| Better known as Euro 2008, the UEFA | | | | The new trophy awarded to the winning |
| European Football Championship was an | | | | team was almost an exact replica of the |
| exciting end to an eventful season. | | | | original that was designed by |
| Qualification for the final began in | | | | Arthus-Bertrand. The revised design no |
| August 2006 after the FIFA World Cup. | | | | longer has the small figure juggling a |
| Groups A, B, C and D, consisting of 16 | | | | ball on the back or the marble plinth. |
| teams, battled it out on the field to | | | | The new trophy is made of sterling |
| find out who would be going to Vienna | | | | silver, weighs 8 kilograms and is 60 |
| for Euro 2008. Spain became the first | | | | centimeters tall. The silver base was |
| team to win all matches in the group | | | | enlarged, and the names of the winning |
| stage since France's accomplishment in | | | | countries were engraved on the back. |
| 1984. | | | | Euro 2008 Entertainment and Closing |
| In terms of international competitions, | | | | Ceremony |
| Germany is considered one of the most | | | | The championship's closing ceremony |
| successful teams. They have won six | | | | featured Spanish singer Enrique |
| distinguished titles, three World Cups | | | | Iglesias, who sang the tournament's |
| and three European championships. | | | | official song "Can You Hear Me" composed |
| Germany is also the only nation to have | | | | by Rollo Armstrong. Iglesias is a Madrid |
| both men's and women's teams win World | | | | native with 18 No. 1 Spanish singles on |
| Cups. | | | | the Billboard's Hot Latin Tracks. |
| In the Euro 2008 final, Spain and | | | | Some of the nearly 400 artists and |
| Germany faced off at the Ernst Happel | | | | performers included Shaggy, Christina |
| Stadion in Vienna, Austria on June 29. | | | | Sturmer, Rawbau, The White Stripes and |
| Full of confidence and excitement, both | | | | others. The German dance group Bellini |
| teams were welcomed by grandstands full | | | | performed after each goal scored during |
| of cheering fans. In the final, Spain | | | | the competition. Euro 2008 official |
| defeated Germany 1-0. Adidas produced | | | | mascots were named Trix and Flix after |
| the ball used in the final and named it | | | | the names won 36% of the vote. |
| Europass Gloria. Europass Gloria is a | | | | Welcome Home Celebrations |
| version of Europass which was the | | | | The Euro 2008 champions Spain were |
| 14-panel match ball used during | | | | greeted by thousands of still-excited |
| qualifying games. | | | | fans as they returned home. The team was |
| Spain's David Villa injured his right | | | | paraded through town in an open-top bus |
| thigh muscle during the semi-final win | | | | as fans lined the streets, cheering them |
| over Russia and was unable to compete in | | | | on. Coach Luis Aragones describes his |
| Euro 2008. "I'm a little sad that I | | | | team as "the best team in the world." |
| won't be there to take part, but it's | | | | Euro 2008 was Spain's first European |
| better that a teammate who is fit plays | | | | championship since 1964. A fitting |
| instead of me, particularly as my injury | | | | official end to the celebration, a |
| has left me limping quite badly," Villa | | | | rendition of "We Are The Champions" was |
| said before the game. | | | | played over loudspeakers while red and |
| New Euro 2008 Trophy Style | | | | yellow confetti showered party-goers. |