The perennial underachievers have finally achieved. Forty-four years the Spanish public have waited and finally their country has their name etched on major trophy again. And what?s more they thoroughly deserve it.

Spain went in to Euro 2008, as they so often do at major finals, amongst the favourites. But this time they lived up to their billing, playing a supreme brand of football that was simply too good for the opposition. And at long last this great footballing nation has followed up their 2-1 victory over the U.S.S.R. in the final of the 1964 European Championships.

Germany were simply out-played and out-classed. The undeniably shaky combination of Per Mertesacker and Christoph Metzelder at the heart of the defence looked exactly that and the full-backs were even worse. The highly-rated Philipp Lahm, who was outmuscled for Fernando Torres? goal, was that bad he was substituted at half-time. Going forward Podolski, Schweinsteiger, Ballack and Klose who had excelled in the new 4-2-3-1 formation, were very quiet. A pretty ordinary German side, who had done a typically German job in getting to the final, were purely found out.

As bad as Germany seemed was as good as Spain were. From the skipper Iker Casillas through to the lone-striker Torres the Spanish were very, very good. But where La Selección really stood out was in the centre of the park. The football played by a midfield boasting Marcos Senna, Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, David Silva and Cesc Fàbregas was at times breathtaking. The speed and precision of the passing, the cunning of the movement, the craft and creativity and less noticeably the work-rate was top class. It is undoubtedly one of the best midfields the European Championships has ever seen.

Do not underestimate the contribution of Spain?s controversial coach Luis Aragonés however. The 70-year-old, who was rightly lambasted over racist remarks he made about Thierry Henry four years ago, made some decisive but often contentious decisions. Omitting Raúl and Guti from the original squad and leaving Fàbregas out of the starting XI along with some extremely bold substitutions throughout the tournament were all questioned but in the end all proved justified.

Euro 2008 though has been all about great football. From the group stages right through to the final it has been the attacking sides who have flourished and the defences who have been consistently embarrassed. It is quite shocking the distinct lack of world-class centre halves at this tournament.

As I have mentioned Mertesacker and Metzelder were poor, Thuram and Gallas for France looked some way past their best, Italy experimented with different pairings after the loss of Fabio Cannavaro and Mathijsen and Ooijer for Holland are just not good enough. Only Portugal with Pepe and Ricardo Carvalho had a solid central pairing and they were exposed. Again Spain with Carles Puyol and Carlos Marchena were probably about the best conceding just 3 goals all tournament, although much of the credit should go to Casillas, Ramos and Capdevila also.

Ironically England have just about the best defensive partnership in the world in Rio Ferdinand and John Terry, but they like the rest of the country have been forced to watch Euro 2008 at home. Nevertheless it has been well received in Britain.

The BBC asked in a advertising campaign at the beginning of the tournament, ?Euro 2008: who will you support?? with people choosing to back a team often containing players from their favourite club side.

Manchester United fans supported Portugal because of the Portuguese contingent at Old Trafford of assistant manager Carlos Quieroz, Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo. Arsenal supporters backed France in loyalty to their manager Arsène Wenger, skipper Gallas and ex-players Henry, Patrick Vieira and Nicolas Anelka. But it was Liverpool followers who most vehemently nailed their colours to the mast in support of Spain.

Liverpool?s strong link with the Spanish began with the arrival of manager Rafa Benitez four years ago and the ?Fab Four? of Torres, Pepe Reina, Alvaro Arbeloa and Xabi Alonso meant that the Reds had more players in the Spanish squad than either Barcelona or Real Madrid. The depth of feeling towards the Iberian nation was so strong Jamie Carragher even changed the name of his Liverpool restaurant from Café Sport England to Café Sport Spain for the duration of the tournament.

But the majority of people in England will no doubt have enjoyed Euro 2008 despite our absence, because for us Brits we are usually happy enough as long as the old enemy Germany don?t win. Thank God for Spain.