Vienna: Germany are the only team to have won three European Championships and a fourth is just a match away. Call it typical German efficiency or the hunger to succeed by a new generation; the present German team has the arsenal to sink the Spanish Armada.
The pictures of Germany celebrating a hard-fought win against Turkey in Basel are inspiration for a new generation of German footballers.
There has been a remarkable turnaround for a team which many called lackluster before the last World Cup.
Coach Joachim Loew was then assistant to the charismatic Juergan Klinsmann and he has built on the success of a third place in the World Cup. Now with a place in the final of Euro 2008, history beckons for Loew and his team.
"We are happy. It was our aim to reach the final. And actually now, there's no more pressure left. At the moment, we're only enjoying this and are looking forward to the final with a lot of fun and joy, because it is very special that we'll take part in it. And we're looking very much forward to Sunday," Loew said.
Turkey tested the much talked about German efficiency in the semi-final and that will be a worry.
But the combined firepower of skipper Michael Ballack, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm, Miroslav Klose, Lukas Podolski and the rest of the squad is something, which can sink the Spanish Armada.
Germany haven't won any major title after Euro 96 but with a fourth European tile just a match away the resilience is again on show.
"I think our team has developed this mentality in the last two or three years. Even if we play a bad match, we nevertheless still believe in winning the match - and to turn a match. A winner mentality is very distinctive in Germany. And this is, what's always characterised by German teams," Loew said.
Spain have the flair and are more than eager to make up for previous disappointments and Ballack and company will have their hands full.
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