Hats off to Spain, says Metzelder

Real Madrid's German defender Christoph Metzelder praised Spain's Euro 2008 winning-performance which inflicted a 1-0 win over Germany in Vienna on Sunday night as Fernando Torres's first-half strike settled the matter.

In the build-up to the match, Metzelder had said the Spanish would struggle under the pressure of attempting to win their first European title for 44 years.

But Liverpool's Torres hit the winning goal on 33 minutes after slipping his marker Philipp Lahm and Metzelder says the Spanish have a bright future.

“You have to congratulate this Spanish team which has a great future,” said the 27-year-old, who almost gave the Spanish the lead when a ricochet off his body produced a fine save from Jens Lehmann.

“It is hard to say we are satisfied with being second, but I am sure in the next few weeks it will sink in what we achieved by making the final.

“We have to be realistic, the Spanish are a very good, very mobile team.”