Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Recall the 2006 World Cup soccer final for a moment. Or the 2007 cricket World Cup final, if you like. If it's too tiring to go so far back, just recall the French Open tennis final a couple of weeks ago. Do you remember anything? ... Very little I suspect and for good reasons.
They were forgettable experiences, one-sided, single-dimensional and in case of the cricket final a farce. On this count alone, the Euro 2008 final on Sunday night was a revelation, an unforgettable experience and in the end a fitting finale to a three-week tournament which never ceased to thrill, tease and torment right through.
It was as if music and opera were put on hold for a month, and someone called Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart almost forgotten, as soccer disrupted the tranquility of Austria and Switzerland. But Spain unveiled a symphony of its own and the final recital was a modern classic, all-consuming and a work of consummate skill and strong will.
Spain were almost the unanimous champions. I'm sure no one holds any grudge against the new Emperors of Europe who waited long and hard but patienlty for this moment of pride and glory.
Spain in many ways was a soccer conundrum for long despite being a passionate sporting nation, perhaps second to Australia for its love for a wide specturm of outdoor activities ranging from bull fighting to yachting. Their love and dedication were amply rewarded too with Fernando Alonso winning the Formula One title two years in a row and Rafael Nadal remaining unbeatable on clay.
In team sport too Spain has done pretty well winning the Davis Cup twice and its women's equivalent the Fed Cup five times. The basketball team is regularly among the top three on the European circuit and supplies a steady stream of players to the NBA.
But when it comes to soccer, Spain has flattered to deceive time and again despite having the talent and skill to match the best in the world. Their repeated failings were so flabbergasting that the term perennial underachievers almost became a permanent prefix to the Spanish football team.
Euro 2008, however, has changed it all and nobody deserves it better than the Spanish fans who have stood by their heroes even during heartbreaking circumstances following repeated first round exits or agonising quarter-final defeats.
It looked as if history was repeating itself after a goalless full time against Italy last week. It was again a big stage, another quarter-final and Spain was yet again the favourites but with a finger on the self-destruct button.
But Spain demolished the demons of the past when Cecs Fabregas converted his final kick to take Spain into the semi-finals following a tense penalty shootout. I think it was a defining moment in the history of Spanish soccer. The rest can be simply termed as Spanish symphony - the fluent 3-0 victory over Russia in the semi-finals and the aesthetic 1-0 result over Germany in the final on Sunday night.
The tournament winner from Fernando Torres was a goal to savour in any which way you look at it -the determination and athleticism of Torres and the finality of his finish will remain unmatched for some years to come.
Just close your eyes and recall that magical moment. Xavi Hern‡ndez releases the ball and Torres sets out down the middle. He has a lot of ground to catch up as Philipp Lahm is closer to the ball. But the Spaniard is clearly the faster and beats the German.
Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann does what every other world class goalkeeper is bound to do - he dives for the ball to cut the angle. But Torres takes one huge stride and drives the ball over the goalkeeper. Lahm, beaten and behind Torres, is helpless while Lehmann is truly grounded as the ball tantalisingly rolls into the far netting.
The goal was a product of creativity, unceasing enthusiasm and unmatched skill. It was a move which saw the famous German defenders 'absent without leave'. Fittingly it came in the final.
The Spaniards were clearly the faster, more creative and courageous and consistently potent and poetic while the Germans at best could only produce uneven poetry. Spain looked admirable even without the ball and with ball they were magical - short and sublime one-touch passes, quick interchanging of roles and overall refreshingly different.
The Spanish flair was simply too much for the famous German order. And style and substance won over painstaking tactics and long term strategy.
By winning the Euro 2008, Spain has ceased to be the bull anymore and become a bull fighter. The world of soccer will not be the same anymore. And it's for the better of the sport.
