Touch of a genius is enough as Torres takes Spain to Euro glory

Great players as well as great teams win these tournaments and, on this occasion, Fernando Torres was to Spain what Ronaldo was to Brazil in 2002, what Zinedine Zidane was to France four years earlier and what Michel Platini was to the French when the Spaniards last reached a final.

Euro star: striker Fernando Torres clips the ball over Jens Lehmann in the Ernst Happel Stadium last night to open the scoring

Platini smiled approvingly as this brilliant baby-faced assassin of a striker, the one they affectionately call 'The Kid', produced a goal that not only settled this utterly absorbing contest but provided a perfect demonstration of his considerable quality - a wonderful combination of pace, strength, skill and a predator's touch.

He did not just embarrass Philipp Lahm before lifting his chip over the advancing Jens Lehmann in the 33rd minute.

He made mincemeat of the much-admired German full back.

So badly was Lahm burned that Joachim Loew did not let him return for the second half.

It was only then, though, that the true test came, only then that Spain would discover if they had at last lost the tag of serial chokers and could protect a single-goal lead against the physically imposing Germans.

The answer was emphatic, with Spain producing the mature, composed performance a nation had been yearning for decades.

It was a performance that proved they do, indeed, have the mentality to turn individual talent into a team capable of winning a major tournament. Spain's performances before last night said they had the necessary resolve.

It was evident from the moment Luis Aragones's side kicked off their campaign with that 4- 1 demolition of Russia to the night when they eliminated world champions Italy on penalties and then conquered Russia for a second time.

Breakthrough: Torres (right) celebrates with team-mate Andres Iniesta as David Silva runs towards them

This was their 22nd game in a row without defeat, compelling evidence of their talent. More significantly, however, it was Spain's first trophy in 44 years, their first final in 24 years and their first competitive victory over Germany in just as long.

But even Loew noted how they had not only won every game but had been consistently excellent, and he admitted they deserved to win after the final whistle in Vienna.

If the Germans exposed certain weaknesses in the Spanish defence, not least at right-back where Sergio Ramos sometimes struggled, the Spaniards responded courageously.

Iker Casillas was magnificent in the way he commanded his area, while Carles Puyol and Marcos Senna were devastatingly destructive.

Ahead of them, Spain oozed flair and finesse, and not just in Torres but in midfielders Cesc Fabregas, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and David Silva.

This was a victory for style over substance, though Spain possess both in abundance. And it was a signal that adventurous, attacking football can triumph over the machine- like qualities of a Germany or an Italy.

The Germans disappointed here. Defensively, they looked vulnerable. Mentally, too.

If this was supposed to be Michael Ballack's final - the final he would win after nine unsuccessful attempts - he allowed the occasion to get the better of him.

Rather than lead and inspire, Germany's captain, having made a seemingly miraculous recovery from injury, was a petulant presence, even at times trying to cheat his way to victory.

Petulant: Michael Ballack gives his opinion to referee Roberto Rosetti

Spain were so superior, even if a tendency to over-complicate their attacking moves made for a tense final few minutes when any one of Sergio Ramos, Senna or Xabi Alonso could have scored.

They had seven shots on target to Germany's two and made sure Lehmann was much the busier of the goalkeepers.

Germany started brightly enough, taking encouragement from a loose Sergio Ramos pass that was intercepted by Miroslav Klose and suggested Spain were suffering from big-night nerves.

But one terrific pass from Xavi and suddenly Spain were in the game. He found Iniesta, who in turn forced a fine save from Lehmann with a shot that took a deflection off Christoph Metzelder.

From there, Torres began to move through the gears.

Grounded: Bastian Schweinsteiger of Germany and his team-mates looks dejected after their final defeat

A burst of acceleration terrified the life out of the sluggish Metzelder and when he then rose majestically above the significantly taller Per Mertesacker and sent a header crashing against the foot of Lehmann's right-hand post, the Germans must have realised they were in trouble.

They rallied briefly. Ballack threatened and so did Lukas Podolski. But when Xavi invited Torres to take on Lahm, the Liverpool forward muscled his way past the German before guiding his chipped effort over Lehmann and into the corner of the net.

That was the end for Lahm, having already been embarrassed by Colin Kazim- Richards, the Coca- Cola kid of Turkey, in an enthralling semi-final.

Four years ago in Portugal, the European Championships proved just as desperate for Torres.

He failed to score and, even though he was only 20, was criticised as a consequence. Four years on, though, a great game was settled by a great player at the end of what has been a great tournament.

GERMANY (4-2-3-1): Lehmann; Friedrich, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Lahm (Jansen 46); Frings, Hitzlsperger (Kuranyi 56); Schweinsteiger, Ballack, Podolski; Klose (Gomez 79). Booked: Ballack, Kuranyi.

SPAIN (4-1-4-1): Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Marchena, Puyol, Capdevila; Senna; Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Fabregas (Alonso 63), Silva (Cazorla 66); Torres (Guiza 78). Booked: Casillas, Torres.

Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Italy).