Dubai: Euro 2008 co-hosts Switzerland lifted the glittering trophy, while defending champions Greece ended with the Plate trophy.
No, this was not the actual Euro 2008 soccer tournament being held in Switzerland and Austria, but the Euro by Kia played at the Centre of Excellence in Jebel Ali on Thursday night.
"My Switzerland is better than the actual Swiss team at Euro 2008," jokingly bragged manager Robert Wilson after his side rode on a Steve Gurung goal to squeeze past Spain in the trophy final.
"Our gameplan was to just go out there and enjoy playing in the spirit of the game. The trophy is a bonus," Wilson added.
Earlier in the semifinal, Switzerland got past Portugal 2-1.
Shoddy show
Steve Gurung and Shane Thomas scored for the co-hosts, while Michael Rodosthemus pulled one back for the Portuguese.
In the second semifinal, Spain edged out the Netherlands 2-1.
During theongoing Euro 2008, co-hosts Switzerland was the first team to bow out following two successive losses, while defending champions Greece also beat a hasty retreat following a shoddy show this time.
The Plate competition was equally engrossing with Greece overcoming Turkey by a solitary goal in the final, thanks to a Lucilio Morairo strike.
The competition attracted more than 150 teams from all over the UAE and only 16 were drawn to play as per the Euro 2008 format.
The event was part of Kia's local sponsorship activation to leverage on their participation in the ongoing Euro 2008.
The presentation was held at the Jebel Ali Hotel and Golf Resort in the presence of Kia representatives. The prize distribution was followed by the live telecast of the second semifinal between Spain and Russia.
