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Spain beat Germany to become Euro Champions - 2

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Spain lifted the European Championship trophy Sunday night, their first major soccer title for 44 years in a deserved 1-0 win over Germany in the Euro-2008 finals at the Ernst Happel Stadion in Vienna.
(Recast para 6, adds details of Spanish celebrations paras 7-8)

VIENNA, June 30 (RIA Novosti) - Spain lifted the European Championship trophy Sunday night, their first major soccer title for 44 years in a deserved 1-0 win over Germany in the Euro-2008 finals at the Ernst Happel Stadion in Vienna.

With six wins prior to Sunday's final, Spain were by far the most consistent side in the competition and their imagination and skill, as well as a Fernando Torres goal in the 33rd minute, was enough to see them crowned champions.

Spain's coach, Luis Aragones, said after the match: "This is a happy day for Spain - we've won this tournament in style."

Aragones praised Torres, the game's only scorer following a superb pass by Xavi Hernandez, saying: "He could be one of the best players in the world, no doubt."

Spanish King Juan Carlos, who watched the match along with Queen Sofia and the country's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, told national TV: "We suffered, but in the end, it was worth all the pain."

Spain's EFE news agency reported that around 90 people required medical treatment, mostly for minor injuries as the country partied all night long celebrating their long-awaited win.

And with temperatures reaching 30 degrees centigrade (86 Fahrenheit), the country's fire service sprayed crowds with water to try and keep them cool.

Spain's El Mundo newspaper reported that 26 people had been hospitalized, one with serious injuries, after police were called in to contain high-spirited and drunk fans who were throwing bottles in the streets.

On their way to the final Spain defeated Russia twice, in the group stages and in the semifinals, as well as beating world champion's Italy in a tense quarter-final penalty shoot on June 22.

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