EURO 2008 INFO

On the strength of Fernando Torres' goal in the 33rd minute, Spain claimed its first European Championship in 44 years Sunday with a 1-0 victory over Germany at Ernst Happel Stadion.

Spain found European glory for the first time since 1964, finally shedding its label as perennial underachievers.

A fluent side and the best team throughout the tournament, the Spaniards had several other golden opportunities throughout the contest that they failed to convert.

But Torres made his chance count, running on to Xavi's through ball and sprinting around defender before chipping a shot past diving goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.  Earlier, Torres had sent a nifty header off the left post.

The Spaniards also were able to stymie the counter-attacking Germans, who failed in their bid to win the European Championship since 1996.

Pronounced fit before the match after he was listed as "questionable" with a calf injury, German striker Michael Ballack was bloodied on the right side of his face in the first half after a hard fall.  After a brief stint on the sidelines, he returned to the pitch.

Ballack squandered his best scoring chance in the 63rd minute, sending a right-footed shot just wide of diving goalkeeper Ike Casillas.

Following Ballack's miss, the Spaniards suffocated the Germans the rest of the way.