The curtain came down on one of the best international football tournaments in recent memory on Sunday when Spain ended 44 years of hurt and emerged victorious against the Germans. Their victory was a testament to style and flair and, although they only won 1-0 in Vienna, in truth it could have been a lot more.

Pre-tournament and after Spain's first two matches, all talk was about the side's two strikers, David Villa and Fernando Torres, whose partnership had terrorised the Russian and Swedish defences. Against Italy, it was all about the defence as the two sides fought to a stalemate and both keepers faced penalties.

But it is the midfield that provided the key to Spain's victory at Euro 2008. Perfectly balanced, with Senna the engine in front of the back four, David Silva and Andres Iniesta providing width, and Xavi and Cesc Fabregas the forward drive.

Against Russia, once Villa went off with an injury, Fabregas, Iniesta, Xavi and Silva made a side ever growing in stature look ordinary by comparison, and in the final the Germans were made to look similarly ineffective.

Plaudits must go to Torres for what was a sublimely taken goal, one English fans expect of him after watching him in the Premier League last season, but the ball from Xavi was top drawer and it was typical of the service Spanish strikers have received throughout the tournament.

Football teams are always on the lookout for midfielders who can score goals, but Spain had four, and when four players from midfield can score and create chances on a regular basis, it strikes fear into defenders, and on Sunday Torres played on that fear and secured a famous victory for his country.

Senna is many pundits' pick for player of the tournament, and who can argue? His no-nonsense style complemented his more flamboyant midfield compatriots perfectly and gave them licence to roam, safe in the knowledge that their back four was in capable hands.

While Senna and Xavi, named UEFA's player of the tournament, both have equally strong claims to being named Euro 2008's best player, I think that honour should go to Fabregas.

English football fans were no doubt as shocked as I was when I learned Luis Aragones was not going to start with Fabregas in his side. Having seen him play, week in and week out, with such assurance in the Premier League, it would seem foolish to leave him out, but Aragones has his own views and they obviously served him well.

Rather than being demotivated about starting from the bench, Fabregas instead made the most of his opportunities on the pitch, changing games the moment he came on, creating chances and getting in goalscoring positions.

Although he started most of the matches as a substitute, I doubt you will find a player that had a bigger impact throughout the tournament for the time he spent on the field.

One only needs to remember his performance against AC Milan at the San Siro for Arsenal in the Champions League to see the ability he has to make a massive impact in big matches, and he showed these same qualities on one of the biggest international stages of all.