On a night when Spain confirmed themselves as the outstanding team at UEFA EURO 2008™, Xavi Hernández produced one of the finest performances of his career, but there was also honour in defeat for Germany's courageous captain, Michael Ballack.

Influential Xavi
The Carlsberg Man of the Match award for the UEFA EURO 2008™ final went to Fernando Torres, and justifiably so, for not only did the Liverpool FC striker score the winning goal, he was also a constant thorn in the side of the Germany defence with his lively presence and fearsome pace. But the man who provided him with the pass for his goal, Xavi, was equally influential in Spain’s memorable victory – as his Castrol performance figures bore out.

Determined
Perhaps it was the disappointment of being hauled off by coach Luis Aragonés midway through the second half of the semi-final against Russia – despite having opened the scoring - or maybe it was the frustration of having missed out on FC Barcelona’s 2006 UEFA Champions League final triumph through injury, but on this night of nights for Spanish football Xavi was determined to make his mark. Not only was he a figure of perpetual motion, covering more distance (11.44km) than anyone else on the field, he also received the ball from colleagues on 53 occasions – 20 times more than midfield pivot Marcos Senna – and made 62 passes or crosses, completing 54 of them at an average of 87 per cent.

Corner-taker
Xavi was invariably involved in the neat one-touch exchanges that marked out Spain’s play, especially in the second half. The Furia Roja earned seven corners in the game, and Xavi took every one, keeping the German defence guessing by varying between short and long deliveries. He will have been upset with his late free-kick which soared harmlessly over but earlier in the second half he had burned Jens Lehmann’s fingertips with a firm low drive.

Ballack threat
Ballack posed the greatest goal threat for Germany. Despite being a fitness doubt for the match until shortly before kick-off, the Chelsea FC midfielder gave a gallant display. His pass completion rate was relatively low, at 67 per cent, but even though he was apparently not fully fit, he covered more ground (10.24km)  than all but one of his team-mates, Bastian Schweinsteiger. His two efforts on goal were also dangerous – a goalbound shot in the first period blocked by Sergio Ramos, and a low first-time volley in the second half that just shaved Iker Casillas's post.

Worthy champion
A losing finalist also in the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea, Ballack has not had the best of luck in this season's major showdowns. Xavi, on the other hand, can forget all about the disappointment of his trophy-less 2007/08 campaign with Barcelona. He is now a champion of Europe with Spain, and a very worthy one too.