España, campeona de Europa

Spain have been crowned European champions for the second time as Fernando Torres's first-half goal in Vienna proved enough to defeat Germany in the final of UEFA EURO 2008.

THE ROAR OF THE LION

A friend writes from Amsterdam

Holland exploded (ejaculated, more like it) four times yesterday evening!! The Dutch Lion Roared! From underdog to favourite at Euro2008! Two brilliant performances so far, the dwarf beating football giants Italy and France!

Even I have mixed feelings about watching sometimes boring football. I was jumping out of my chair 4 times!! It's the best thing which could happen to a depressed country!

My Dutch friends think this will give a boost to the national psyche and will reunite "us" - has anyone ever done a study on how sports does that?

This kind of boosterism is short-term; it's just a bit of welcomed respite from the intensive navel-gazing that's been going on.

Also the "allochtonen" wear orange now. (Even if deepdown they back the team of their parents' country, f.i. Turkey.)

HUP HOLLAND

Tonight, the Dutch national football team ended a 30-year wait for a victory over Italy in emphatic fashion as they won their European Championship 2008, Group C, Match 6, in Berne. The result was 3:0 for Oranje!

Pics of a Triumph (Courtesy PPE-Colourpress-Torsten Silz-ddp)