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The 2008 UEFA European Championship, commonly known as Euro 2008, was co-hosted by Austria and Switzerland from June 7 to June 29.

The tournament featured 16 teams divided into four groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing to the knockout stages. Group A included Portugal, Turkey, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland; Group B consisted of Germany, Croatia, Austria, and Poland; Group C was labeled the "Group of Death" with the Netherlands, Italy, France, and Romania; and Group D featured Spain, Russia, Sweden, and Greece. Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Croatia all won their respective groups.

In the knockout stage, Spain defeated Italy in the quarter-finals through a penalty shootout and overcame Russia 3-0 in the semi-finals. Germany advanced to the final by defeating Portugal and Turkey in the knockout rounds.

Spain emerged victorious, claiming their second European Championship title by defeating Germany 1-0 in the final at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna. The decisive goal came from Fernando Torres in the 33rd minute.

This victory marked the beginning of a golden era for Spanish football, with their team, known for its "tiki-taka" style of play, going on to dominate world football over the next few years. They went on to win the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2012 European Championship.

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Related Pages

• UEFA Euro Home
• UEFA Euro Host Countries List
• UEFA Euro Winners List
• UEFA Euro Trivia
• List of UEFA Champions League Winners
• The Year in Sport: 2008