Spain cruises through all qualifying competitions, World Cup and European championships, rarely losing any games, then blows out of the final tournament.

Germany struggles against weaker sides, then cruises through the final tournament.

Half of that still holds up.

Spain finally has lived up to its hype, reaching Sunday's championship game of Euro 2008 in Vienna, Austria, where it will meet Germany.

But, as might happen only to Spain, David Villa, leading scorer in the tournament with four goals, could be out of the final with a leg injury he suffered while taking a free kick on the wet turf in Vienna during yesterday's 3-0 semifinal win over Russia.

Spain is the tournament's only unbeaten team, outscoring opponents, 11-3, in five wins, and, once it gets a 1-0 lead, has been in control of every game, except the 0-0 quarterfinal shootout win over Italy. Germany had a first-round loss to Croatia, and has shown a shaky defense in allowing six goals.

There has been no comparison in the play of the goalkeepers. Spain's Iker Casillas (Real Madrid) has two shutouts and stopped two shooters in the win over Italy, while Germany's Jens Lehmann has looked like what you might expect (six goals allowed) from a goalie who spent most of last season on the bench (with Arsenal).

While the European Championships usually outdoes the World Cup, this year's tournament has stood out as probably the best international games since the 1982 (Italy winning in Spain) and 1986 (Argentina in Mexico) World Cups, the latter featuring Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" goal. Scoring has been way up, with goals being scored early in games and as late as the 120th minute, and with Spain's Fernando Torres and Cesc Fabregas and Germany's Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose, goals should keep coming in the final, even if Villa cannot play.

Thankfully, there have been just two shootouts in 30 games. And when it ends on Sunday (with Spanish captain Casillas accepting the championship trophy), the winner will be anointed the favorite for the 2010 World Cup.

As long as it can get through that yearlong qualifying tournament that begins in September.

U-S-A, U-S-A