Madrid - Football is a sport played by 22 men and in which "Germany always wins," former England star Gary Lineker famously said years ago - before a great Spain team came around with its game based on determination and on moving the ball fast.

The final of Euro 2008 will pit both teams against each other Sunday, and its result is not yet known.

However, the performance of Spain and Germany on the pitch over the course of the tournament does not point in the direction of celebration for Joachim Löw's men in Vienna's Ernst Happel stadium.

"We have very clear qualities," said Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.

The best play at the Euro has come off the boots of Cesc Fabregas, Xavi, David Silva and Andres Iniesta, with a fast ball circulation based on one touch football. Short, close to the grass, with deep passes when necessary.

Valencia striker David Villa - the Euro's top scorer so far with four goals - was most likely to miss the final, but the midfielders' dynamic play and their ability to make spaces will not leave Fernando Torres alone in the fight against defenders.

Rather, it will provide an extra headache that Per Mertesacker, Christoph Metzelder and company - vulnerable to fast surprise attacks - are likely to have trouble with.

Spain coach Luis Aragones is thrilled with his system of five midfielders and just one striker, only set aside in the tournament given Villa's precision before the goal.

"It is hard for our rivals, particularly when we put speed on the ball," a proud Aragones said.

However, there is also a defensive tangle at the back that allows those up-front to get creative.

"Keeping the goal on zero is important, because it is difficult for this team, with the quality it has, not to score a goal," the veteran coach stressed before the tournament.

And the players took it on, starting with the halo of invincibility that hangs around keeper Iker Casillas and continuing with the superb championship that defensive midfielder Marcos Senna is playing. The Brazilian-born Senna has what it takes to dry out German compass Michael Ballack.

Moreover, the current Spain team, historically hampered by complexes and self-victimization, has another value that cancels out Germany's only a priori advantage: determination.

Players who had so far been disappointing in the national team jersey, like Carles Puyol or Carlos Marchena, are showing a high level of play and great focus. They seem to have no room for inferiority complexes in the face of German stars, or for mistakes that could cost a game.

"I have always said that any team and any coach worth the name have to think positively: to win, whatever the rival," Aragones stresses.

"The team has great maturity," Alonso said.

Tied in mental strength, the winner between Spain and Germany will be decided with the ball moving - and there seems to be no way to beat Spain at that. (dpa)