Low reveals pressure is decreasing

Germany coach Joachim Low feels there will be less pressure on his side going into the Euro 2008 final than there was earlier in the tournament.

Germany go in search of their fourth European Championship crown - two of which were won as West Germany - when they face Spain in Sunday's showpiece at Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadion.

"The pressure which was there before both knock-out games is now slipping off the players somewhat, because we are in the final," said Low.

"During the tournament we have certainly not played as consistently as we intended to, but you saw that was the case with all the other teams. It did not only go that way with us.

"We are now looking forward to this final."

Germany can consider themselves somewhat fortunate to have seen off the challenge of Turkey, who were by far the better side in the first half of Wednesday's semi-final, and were also a match for their opponents in the second period.

But Philipp Lahm's 90th-minute strike sent the 1996 European champions through to another final, and they were joined by Spain on Thursday night following their convincing 3-0 triumph over Russia.

Low is delighted to have guided his team through to the title match in his first tournament in charge of Germany, but the 48-year-old insists he not going to settle for just that.

"There is enormous and extraordinary joy among us, but we are not yet at our goal. We also want to take the final step and lift the title," said Low, who took over from Jurgen Klinsmann following the 2006 World Cup.

"It is a nice experience to be in a final. Personally it is something really special for me and I am enjoying it."