Its Spain 4shizzo

Spain claimed their first major title for 44 years after winning Euro 2008 with a deserved victory over Germany!

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres was Spain's goal hero, striking after 33 minutes when he cleverly lifted Xavi's pass over Germany keeper Jens Lehmann.

Spain dominated the final throughout, with Torres heading against the post and Marcos Senna almost adding a second from close range after 80 minutes.

Michael Ballack came close for Germany, shooting narrowly wide after the break.

606: DEBATE I'm delighted that the best team, playing the best football in one of the best tournaments ever, wins it SM

Spain have long had a reputation as under-achievers on the big occasions, but this was a richly-merited victory for veteran coach Luis Aragones and a team that played outstanding football throughout the tournament.

Germany were outclassed, and for captain Ballack his catalogue of misery in major finals continues having lost two Champions League finals and also been suspended for the 2002 World Cup final when they lost to Brazil.

Match-winner Torres enhanced the reputation he forged at Liverpool last season, but this was an all-round effort for a side that is young enough to already be marked down among the favourites for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Germany were lifted by Ballack declaring himself fit after a calf injury - but he had little impact on a first 45 minutes in which Spain were the vastly-superior side.

Andres Iniesta almost created the opening goal for Spain in the 13th minute when his driven cross took a deflection off Christoph Metzelder, but Lehmann pulled off a fine reflex save.

And they came even closer nine minutes later when Torres rose to meet Sergio Ramos's cross, but his header bounced to safety off the post.

But he was not to be denied and put Spain ahead with a trademark piece of sharpness in front of goal after 33 minutes.

Xavi's pass created uncertainty for Germany defender Philipp Lahm and Torres shrugged him off the ball to lift a superb finish beyond Lehmann.

Germany's problems threatened to worsen when Ballack needed lengthy treatment for an eye wound after a clash of heads with Marcos Senna.

David Silva then wasted a perfect opportunity to double Spain's advantage when he was set up by Iniesta, but he rushed his finish and shot wildly over the top.

Germany made a change at half-time, sending on Marcell Jansen for Lahm, but it was still Spain who dominated.

Xavi and Silva were both off target - but Germany were sticking to their task and almost grabbed an equaliser when Ballack shot just wide after Carles Puyol had conceded possession in a dangerous area.

Spain continued to look the more threatening side, but there was still the lingering prospect of Germany's refusal to accept defeat yielding an unlikely equaliser.

Casillas lifted the Henri Delaunay trophy for Spain

Silva was fortunate to stay on the pitch when he appeared to motion to head-butt Germany's Lukas Podolski, but Italian referee Roberto Rosetti decided against taking any action.

Ramos should have put the game beyond Germany's reach after 66 minutes when he headed straight at Lehmann from point-blank range as he got on the end of Xavi's free-kick.

Iniesta then had a shot cleared off the line by Torsten Frings and another effort saved by Lehmann as Spain looked in the mood to add a second.

And Germany had a remarkable escape after 80 minutes when substitute Daniel Guiza - on for Torres - headed the ball straight into Senna's path right in front of goal, but he could not apply the final touch.

Spain were not made to pay for their generosity in front of goal and ran out worthy winners.

What are your thoughts on Spain's success? Does their stylish brand of football demonstrate that a bucannering approach can work in what is normally a more defence-orientated international arena?

No-one can deny Spain deserved to win on the night, but were they the best side in Austria and Switzerland over the course of the whole tournament?

Russia Crushed

Its spain 4 shizzo now and from what i can see i think they deserve to be crowned the CHAMPIONS!

Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas was the driving force behind the win after coming on as substitute for injured David Villa.

Xavi turned home Andres Iniesta's cross after 50 minutes and substitute Daniel Guiza converted a superb pass from Fabregas with 17 minutes left.

Fabregas played in David Silva for a simple third after 82 minutes as a disappointing Russia ended well beaten.

The only cloud on Spain's horizon was the first-half injury to Villa, who will now miss the final clash with Germany in Vienna.

606: DEBATE Once again Spain go to the next level when Fabregas is on the pitch FB

Russia never threatened to produce the attacking firepower that saw them dump out Holland in the last eight, and playmaker Andrei Arshavin was an anonymous figure throughout.

Arshavin entered the game with a huge weight of expectation on his shoulders, as well as transfer interest from Barcelona, but failed to deliver.

Spain were outstanding as they inflicted another heavy defeat on Guus Hiddink's side, as they had done in the group stages and were rarely under pressure.

Veteran coach Luis Aragones now looks to have put together a side capable of ending the years of under-achievement, even making light of that injury to the influential Villa.

Spain made a positive start, with the partnership of Villa and Torres demonstrating their threat early on.

Villa slipped in Torres for a shot that was saved by Igor Akinfeev, then forced the Russia keeper into a smart save down at his post with a long-range drive.

Spain 0-0 Italy (4-2 pens)

Marcos Senna came closest in normal time when Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon fumbled his shot on to a post.

Spain keeper Iker Casillas was the hero in the shoot-out, saving from Daniele de Rossi and Antonio di Natale.

Daniel Guiza saw his spot-kick saved by Buffon, but Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas slid home the crucial penalty to set up a last four clash with Russia.

606: DEBATE Can Spain go all the way?

The game never touched the heights and penalties was an almost inevitable outcome given the approach of both sides.

There will now be an intriguing backdrop to the semi-final in Vienna on Thursday, with Spain having beaten Russia - admittedly minus the inspirational Andrei Arshavin - 4-1 in a group game earlier in the competition.

And it was a change of fortune for the Spanish, who have gone out of three major championships on 22 June, the World Cups of 1986 and 2002 and Euro '96 - all in the quarter-finals on penalties.

The opening 45 minutes was a cautious affair, with chances - and quality - at a premium. David Villa, predictably, was the first player to pose a serious threat with a low drive drive from long range that was comfortably held by Italy keeper Buffon.

Fernando Torres had been kept quiet by some trademark Italian defending, but he escaped the shackles after 31 minutes to help set up a chance for David Silva, who curled a shot only inches wide from 25 yards.

Spain tried to break the stalemate by making a double substitution on the hour, sending on Fabregas and Santi Cazorla for Xavi and Andres Iniesta.

But it was an Italian substitute, Mauro Camoranesi, who almost made the breakthrough seconds later when he ended a chaotic goalmouth scramble with a shot that was blocked by the legs of Spanish keeper Casillas.

It had been a frustrating evening for the much-vaunted Spanish strike force of Torres and Villa - and the latter was booked for diving by referee Herbert Fandel after 71 minutes when he tumbled under challenge from Giorgio Chiellini.

Italy keeper Buffon suffered an anxious moment with 11 minutes left when he was forced to punch away a long-range free-kick from Senna.

He had an even bigger scare seconds later when he fumbled a routine shot from Senna, and was relieved to see the ball bounce back into his arms off an upright.

Torres had been disappointing, but it was still a surprise to see him hauled off again by Spain coach Luis Aragones with six minutes left and replaced by Guiza.

Spain had the first chance of extra time, with Silva sweeping an effort just wide with Buffon beaten.

Italy's response saw swift as Casillas turned over a header from Di Natale and Luca Toni headed just over the top.

The stalemate was soon resumed, although Cazorla shot across the face of goal with seconds left as the last chance of avoiding penalties was wasted.

Villa and Fabio Grosso exchanged successful penalties and Cazorla scored for Spain before Casillas saved brilliantly from De Rossi.

Senna and Camoranesi scored, but when Buffon saved from Guiza Italy were back in contention - only for Casillas to repeat his heroics to stop Di Natali's spot-kick.

Fabregas, on as substitute, was left to settle the affair and calmly beat Buffon to spark wild Spanish celebrations.

Italy goes thro as France Exit

So whos gonna be the Euro champion 2008. Iz it one of the teams in the Group of death? What went wrong with the France team?

FRANCE STILL HopeFUL

France striker Thierry Henry said Friday's 4-1 humbling by the Netherlands was "difficult to accept" but insisted Les Bleus will pick themselves up before Tuesday's vital match against Italy.

Missed chance
Goals from Dirk Kuyt, Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben and Wesley Schneider inflicted the heaviest defeat on a French side in UEFA European Championship history, although the contest was closer than the scoreline suggests. Indeed, had Henry's 54th-minute lob over Edwin van der Sar dropped under the crossbar, France would have been level and back in the contest. It sailed over, however, and despite the FC Barcelona man later converting a Willy Sagnol cross, the Oranje ran out comfortable winners.

'A strange game'
With France's destiny now no longer in their hands, Henry was struggling to hide his disappointment. "It's difficult to accept," he told euro2008.com. "We didn't get the breaks. I missed a good opportunity, but then I put the next chance away to make it 2-1. At that point I really thought we'd come back. There were 20 minutes left and we felt the Dutch were vulnerable. It was a strange game because we had a lot of chances, but we were behind from an early stage and never managed to get back."

Govou regret
Fellow forward Sidney Govou was equally perplexed by the way the evening panned out. "It's difficult to say what went wrong," the Olympique Lyonnais man mused. "We feel really frustrated because we created a lot of chances and could have come back a number of times. They were more efficient than us in front of goals and they also got some breaks at important times. The score leaves us with a real headache, but overall the biggest regret is that we didn't covert more of our chances. We were a bit too indecisive when it mattered."

Henry vow
Raymond Domenech's side can still salvage their campaign with a victory over world champions Italy on Tuesday, providing Romania do not defeat the Dutch on the same night. Henry remains determined to keep fighting until the end, saying: "We have to give everything against Italy to make sure we aren't left with any regrets. We've beaten Italy before and we can do it again. If Romania win [against the Netherlands] then they'll deserve to go through, but we have to beat Italy before worrying about anything else."

Holland outshines Italy

Ruud van Nistelrooy put the Dutch ahead in controversial circumstances after 26 minutes when he scored from close range - but looked suspiciously offside.

Wesley Sneijder swept in a second from Dirk Kuyt's header five minutes later.

Edwin van der Sar then denied Italy with stunning saves from Fabio Grosso and Andrea Pirlo before Giovanni van Bronckhorst headed in after 80 minutes.

Euro 2008 has made a low-key start, but this was a game to set any tournament alight as the Dutch played in a stunning counter-attacking style and Italy also showed flashes of brilliance, despite ending up well beaten.

Holland are in pole position to qualify after France's dismal goalless draw with Romania, but World Cup holders Italy - even in defeat - suggested they can still go through from this tough group.

Obama 4shizzo

Barack Obama has sealed the Democratic presidential nomination in an historic step toward his goal of becoming the first black US president.

Obama: 'I will be Democratic nominee'

A defeated Hillary Rodham Clinton appeared to manoeuvre for the vice-presidential spot on his ticket without conceding her own defeat.

Obama's victory sets up a five-month campaign against Republican John McCain.

It will be a race between a 46-year-old opponent of the Iraq War and a 71-year-old former Vietnam prisoner of war and staunch supporter of the current US military mission.

They will vie to succeed President Bush, whose popularity has plummeted as the economy weakens, fuel and food prices soar and the war continues into its sixth year.

Clinton praised Obama warmly in an appearance before her supporters in New York.

But she neither acknowledged Obama's victory nor offered a concession of any sort.

Lets have some change now, the US need it and the whole world does ....and like 2pac said" We aint blind to see a black president"

Go Barack Go >>>>>

Inter confirm Mourinho

Mourinho has signed a three-year deal with the Italian side in his first job since he and Chelsea parted company by mutual consent in September 2007.

The 45-year-old succeeds Roberto Mancini, who was sacked after leading the club to a third consecutive Serie A title last season.

Mourinho is expected to have plenty of money to strengthen the side and he has reportedly maintained contact with some of his former Chelsea charges.

He has already been linked with Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba and no-one would be too surprised if one, or both, joined Mourinho at Inter before the new season begins.

Inter president Massimo Moratti said: "I have read lots of names but I have yet to speak with him (Mourinho) about the transfer market.

"I would like to change very little of this squad which has won so much."

General manager Ernesto Paolillo added that there would be "few, but good players" arriving this summer.