The Final
Well, after Germany made heavyish weather of Turkey and Spain flew past Russia, who's going to win it?
After Spain's second half performance, Aragones has problems of the sort coaches like to have. Fabregas surely must start, but who would he be in for? Xavi? Iniesta? Won't be Silva, he's got to stay, class act. Will Villa be OK for the final? If so, will he get back in the starting XI? And what about Guiza, any chance of a start ahead of either Villa or Torres? He looks a bit awkward but took his goal very well, in fact he reminds me of former Atletico and Barca forward Julio Salinas, not all that pretty to watch but a real handful for defenders.
And Germany? A bit more straight forward I think. It'll probably stay as is, maybe with Frings starting again.
I have been won over by the Spanish. I don't like Aragones at all - he's an objectionable man - but can admire what he's done with this team. It's also helped that he's been blessed with the finest array of talent available for a Spanish team in years, and he appears to have players who actually perform when required rather than just looking promising (Raul, Luiz Enrique, Mendieta).
So I'm going Spain to win 2-1.
TheJam2008-06-27 11:29:45
Spain to win 1-0 in a tight match.
spanish flair vs the german grind. I'd think low scoring 1 - 0 to the spaniards. They'll have a lot of shots but the grmans will defend like crazy!
Spain, please Spain. I feel so sorry for them after years of bottling it that they now actually have a chance of doing something. Forca Espana!
The Dirty Germans for me - they know how to win tournaments and have a real winning culture. 2 nil
The Germans have just not been impressive. They've been very insipid so far, winning the game on set-pieces against Portugal and having their share of luck against Turkey.
Also, don't see it being a tight game also. German defence is one step above awful (at this level I mean), and I think the Spanish will give them a lot of problems. The Germans will need Frings at his best to bottle the Spanish midfield, but I don't think he can do it. The main danger that the Germans can pose will be down the left if they have the Lahm/Podolski combo, but the Spanish shut down their flanks defensively very well today, and the sheer amount of quality they have I think will be far too much for the Germans.
As for the Spanish line-up, I think it will mainly depend if Villa recovers from his injury. Don't see Guiza starting, but he may come on later in the game, as he offers a different but still difficult outlet for opposing defenders to deal with.
Also, don't see it being a tight game also. German defence is one step above awful (at this level I mean), and I think the Spanish will give them a lot of problems. The Germans will need Frings at his best to bottle the Spanish midfield, but I don't think he can do it. The main danger that the Germans can pose will be down the left if they have the Lahm/Podolski combo, but the Spanish shut down their flanks defensively very well today, and the sheer amount of quality they have I think will be far too much for the Germans.
As for the Spanish line-up, I think it will mainly depend if Villa recovers from his injury. Don't see Guiza starting, but he may come on later in the game, as he offers a different but still difficult outlet for opposing defenders to deal with.
Germany! I will explain WHY after the final has finished. 
If Germany can contain Spain as Italy did ... they've never lost a shootout so its in their favour to try and kill the flair of the game. I don't think they'll be able to contain Spain though.
Assuming Villa is available I think they'll start with the same lineup again, perhaps Fabregas will get a start but he's a real impact player coming around mid-match. Torres has shown signs of brilliance again but teams are marking him so tight he doesn't get much time on the ball. This does work out well for the rest of Spain though because Torres is so dangerous the Germans also will be all over him which creates space for others on attack.
The Germans rely quite a lot on their left sided attack, however Spain have got Sergio Ramos and Puyol as the last line of defense on that side and both of them had brilliant defensive games yet again shutting down all Russia's attacks down the left.
All in all it looks to be a good battle but I think Spain will take it. I think I'll go for a 3-1 scoreline to Spain, now that they've broken their quarter final curse and got their rhythm back in the semis its going to take something special to stop them going all the way.
Assuming Villa is available I think they'll start with the same lineup again, perhaps Fabregas will get a start but he's a real impact player coming around mid-match. Torres has shown signs of brilliance again but teams are marking him so tight he doesn't get much time on the ball. This does work out well for the rest of Spain though because Torres is so dangerous the Germans also will be all over him which creates space for others on attack.
The Germans rely quite a lot on their left sided attack, however Spain have got Sergio Ramos and Puyol as the last line of defense on that side and both of them had brilliant defensive games yet again shutting down all Russia's attacks down the left.
All in all it looks to be a good battle but I think Spain will take it. I think I'll go for a 3-1 scoreline to Spain, now that they've broken their quarter final curse and got their rhythm back in the semis its going to take something special to stop them going all the way.
Villa won't play, Fabregas will start in the midfield, just behind Torres.
Guiza will come on in the 2nd half.
2-1 Spain....
Germany 3-1 Spain
Spain to win in penalty shootout
The Germans to win a stodgy low-scoring affair. Germany have brought very little to this Euro so Murphy's Law says they're sure to win.
God, I'm such a pessimist.
Germans have conceded 6 goals this tournament, and scored 10. Spain have scored 11, and conceded 3. German defence is pretty average, the Spanish generally look very exciting going forward. Can't see this final be a turgid affair.
I'm with Nickel, 3-1 to Spain.
I'm with Nickel, 3-1 to Spain.
I support the Germans, but Spain are looking really hot.
Lehmann is looking like a bit of a weak link at the back for Ze Germans (esp. compared to Casillas).
Poldo/ Schweini and Klose have actually looked pretty good gooing forward. I'm not sure I agree with the comments about Germany bringing little/ looking average. They made the final after all. If anyone brought little to this tournament I would've though it was Italy, France or England (who/where are ya?) - and that's why we're not watching them in the final.
Still, Spain seem fitter. See how slow the German's looked in their last 10 minutes against Portugal? Germany also looked shaky in the last 10 against Turkay. . . . . And look how good Spain became last night in the last 30 minutes against Russia, just as the space was starting o open up. Germany will have to keep their shape and fitness in the last 20 in order to win against Spain.
Should be an interesting game, regardless of who wins.
I'm picking 2-1 Spain, with the Germans 1-0 lead at half time.
Germany doesn't look like a great team but they seem to get results. I hope Spain win though.
I'll be cheering for Spain, but only to annoy smarah 
2-1 overtime win for Spain.
The Germans have just not been impressive.
What, are you serious? They've played some quality football this tournament.
The Germans have not been looking average. Even when they lost they looked good. Their defence is good. They are hard to break down as they play with a very structured unit. Ballack/Shwein/Podol are awesome. I pick them to win a tight game.
The Germans have just not been impressive.
What, are you serious?� They've played some quality football this tournament.
Ahm, are we watching the same tournament? Other than Schweinsteiger, they've been very average.
The Germans have not been looking average. Even when they lost they looked good. Their defence is good. They are hard to break down as they play with a very structured unit.
6 goals conceded in 3 games (not counting games against completely impotent Austria and Poland, who couldn't socre against San Marino's girls under-10 team)? That's good defence and hard to break down? Jay-zus, both us and Turks looked like they could score anytime they had the ball. Mertesacker is just not international class, Metzelder looks unfit, and Friedrich/Jansen are passengers. Lahm is the only quality player in that backline. Add in a dodgy keeper, and it's a pretty sad look...
The Swine has looked good, I agree on that, and their attacking set-pieces are pretty good (although the Portuguese made them look even better), but they've been far from impressive...
I really have to say that Germany have been impressive and were far better than average as some in this forum said. How come Germany reached the final? It sure says something about the class of Germany. They played fantastic football against Portugal in the quarterfinal when everybody counted on Portugal and nobody expected Germany to win.
Only Schweinsteiger has been better than average? Is that serious? They have excellent players that showed their class during the tournament, such as Podolski who scored three times already, Ballack who scored twice and was the decisive player in the game against Portugal, or Lahm who was the man of the match against Turkey.
Mertesacker is just not international class? I can't agree with that. He was one of the best German players during the World Cup 2006 where Germany reached the semi-final. He had a weaker game against Turkey, but he is still one the most constant German players over the last few years.
And Metzelder has been injured for many months and just got fit before the tournament, so that explains that he looks sometimes a bit slow. Nevertheless, he is a leading player for Germany and the fact that he plays for Real Madrid is testament of his class.
Anyway, Germany have been more impressive than other teams in this tournament, such as Italy, Croatia.
My tip is 2:0 for Germany.
Podolski's been good, but not great. Couple of his goals were well taken, and he's been dangerous coming down the left, and set up a couple of goals too. But he drifts in and out of games too much which creates problem for Germans given that he's been one of their most important attacking outlets.
Ballack has scored from a couple of set pieces, but overall he's not been great, but maybe that's because he's playing a bit too deep for my liking.
I'm prepared to give Metzelder a benefit of the doubt given his injury-plagued season, but Mertesacker has been out of his depth, don't care if or how well he played in 2006.
As far as I'm concerned, Germany's best period was the first 30 minutes against Portugal when they effectively won the game. They bossed the midfield very well in that period even if the Portuguese defence failed them big time. But that's their problem, not Germany's.
Against Turkey, Germany were awful in the first half, could have been 2-3 goals down but the Turks had used up all their luck in the previous games. Second half they were a bit better, although they were gifted a goal by the Turkish keeper. Lahm's winner was all class though.
As for the group games, the Germans weren't really pushed by the Poles and Austrians, and were distinctly second-best against Croatia. So I wouldn't call all this 'impressive'.
Football history is littered with examples of teams making the final without really impressing (EURO 2004 being the most recent example); have Germans been more impressive than other teams at the tournament? Yes, but that's not the point. Have Germans been one of the two most impressive teams at the tournament? I think they haven't, but they're in the final so good luck to them.
I'm sticking with the 3-1 prediction for Spain.el grapadura2008-06-29 17:25:18
Ballack has scored from a couple of set pieces, but overall he's not been great, but maybe that's because he's playing a bit too deep for my liking.
I'm prepared to give Metzelder a benefit of the doubt given his injury-plagued season, but Mertesacker has been out of his depth, don't care if or how well he played in 2006.
As far as I'm concerned, Germany's best period was the first 30 minutes against Portugal when they effectively won the game. They bossed the midfield very well in that period even if the Portuguese defence failed them big time. But that's their problem, not Germany's.
Against Turkey, Germany were awful in the first half, could have been 2-3 goals down but the Turks had used up all their luck in the previous games. Second half they were a bit better, although they were gifted a goal by the Turkish keeper. Lahm's winner was all class though.
As for the group games, the Germans weren't really pushed by the Poles and Austrians, and were distinctly second-best against Croatia. So I wouldn't call all this 'impressive'.
Football history is littered with examples of teams making the final without really impressing (EURO 2004 being the most recent example); have Germans been more impressive than other teams at the tournament? Yes, but that's not the point. Have Germans been one of the two most impressive teams at the tournament? I think they haven't, but they're in the final so good luck to them.
I'm sticking with the 3-1 prediction for Spain.el grapadura2008-06-29 17:25:18
Spain in a tight match 2-1 (sweepstake and money on it...)
Spain 2-1 if Ballack doesn't play, 1-1 and Germany to win on penalties if Ballack does play
Ballack is the only one who can keep the ballon ball below the cross bar height. Podolski has been the man. I never saw the Turkey match though so perhaps they were a bit crap then
Yes the Germans have conceaded a few goals, but the Spanish back line also looks a bit dodgy for me. Marcos Senna has been immense just in front of them though.
Capdevilla and Marchena are weak spots.
In saying that, Spain to win 3-1 if Ballack doesn't play and Spain 2-1 AET if he does. In either scenario Fabregas to get man of the match and just generally be the man.
Yes the Germans have conceaded a few goals, but the Spanish back line also�looks a bit dodgy for me. Marcos Senna has been immense just in front of them though.
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Capdevilla and Marchena are weak spots.
I agree with this too, Marchena especially. But Puyol is better than anyone who Germans have,and Casillas is light years ahead of Lehmann as far as keeping goes. So I'd give the Spanish an advantage there too.
what time is game and is anyone watching it anywhere. I assume 6.30? Wondering whether i need another half day off work
6.45 kickoff. Both BB and 4 Kings should be showing it. I'm watching at home, can't bear getting up early enough to make it to the pub so early.
I'm gonna get down to 4 kings for it i think
Haha, I like the idea of going to the Backbencher (considering I live in Thorndon), but the idea of having to get up and go outside at that time is so not appealing...so I will be getting up at 6:30, making a hot drink and migrating to the couch wrapped in duvet...
Im going to the Basin Reserve Maccas so I can watch all of it before school 
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Spain 2 Germany 1
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Spain 2 Germany 1
Im going to the Basin Reserve Maccas so I can watch all of it before school .
Spain 2 Germany 1
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Spain 2 Germany 1
Gone are the days where lads would rock up to school halfway through second period adorned in their team scarf and what not after staying home or being at the sports cafe to watch the football.
Get your f**king priorities straight son.
Good news for Germany that Ballack is playing
30 mins in and it doesn't look like a final... Ballack looking good (doubtful? yeah.right) and Torres looking like he has that extra 5/10% more than when he plays in a shirt thats a slightly darker shade of red...
oh...
hang on...
GOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLL !!!!!!
Torres breaks thru whilst Jens is looking at retirement village brochures....
oh...
hang on...
GOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLL !!!!!!
Torres breaks thru whilst Jens is looking at retirement village brochures....
Great finish from Torres.
I had a feeling after 40 minutes that Germany wouldn't score and Spain probably wouldn't score another. The Germans looked about as impotent as a 90-year old man and neither team was getting any luck. Looking at stats like the fact Spain haven't won since '64 and their coach would be oldest winner ever coupled with Germany's win-loss, win-loss record in Euro finals, it's just set up for a Spanish win.
And as I write this, some Spanish fans are doing 'shirts off.'
And as I write this, some Spanish fans are doing 'shirts off.'