SPAIN
HF win vs RUS 3-0; QF win vs ITA 5-3 a.P.; W vs GRE 2-1, W vs SWE 2-1, W vs RUS 4-1
GERMANY
Hf win vs TUR 3-2; QF win vs POR 3-2; W vs AUT 1-0; L vs CRO 1-2; W vs POL 2-0
KEY PLAYERS
Spain will probably miss David Villa (see below), so Fernando Torres of Liverpool FC will spearhead the Spanish attack. He is big, strong and is nearly unstoppable once he gets the ball. Carles Puyol of Barcelona is the Spanish lead defender and will be counted on to neutralise the extremely efficient German attack.
On German side, everything stands and falls with Michael Ballack, the heart and soul of the German team. Equally deadly on offense on defense, but also sometimes flustered by small quick midfielders. Bastian Schweinsteiger from Bayern Munich is the best German player ATM, a dangerous winger who can score and give assists.
X FACTORS
Marcos Senna from Villareal CF is the Spanish central defensive midfielder. The experienced Spanish-Brasilian is playing a fantastic tourney and will be called on to neutralise Ballack. On German side, Miroslav Klose is the lone striker up front, a superb header who needs only a bit of daylight to score.
MISSING PLAYERS AND QUESTION MARKS
Spain will probably miss David Villa due to injury, so Cesc Fabregas will be called on to create havoc from the hole-striker position. Spain is looking hugely impressive and clutch (!!), but also have never trailed (EDIT: in a KO game or a game where something was on the line)... let' see how they play if Germany scores the 1-0. On German side, the central defenders Metzelder and Mertesacker have been looking very fragilem especially vs Turkey. If Senturk and Kazim can rip them to pieces, Torres and Cesc could vaporise them.
MISC INFO
Until a week ago, Spain was known as a nation of chokers and losers. But with their (hard earned) luck vs Italy and their impressive win vs Russia, they have a rightly earned shot at the title. Let's see if they can prevail or fall back into their victim role. Germany has been very inconsistent during the tourney, but are probably the most efficient team of the Euro 2008. They play crap matches and WIN, and if Germany plays well and gets going, they will win vs anybody and anything.
CONCLUSION
There is no favorite this time, both teams have earned their ticket into the Finals with a mix of luck (Spain vs Italy, Germany vs Turkey) and grit (Spain vs Russia, Germany vs Portugal). Spain seems better, but Germany is so utterly lethal in KO games. The winner in any case will rightfully walk away with the Euro 2008 trophy.
