They think it’s all over...and tonight it is for commentator legend Motty

Signing off: John Motson, BBC commentator

An estimated 12 million people will hear Motson take the microphone for the last time at a major tournament when he commentates on the Euro 2008 final between Germany and Spain.

Incredibly, it will be the 11th major final Germany have appeared in during Motson's years at the top, while England have failed to play in a single one.

'The Germans play what they call tournament football,' said Motson. 'England can't seem to get accustomed to it. 'Maybe it's an attitude thing. There is a difference in how Germany focus on what they have to do. It's no coincidence they have got to all these finals.

'Michael Ballack tells his friends not to call him at training camp with ticket requests. He insists it is all sorted out beforehand because once the squad are together, the only thing they focus on is winning.

'But I've spoken to one former England player and he told me it's very different. The England players find it much harder to focus day in, day out. They would be getting calls about tickets all the time. He said some of the lads would be worrying about their comps (guest tickets) in the warm-up before matches.'

Motson, 62, has become a national institution, known to millions of television viewers because of his sheepskin coat and incredible memory for statistics.

But England's failure at international tournaments meant he was never able to emulate broadcaster Kenneth Wolstenholme, who greeted Geoff Hurst's third goal in the 1966 World Cup final with the immortal line: 'There are some people on the pitch. They think it's all over . . . it is now.'

Motson added: 'If I have one regret, it's not being able to commentate on England in a big final. The closest I came was in 1990, when we reached the World Cup semi-finals.

'We lost on penalties to Germany and I remember making a reference to the "dream that had died" when there was a shot of Bobby Robson coming out of the dugout.

'I've had 18 big tournaments, 18 goes at it, and that's a pretty fair effort. I don't want to think about the next commentator coming in and England getting to the World Cup final straightaway! If it happens, I'll shake the commentator by the hand and say: "Well done". But if you're asking me straight if Fabio Capello will win the World Cup, I think we'll need a bit of luck, to be fair.'

Although Motson is bowing out as BBC TV's main commentator, he will continue to work on Match of the Day and Radio 5 Live and is about to start work on his autobiography.

A keen runner, he is ready to step back on the treadmill under the watchful eye of his personal trainer, former Spurs player Dean Austin. 'I've told Dean to get ready,' he said. 'I've been running every other morning with Mark Lawrenson, Ray Stubbs and Garth Crooks in Vienna.

'I'm stepping down from half-marathons to 10km, but it's not the last you've seen of me, either on the road or behind the microphone.'

The BBC will trial different commentators in the next 12 months before deciding who will take over Motson's role at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.