Euro2008: A Dream Final?

Much as the Dutch, Turks, Russians and co have lit up Euro 2008, the ingredients for Sunday's final are close to perfect in television terms. OK, so the audience would be bigger if one of the home nations had somehow made it. However, in all honesty, this tournament really hasn't missed us. The football has largely been glorious - eight goals in two semis, with no extra-time or penalties, is not the norm in modern tournament football.

The TV audience figures in the United Kingdom would suggest that any football fan who may have been sulking at the prospect of watching 16 teams from continental mainland battle it out has long since seen the error of their ways and joined the party. And a Spain v Germany final has all the ingredients to make a compelling watch.

If you were a visitor from outer space, you'd say Spain were big favourites. They may actually be even stronger if David Villa misses out because of injury and Cesc Fabregas becomes the fifth member of a glorious midfield quintet. They've also looked pretty solid at the back, with a great keeper, Iker Casillas, and a collective nerve which has so far held firm, notably in that marathon quarter-final against Italy.

By contrast, Germany, for the second tournament running, have been anything but the dourly efficient outfit of traditional cliche. They've scored plenty of goals and have reached the final despite conceding two goals in three games. It really should have been several more than two in the semi-final against a magnificent, and severely depleted, Turkey.

However, this final isn't Team X v Team Y. It's Germany, with a history of odds-defying wins dating back to the 1954 "MIracle of Bern", against Spain, with an almost equally long tradition of cruel tournament exits.