Despite injury, Villa walks away from Euro 2008 with two titles

Villa won the honor as the tournament’s top scorer with four goals scored during the group stage.

“I’m very happy but the title of top scorer is for the entire team,” said Villa, who missed the final after tearing a muscle in his right leg in the semifinal win over Russia. “I wouldn’t have been able to score those four goals without my teammates.”

The Valencia striker celebrated more than any of the Spanish players, spraying champagne on TV crews as he emerged from the changing room to answer questions.

“I think we were superior in all our matches,” he said. “There is no doubt that we were the best team in this European Championship from the beginning to the end.”

Villa scored a hat trick as Spain crushed Russia 4-1 in its group opener, and added his fourth goal in injury time as Spain beat Sweden 2-1 in the next match.

“We demonstrated from the first day what we wanted. We also had the luck of champions in some moments,” he said.

Villa said the young team was inspired by a picture of the Spanish team that won the European Championship in 1964, which was the country’s only title until Sunday’s 1-0 win over Germany at Euro 2008.

“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.” Like the rest of the squad, Villa dedicated the trophy to team doctor Gennaro Borres, who died of cancer on May 15.

“I hope that he is looking at us from heaven and is happy and proud,” the 27-year-old striker said. “We dedicate this to him.”

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