The eternal bridesmaid

They said three times a bridesmaid will never be married. For Michael Ballack, he has been second fiddle for four times now.

With Spain beating Germany in Euro 2008 finals, Ballack was again on the losing end. Four major finals, four silver medals. Will he ever win anything to amount to his massive talents and skills?

Ballack was on the losing side in the World Cup finals in 2002, while in the prestigious Champions League, his Bayer Leverkusen team was beaten by Real Madrid in the 2002 finals, and 6 years later, with a talented Chelsea team, they lost in the penalty shoot-outs to Manchester United. He was also a loser with Chelsea in the League Cup finals, and also second best in the Premier League title race this year.

And yesterday, the German captain lost another major finals, making him one of the biggest loser of his era. Turning 32 this year, he knows he hasn’t much left when it comes to lifting trophy, with the 2010 World Cup being his last chance of international glory. That is, if he stays healthy and fit for the tournament.

His effort for his country is beyond reasonable doubt. He has scored 35 goals in 87 appearances, a feat so impressive for a midfielder. Even the likes of England’s Gerrard and Lampard dwarfed compared to his statistics, but then again, England was nowhere to be seen in Euro 2008.

The finals itself was one sided. Germany started well, but once Spain’s midfielders started to take control under the leadership of man-of-the-tournament Xavi, Germany looked out of sorts and tired. Spain managed 13 shots on goal, with 7 on target. Germany only had 4, with only one reaching the hands of Iker Casillas.

Finally it looked like Germany’s luck has deserted them. They ride through the knockout stages thanks to individual efforts from certain players. In the quarterfinals, Ballack and Bastian Schweinsteiger were instrumental. The semifinals saw Germany shrank back to a team that made the most out of very little, with Turkey pushing them until the dying minutes of the game. And Jens Lehmann, well, what can be said about the German goalkeeper? He fluttered often enough, talking big everytime when a microphone is shoved up his face, yet delivering zero.

After 44 long years, Spain finally lifted their first silverware in the international scene. The finals was Fernando Torres moment of glory, when the striker, who scored 33 goals for Liverpool last season, finished superbly in the first half to secure a deserved victory over Germany. And with the bulk of their players in the 20s, they are destined for more greatness and glory.

Euro 2008 had a worthy winner in Spain. Spain was by far the best team, undefeated throughout the tournament. Gone were the pretenders in the likes of Portugal and Holland. No more upsets such as in 2004 when Greece defied the odds to lift the trophy.

The best team finally won the tournament.