EURO 2008 INFO

Spain have confirmed that striker David Villa has been ruled out of Sunday's Euro 2008 final against Germany because of a hamstring injury.

Team doctor Jesus Jimenez revealed that Villa has a small rupture in his right leg muscle that will take five-to-10 days to heal.

"He has definitely been ruled out of the final," Jimenez told reporters.

Villa, who leads the tournament scorers with four goals, limped off in the 34th minute after taking a free-kick during Thursday's 3-0 semifinal win over Russia at Ernst Happel Stadium.

Villa, who has scored the only tournament hat-trick in Spain's 4-1 group stage win over Russia two weeks ago, said: "I'm a little sad that I won't be there to take part, but it's better that a team-mate who is fit plays instead of me, particularly as my injury has left me limping quite badly.

"To play on Sunday would have been a lottery -- I would do it even if I had to play on one leg but this is a team. There are other players that will do better 100 per cent than one who is injured."

Despite Villa's absence, Spain dominated the Russians with midfielder Cesc Fabregas replacing him and setting up two goals in a man-of-the-match performance.

Arsenal playmaker Fabregas is now expected to start in Vienna, with Fernando Torres of Liverpool deployed as a lone striker.