Under coach Luis Aragones, Spain won the European Football Championship in Austria/Switzerland in the summer. It was Spain’s first major title for 44 years, since winning the 1964 European Championship. Despite having one of the best leagues in the world, Spain have considered to be under-achievers in world football, but this success helped to change that perception.
They beat three-time champions Germany 1-0 in the final with a goal by Fernando Torres. Playing attacking football, Spain's total of 12 goals made them top scorers. David Villa was the tournament’s leading scorer with six, Xavi was named Player of the Tournament and nine Spanish players were picked for the UEFA Euro 2008 squad - goalkeeper Iker Casillas, defenders Carles Puyol and Carlos Marchena, midfielders Xavi, Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta and Marcos Senna and strikers David Villa and Fernando Torres.
