Spain beat Germany 1-0 to lift Euro 2008 title

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

·Spain won the Euro 2008 title after beating Germany 1-0 on Sunday.
·Striker Fernando Torres' strike at the 33rd minute proved the winner of the match.
·Spain's only other European title was won 44 years ago.

Spain's players celebrate with the trophy after the Euro 2008 championships final between Germany and Spain in Vienna, Austria, on June 29, 2008. A first-half goal from Fernando Torres earned Spain the first UEFA European Championship in 44 years. (Xinhua/Guo Yong)

VIENNA, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Spain won the Euro 2008 title after beating Germany 1-0 in Ernst-Happel Stadion on Sunday.

Striker Fernando Torres' strike at the 33rd minute proved the winner of the match.

The Spanish team, without leading scorer David Villa due to injury, fielded a five-player midfield and thus took an upper handover their German opponents which adopted the same formation.

The Spanish team dominated the midfield through fluent passing and Torres was a constant threat to the German goal.

Spain's Fernando Torres (C) scores as Germany's goalie Jens Lehmann (L) saves during the Euro 2008 championships final between Germany and Spain in Vienna, Austria, on June 29, 2008. A first-half goal from Fernando Torres earned Spain the first UEFA European Championship in 44 years.(Xinhua/Lu Mingxiang)

Torres could have broken the deadlock at the 20th minute but his header was denied by the post.

Cesc Fabregas, who made his first start in the tournament, seemed not used to his new role and was substituted out in the second half.

German coach made three substitutions in the second half, trying to turn the tide over. But his team just could not take over the initiative from the Spanish midfield led by Andres Iniesta.

The Spanish team kept the ball on the group and penetrated the German defence with neat short passes. They could have scored more goals if not for poor finishing.

The Spanish team had 13 attempts at the goal while Germany only had 4.

German captain Michael Ballack came close for Germany, shooting narrowly wide after the break.

It is the second time Spain win the European championship. Their only other European title was won 44 years ago.

SOURCE: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/30/content_8460119.htm

ZDV quits from KNO

SOURCE: The Imphal Free Press, www. kanglaonline. com

Imphal, Jun 26: The proscribed Zou Defence Volunteers, ZDV, have announced that the organisation will no more operate under the KNO.

Stating this, ZDV president Kamkhanpao, during a press conference held this morning at Zoujang village mentioned that the ZDV was established on October 11, 1997 under the initiative of the undergound PLA, UNLF and PREPAK with a sole objective to protect the Zou community which was seriously affected during the Thadou-Paite clash during 1997.

It started operations as one of the revolutionary organisations in the state apart from its objective to protect the Zou community. They were involved in a major attack on the BSF at Sajik Tampak during 2003 jointly launched by the PLA, UNLF and PREPAK.

He further said that as time went by ZDV fell in the nomenclature of Chin Kuki tribes and accepted an offer from the government of India to sign the Suspension of Operations on October 27, 2005, and under the KNO, along with KNF (Zougam), KNF(MC), HNA, ZRF and USRA established the reunification process.

The spokesman further said that while operating under the KNO during the process of Suspension of Operations with the government of India, there was increasing violence, killings and extortions committed by the various groups under the KNO which was totally against the guidelines of the SoO.

Because of these differing motives of organisations under the KNO who involved themselves in extortions, kidnappings for the ransom and factional fights, the groups recently took a decision to quit the KNO.

He also further mentioned that the ZDV was operating with like-minded organisations like the UKLF and NKF without losing its faith in the SoO, and would never encourage any form of communal or armed violence and would try to restore peaceful coexistence among all communities.

The spokesman finally mentioned that the ZDV had been trying to spread such revolutionary thinking amongst the people and there was possibility it would expand its movement beyond the settlement areas of the Zou community, upto Myanmar, when the time compels them to do so.