'Black legend' of Spain put to bed Vienna (AFP) - After 44 long years - virtually as long as the trophy drought still afflicting England - Spain finally threw off their chains on Monday in winning the European Championship, beating Germany with a Fernando Torres strike. (More reports and analysis from Euro 2008 - Click here) More >> From a winning outlook to runner-up mentality In depriving the Germans of their seventh international title Spain have given the lie to the idea of Teutonic indestructibility, once famously expressed by former England striker Gary Lineker, who opined: "Football is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win." No longer. More >> Update: Victory is sweet after 44 years Vienna (AFP) - Spain ended their 44-year wait for a major international title with a 1-0 victory over Germany at the Euro 2008 final. (More reports and analysis from Euro 2008 - Click here) More >>

 Germany coach Loew proud in defeat We are in shock, admits Lehmann Spain defeat Geramany 1-0 to win Euro 2008 More disappointment for Ballack Justice was done says goal hero Torres Aragones slightly bitter, Fabregas fulfills dream Ballack's silverware heartache continues Ballack set to start for Germany Aragones has shown us the way says Puyol We'll beat Spain with or without Ballack, says Loew Senna set to become first Brazilian-European champion Fabregas to start final: Aragones Viva Espana! Spain euphoric at Euro 2008 win Melancholy end to Germany's Euro 2008 party Fans choose Schweinsteiger's girl as the best Austrian paper in Spanish Franquist flag gaffe Legendary commentator Motson set for final match Loew and Hickersberger ban wasn't justified There is a Plan B for 2010 World Cup Attack planned in Switzerland during Euro Platini invites 1984 opponent Arconada to attend final Spain swept by Euro fever as final nears Spain's success at Euro hurt erotic film festival Platini looks at Euro expansion to 24 teams

European Championship 2008

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The 13th European Championships are to be co-hosted by two of the less fashionable footballing nations of Austria and Switzerland, but with Greece winning the last edition, the biggest upset since Denmark won in 1992, the concept that there are no small nations anymore is gaining credence.

The 2008 edition welcomes 16 competitors for the European crown, the two hosts and the top two teams from seven qualifying groups all going into the hat for a quartet of four first round groups.

There are plans to expand to 24 competitors possibly as soon as 2012 which reflects both the growing UEFA membership that has swollen to over 50 and the interest in a competition that displayed just eight finalists until 1996 and only four at the first three events.

Think back to Euro 2004 again and you may remember a certain Latvia qualifying at the expense of Turkey, indicating that there may be more minnows for the big fish to deal with in future.

Whatever the format, if one looks back at the history of the competition, it has been lit up by some of the greats of the game and some of those who shone so brightly immediately spring to mind.

'The Black Spider' Lev Yashin in the Soviet Union net, the German defender known as 'the Kaiser' Franz Beckenbauer. Magical midfielders such as Michel Platini, Ruud Gullit, Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo, or strikers like Brian Laudrup, Jurgen Klinsmann, Marco van Basten and Thierry Henry.

Dazzling newcomers such as Dutchman Arjen Robben, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, Spain's Fernando Torres, Italian Alberto Gilardino or England's Wayne Rooney will be hoping to join that roll of honour.

Thanks to Beckenbauer and the prolific striker Gerd Muller, Germany won the Euro and the World Cup in 1972 and 1974, while with the help of Zidane, Henry and David Trezeguet, France held the 1998 World Cup when they also lifted Euro 2000.

But even this trio were powerless in 2004 as dark horses Greece led by German coach Otto Rehhagel beat them in the last eight as their steel backline led them all the way to eventual glory with a win over the much fancied Czechs in the last four and hosts Portugal in the final.

Germany became the first national team to win a third continental title (1972, 1980, 1996), beating the Czech Republic 2-1 at Euro 96 on the hallowed turf of Wembley.

Four years earlier last minute guests Denmark, led by the younger of the celebrated Laudrup brothers Brian, beat Germany 2-0 in the final of Euro-92 in Sweden after being called back from beach holidays when qualifiers Yugoslavia were expelled.

Germany's 1996 win came virtue of a "golden goal" scored by Oliver Bierhoff in extra-time. A ruling also put to devastating effect by France's Trezeguet at Euro 2000, as he blasted the French past a stubborn but eventually devastated Italy.

The competition was created by the European Union of Football Associations (UEFA) in 1960 and was initially called the European Nations Cup before being re-labelled the European championships and eventually the "Euro".

Greece's midfielder Georgios Karagounis (center) holds the cup with his teammates, 04 July 2004 at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, at the end of the Euro 2004 final match between Portugal and Greece at the European Nations championship in Portugal. Greece won the game 1-0.	Golden memories Dinamo Moscow's captain and goalkeeper Lev Yachine (left) stands next to English midfielder Bobby Charlton during the presentation of the players participating to the friendly match between Dinamo Moscow and FIFA's "Rest of the World" selection, 28 May 1971 in Moscow.
Germany's Oliver Bierhoff scores the second goal for his team in the European Nations soccer final against the Czech Republic at London's Wembley stadium 30 June 1996. Bierhoff's first-ever golden goal in international competition gave Germany a 2-1 victory in extra time.	French forward David Trezeguet celebrates after scoring the winning golden goal in extra-time during the Euro-2000 soccer final between France and Italy in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 02 July 2000. France beat Italy 2-1.