SPAIN midfielder Cesc Fabregas insisted his country's 1-0 victory over Germany in last night's Euro 2008 final was a triumph for "beautiful football".
Fernando Torres's deftly-taken first-half goal proved the difference in Vienna as the Spaniards claimed their first major title for 44 years.
"It was a long time since we have seen a team of that quality trying to play beautiful football – I don't think we've seen many teams have success (playing that way)," said the Arsenal star. "Finally, football has the success it deserves."
And Fabregas warned Spain will be just as strong when it comes to the World Cup in South Africa in two years.
"You can see how young we are – so hopefully in two years' time we will fight for the World Cup."
Match-winner Torres had never won a trophy with either Atletico Madrid, Liverpool or Spain before last night.
"I feel a tremendous joy," said the Liverpool striker. "It still hasn't sunk in what we've achieved.
"This is my first title and I hope it's the first of many. We are used to watching finals on television, but today we were here and we won.
"The team that has played the best football in the tournament has won the title and now we have a place in European football history."
Michael Ballack ended on the losing side in a final again, but Germany coach Joachim Low insisted his captain deserves a winner's medal for his efforts during Euro 2008.
Ballack, 31, recovered from a calf injury to play against Spain at Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium, but it was Torres who settled the game in Austria's capital with his strike in the 33rd minute.
"I was glad when he (Ballack) and the physios indicated on the afternoon of the game that he could play," Low said. "It was important to have him on the pitch and good to have him there.
"He is very important for our team always and he did a lot of special things in this tournament.
"He was our leader and he represented the team and Germany superbly."
Low spoke to 38-year-old goalkeeper Jens Lehmann after the defeat, but there were no discussions of retirement.
"I didn't speak to him about that," Low said. "I said 'congratulations, you played very well, the best in this tournament'," he said.
"He is also a leader in our team and very professional. I told him 'thank you' for what he did."
Low admitted Spain were worthy champions, adding: "I think we have to recognise the high quality of the Spanish players. They were playing very well during the whole tournament and today they were technically excellent and had more chances than we had. So I think they deserved the victory.
"We are disappointed after the match, but I think we can be satisfied with the tournament on the whole. The team was performing very well over the 45 days we've spent together."
