HEADLINES:
R/€ Uefa, Fergie hail attacking Spain
July 01, 2008 Edition 2
VIENNA: Victorious Spain's open, attacking play at Euro 2008 was yesterday hailed by Uefa, with Xavi receiving special praise.
The midfielder was named as Player of the Tournament, while technically gifted Spain had nine players in the squad of the four-yearly showpiece selected by European soccer's governing body.
"We have chosen Xavi because we think he epitomises the Spanish style of play," said Andy Roxburgh, the head of Uefa's technical delegation. "He was extremely influential in the whole possession, passing, penetrating kind of game that Spain played."
The Spaniards beat Germany 1-0 in Sunday's final, with Fernando Torres scoring an exquisite first-half goal. It was Spain's first triumph in a major tournament in 44 years.
"The Spanish team haven't tried to be someone else. They have maintained their philosophy. They can keep the ball under immense pressure," Roxburgh added.
"To sum up Spanish football: they carry the ball close to their hearts. They love the ball, they love working with the basics. Because they love the ball, they don't like to give it away. They have personal talent and collective ability."
Luis Aragones's side dominated Uefa's squad of the tournament, and Roxburgh made it clear that his delegation could have named even more Spaniards.
"Clearly, there was a number of players who had been outstanding," he added, naming Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas and defender Carles Puyol as especially impressive.
"The first comment our group made was that we should just pick the Spanish team. We could almost have put 13 or 14 Spanish players in there and not have blinked."
The Spaniards' triumph at Euro 2008 was a "triumph" for football, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said yesterday.
He added that Aragones's side had fully deserved their victory in the final in Vienna.
"When a team plays that type of football, it's a triumph for the game. I was pleased for them, it was a really good performance.
"Spain were a far, far better team (than Germany). I think they have been the best team." - Reuters
Squad of the tournament
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Ita), Iker Casillas (Esp), Edwin van der Sar (Ned). Defenders: Jose Bosingwa (Por), Philipp Lahm (Ger), Carlos Marchena (Esp), Pepe (Por), Carles Puyol (Esp), Yuri Zhirkov (Rus). Midfielders: Hamit Altintop (Tur), Luka Modric (Cro), Marcos Senna (Esp), Xavi (Esp), Konstantin Zyryanov (Rus), Michael Ballack (Ger), Cesc Fabregas (Esp), Andres Iniesta (Esp), Lukas Podolski (Ger), Wesley Sneijder (Ned). Forwards: Andrei Arshavin (Rus), Roman Pavlyuchenko (Rus), Fernando Torres (Esp), David Villa (Esp).
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