The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Vienna

The skillful Spanish team that won the European Championship, lifting the country's first trophy since 1964, had been a champion in the making for years.

Several of the players who beat Germany 1-0 in Sunday's final emerged from talented Spanish squads that won European and world titles at the youth level. They include Fernando Torres - who scored the winning goal - goalkeeper Iker Casillas, midfielders Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez and defender Sergio Ramos.

Now Spain must set its sights on the biggest title of them all as it prepares for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Spain has never finished better than fourth in the World Cup.

"The only thing I have to say to the manager who comes after me is to please treat them (the players) well and let them do their job," said coach Luis Aragones, who is expected to be replaced by former Real Madrid coach Vicente del Bosque.

The 69-year-old Aragones said long before the start of Euro 2008 that he would leave when it was over, and during the tournament reports swirled that he had agreed to take over at Turkish club Fenerbahce. He denied that, and then would not talk about it.

Spain's players hoisted him in the air after the final whistle at Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium. Spain's King Juan Carlos congratulated Aragones and his players in the locker room.

"The king was as emotional as we were," said Casillas, Spain's team captain.

During his four-year tenure, Aragones led Spain to 38 wins, more than any coach before him. He recorded 12 draws and only lost four matches: to France in the 2006 World Cup, to Sweden and Northern Ireland in Euro 2008 qualifiers and to Romania in a friendly.

Yet he was harshly criticized in the Spanish media after the early exit from the World Cup, Spain's poor start to Euro 2008 qualifying and his controversial decision to drop captain and top scorer Raul Gonzalez from the squad."I've never seen a person have to go through what he has had to go through," midfielder Cesc Fabregas said. "He's leaving as the best trainer of the national team ever."

Much of the team's success can be attributed to the extraordinary talent of the players, who are used to competing at the highest level in top Spanish and English clubs like Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Liverpool and Arsenal.

But Spain has had plenty of talent in the past, yet underachieved in major tournaments partly due to the lack of cohesion and winning mentality in the squad.

This time, Aragones instilled both unity and self-confidence in the group, repeatedly telling his players that no team in the world could stop them when they were at their best.

"We were all pulling in the same direction, without deviating from our path," midfielder Xabi Alonso said. "We had a lot of confidence in the boss and I think that has been fundamental."

After the final, Spain returned early Monday to its Tyrolian base camp in Neustift, near Innsbruck, and was expected to arrive at Madrid Barajas airport at 7 p.m. local time (1700 GMT) before traveling to Colon square to display its trophy.

Spanish newspapers reveled in victory on Monday: "The Spanish Glory", "The masters of Europe" or "At Last!" were some of the front pages of national newspapers.

Striker David Villa said the team was inspired by a picture of the Spanish squad that won the European Championship 44 years ago, which until Sunday was the country's only title.

"We looked at a photo of the 1964 champions and we were proud and said, 'These are our idols. They achieved something big,"'

Villa said. "Now we are united with them. We have done the same thing they did and we are proud that that photo could be made one more time after so many years."

Spain won the FIFA World Youth Championship in 1999 with Casillas and Xavi in the squad. It also won the under-16 European Championship that year and repeated the feat in 2001, with Torres becoming the top scorer.

Spain won that tournament, now called under-17, again this year with Barcelona youngster Bojan Krkic scoring the winner against England. He was left out of Spain's squad this time, but is one to look out for in South Africa.