veterans from the last Word Cup, most of the expectations thrown at their captain Michael Ballack to lead the team failed. Ballack’s leadership proved worthy at the first couple of games but the Turkey match had proved otherwise. The German captains (born 1976) showed a remarkable fitness level and play decisions, but the Turkey and Croatia matches left him in the shadow with their constant marking. It sad nonetheless, this great German icon maintains a runner-up tag; league, Word Cup, Champion League and now the Euro Cup.
Germany’s playbook depends on the whole team and not on key players, which makes it adaptable and flexible to any opponent or counter strategy. The Turkey match proved to be a latest display of this art. While many people saw Turkey winning that one, Germany snatch the win by being Germany. The German team is like a motor engine; with all the players connect to produce a powerful performance. If one piece fails, the engine quickly switches to other pieces to supply its drive, and that the secret of the Germany’s power. But what if you cut down the links between the pieces rather than stopping the piece itself? That is what the Spanish did this evening. The match counted a single shot at target out of three shots from the German team while Spain managed 12 shots with 7 right on target. I am not saying the German style is dead or exposed now, after all it is an adaptable style, but it failed this evening even that there was a moment where we saw a German “Storm” building up threatening their opponents.
Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann entered this tournament under a tremendous pressure, yet he was thriving to prove his critics wrong. Having lost his place for Manual Almunia 07/08 with Arsenal must have been a great blow to his confidence kicking off the tournament as the No.1 keeper for Germany. His performance at the opening game was solid enough to secure a good boost for the rest of the tournament. And although the two goals he conceded with mighty Portugal were not his fault, he marched into the rest of the journey with shaken confidence. He could have easily been sent off off tonight for touching the ball outside his area.Lehmann is old, experience, under pressure, and moving to a new team back in German next season, but Lehmann might not have been the best choice this year to lead the German defensive line and carry them to the through the finals.
Bastian Schweinsteiger is with no doubt one of the best players this German team possesses. He is player with great talent, speed, skills, vision and undeniable great chemistry between him and Lukas Podolski. His stunning performance in all of his matches this tournament gave a breath of life on the German offense right when needed. The German team relays on Schweinsteiger ability to command the right side of the pitch, and he did with style, but the Spaniards knows were expecting this. While Schweinsteiger’s crosses are usually “spot on”, the Spanish team managed to shut him down that most of his crosses proved no effect what so ever.
Switched from 4-4-2 (a favorite for the coach Joachim Löw) to 4-2-3-1 managed to surprise the Portuguese and counter – attack their strategies, but with Spain it is not more an element of surprise. Changing the formation can have a good effect on an experience team like Germany, and while it did work fine once, it kind of lost its magic the second time on the players’ spirit.

Germany made it to the final match because it played the German way, but it also lost the tournament because the Spanish realized that. Statistically it might come off as if the German handed the Spanish their playbook for the day. I love the German style, spirit and motivation on the field, and will always be a fan, but tonight Germany lost, could have easily conceded more goals and might even be lucky to have made it pass the semi-finals. Spain won the Euro 2008 fair and square.