Spain Tipped to Win Final

Sixteen teams, 32 games, loads of goals, and it has all come down to this - the Euro 2008 final between Spain and Germany.

The Spanish have been the most consistent side throughout this tournament, backing up their effort in Group D - where they won three from three - by beating Italy on penalties and then thrashing Russia 3-0 in the semi-final.

Spain has won the European Championships once previously, way back in 1964 on home turf at Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu, when they defeated the Soviet Union 2-1.  Since then Spain has been cursed by the chokers' tag.  Apart from a loss to France in the final of the 1984 European Championships (when Spain were again favorites), la roja (the Reds) have failed to make it past the quarter-final stage of a major tournament since that one taste of success way back in 1964.

Germany has been up and down at this current tournament. They finished second to Croatia in Group B, then stunned Portugal 3-2 in the quarter-final before barely scraping through another thrilling 3-2 victory against an undermanned Turkish side.

Germany holds the record for tournament wins at European Championships.   They have won three times (twice as West Germany), taking the title in 1972, 1980 and 1996. France is the only other nation to have been European Champions on multiple occasions.  Add to that Germany's three trophies at World Cups, third only to Brazil (5) and Italy (4) and you can see why they are not too far off from Spain in the odds.

UK-based Sportingbet has the two teams very close together. Spain edges out Germany in the odds to win after the regulation 90 minutes of play, with the Spanish listed at 5/4 against Germany's 2/1.  A draw is paying 21/10.  Then in the odds as to who will actually lift the trophy (taking into account the possibility of extra-time and penalties to decide the tournament), Spain is ahead 4/7 against Germany's 5/4.  Ladbrokes is offering identical odds to Sportingbet on the eventual tournament winner.

With Spain missing top goalscorer David Villa through injury, his teammate Fernando Torres assumes the mantle of player most likely to score first - Sportingbet quoting him at 5/1 ahead of German Miroslav Klose, 7/1.

The most interesting individual betting for a final is generally to see who will win man of the match.  Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas is 6/1, ahead of German captain Michael Ballack, 7/1. They are followed by one more player from each team at 8/1 - on the Spanish side, Andres Iniesta, for the Germans, Bastian Schweinsteiger.
The final takes place 2045 local time in Vienna, Austria.