Spain have been knocked a cruel but not unanticipated blow ahead of their Euro 2008 final against Germany at the Ernst Happel stadium in Vienna on Sunday. Their top striker and the top goalscorer in the competition so far, David Villa, would miss the final with a thigh injury. Villa suffered the injury in the first half of Spain's 3-0 win against Russia in the quester-finals on Thursday. He was immediately pulled out by Spain coach Luis Aragones but team doctor Jesus Jimenez has now confirmed that Villa would be out for six days.

This implies that Aragones would have to start with Cesc Fabregas in the midfield with Fernando Torres playing as the lone striker upfront. Fabregas would play just behind Torres and the Spanish would then play in a 4-4-1-1 formation which should be something new since Aragones has consistently played in a 4-4-2 formation.