As compiled Ali Martin writing in the Sun - in order of increasing floppiness.10.The electrical storm that blew out the television transmission of the Germany Turkey semifinal.9.Karim Benzema8.Adrian Mutu7.Austria and Switzerland 6.Mario Gomez5.Thierry Henry4.Greece3.Eric Abidal2. Petr Cech1.Luca Toni

Spain made winning Euro 2008 look decidedly easy, but a major tournament triumph does not come by accident. Here’s how Spain’s first massive title in 44 years came about.

1. Game plan: Spain concentrated on doing what they do ideal, namely keeping the ball and letting their rivals exhaust themselves trying to win it back. It meant tough decisions for coach Luis Aragones, who left good, but less technically gifted footballers at home. Aragones based his team on the creative talents who came through the Barca youth teams — Xavi, Iniesta and Fabregas – and stuck with them to the end.

2. Team spirit: This Spain team doesn’t believe in galacticos — stars who are massiveger than the team itself. This wasn’t Ballack’s Germany, Beckham’s England or Ronaldo’s Portugal. This was Spain’s Spain. When asked why Villa was left out for the game against Greece, when the Valencia striker might have made all but certain of finishing as top scorer, Aragones said he wasn’t after individual awards, it was a collective trophy that he sought.

It’s the main reason why he left Raul at home.

3. Generosity: Players like Senna ran their hearts out to let the more creative midfielders shine. Villa was the team’s first defender, and captain Iker Casillas invited everybody to his room to play cards at night. The collective was above the individuals.

4. Concentration: Spain made sure they were never distracted at this tournament. I didn’t seen a pic of any WAG and after reading British and Spanish newspapers every day of the tournament, the only reference to family and friends I’ve is the news of Casillas’s mom fainting in the penalty shoot-out against Italy. There was no circus surrounding the Spanish camp.

5. Bravery: Aragones didn’t hesitate to remove the likes of Torres, Xavi, Iniesta and Fabregas when the team needed it. Torres complained in the first match and he was silenced.

6. International experience: Players such as Torres and Fabregas were decisive in the wins against Italy and Germany. The success they and other players have had in England helped the team shrug off Spain’s old inferiority complex.

7. Equilibrium: The team has been strong in all areas. Casillas and the defence were the heroes against Italy. The creative midfield beat Russia, with Xavi and Silva, two midfielders, scoring in the semi-final. And it was the strikers Torres and Villa who sealed victory in the first and last matches.

All lines contributed. It was a triumph of the team, and team spirit.

European Championships I mean. Spain clinched a well deserved 2nd title which was 44 years in the making with this goal from Torres.