Euro 2008 Diary [day19]

Germany 0-1 Spain

When he first began at the BBC John Motson surely could not have imagined he would begin his last international commentary by introducing Enrique Iglesias on stage. Anyway, cringe-fest of a closing ceremony over; on with the football and as the game gets under way Germany look in control. Miroslav Klose is given an early opportunity courtesy of a lazy Sergio Ramos back-pass, but alas his touch is too heavy. Spain's only effort on target in the opening ten minutes comes from a hefty clearance by Iker Casillas.

Fifteen minutes in and the match's balance of power shifts to the red as Iniesta is fed by Xavi and his pull back is deflected goalwards by Christoph Metzelder only to be turned away by a brilliant reaction stop from Jens Lehman. Spain now begin to control the game and Fernando Torres hits the post with a header, two minutes after heading a similar effort wide. Cesc Fabregas and Joan Capdevilla also come close before the Spanish take the lead after half an hour; Torres is played in by Xavi and with "just a little dink" (Mark Lawrenson) lifts the ball over Lehman and into the far corner of the net.

On the German side Michael Ballack has seemingly lost tolerance of his team-mates and is trying to take on the Spanish on his own. His frustrations aren't helped by being repeatedly ordered off for further treatment on a facial wound, and he inevitably finds his way into a booking after a scuffle with Puyol just before the break. At half-time it's clear Spain have impressed all... except Marcel Desailly, who thinks the Spanish should bring on another forward. "He's much bigger than me, and I wouldn't want to fight him, but I have to disagree" says Martin O'Neil.

The second half begins with an uncomfortable looking injury for Miroslav Klose who receives a kick in the Osterreich. At the other end of the field Jens Lehman is understandably angry at some haphazard German defending; "That's a contradiction in terms isn't it, an angry Lehman?" asks Mark Lawrenson as Motson chooses wisely to ignore him. Germany brink on Kevin Kuranyi for Thomas Hitzelsperger and enjoy their best spell of the game as Michael Ballack volleys just wide and Casillas comes out smartly to prevent Kuranyi meeting a cross.

Torres is over again after very little contact from Metzelder and Bastian Shweinsteiger pauses mid-dribble to offer a brief medical assessment before continuing with the game. Despite that brief flurry from Germany Spain are soon back in control and almost take advantage of desperate German defending to double their lead, firstly Sergio Ramos is unmarked from a Xavi free-kick, but his header is well turned over by Lehman. Then from the resulting corner Iniesta is left alone to run freely toward goal and hit a shot that is blocked on the line by Torsten Frings.

Iker Casillas is given little to do, but is the focus of the strangest close-up of the tournament as the camera hovers over his groin for an uncomfortably long time. Germany throw on Mario Gomez, although the straight swap only confuses Lawrenson and the Spanish merely continue their assault. Marcos Senna is next to come close breaking forward before feeding Santi Cazorla who crosses for Danny Guiza, but his nod down is agonisingly out of reach for Senna. In the closing minutes Germany almost orchestrate a fleeting chance, but Capdevilla is fouled by Gomez and Spain see out the remaining time. "The senors have become the seniors" closes Motson as a footballing cliché bites the dust; Spain are 'perennial underachievers' no more