It's the Final that probably spells out best the true differences in the game of football.

Flare and subtlety, against dogged grit and determination. Guys with wispy hairstyles and extravagant facial furniture, dancing on the green turf with a pack of salivating black and white wolves entering from stage-left.

The BBC have gone so far as to even describe the Germans' strength as 'Teutonic power' and the Spanish as 'Latin artistry'. Anyone got a thesaurus?

Whether those accolades are proved correct by the end of the match tonight hangs in the balance, as for all of the drama, excitement and passion from the past few weeks, showpiece Finals can often fail to get past the first course, particularly when both sides' styles of play are supposedly so different.

But whatever happens tonight, the tournament was a credit to the inexperienced co-hosts, who have battled through such challenges as torrential downpours, equipment cut-outs, and BBC man Jake Humphries hanging around the Fanzone in Vienna like a celeb pest, latching onto anyone adorning some face paint.

Au revoir Euro 2008, it has been fun, and just a bit dull at times too. Everything we'd want. But most of all, England didn't go out on penalties. Amen for small mercies.

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