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By Kevin Fylan
TENERO, Switzerland, June 27 (Reuters) - Germany's experience of major tournament finals will give them a psychological edge over Spain in Sunday's Euro 2008 showdown, defender Christoph Metzelder said on Friday.
Germany have won the European Championship three times, most recently in 1996, and they came close to winning their fourth World Cup in 2002 when they lost the final to Brazil.
Spain, by contrast, have won just one major title, the 1964 European Championship, and their only other appearance in the final came in 1984 when they lost to France.
"I think they have a bit of a complex about these tournaments," Metzelder, who was part of the team that played that World Cup final in 2002, said at a news conference.
"It has taken them decades just to get beyond the quarter-finals.
"I know they have respect for us and that will be in the back of their minds when we play on Sunday. They are an excellent side but this is a big game and big games have their own rules."
Team manager Oliver Bierhoff said Germany had proved they were worth a place in the final but he was happy enough to hand the tag of favourites to Spain.
"To call us underdogs might be stretching it a little because we've also shown good form here," Bierhoff said. "But if that's what you want to call it, we're comfortable with that. We always prefer playing against strong opposition."
LABOURED VICTORY
While Germany laboured to beat Turkey 3-2 in the semi-finals, Spain produced a wonderful display in a 3-0 win over Russia.
"We were convincing in qualifying and we have some excellent players but if you consider how Spain have done at this tournament, it's inevitable that you rate them a bit higher than us," Bierhoff said.
Key to Germany's game plan on Sunday will be to give Spain's skilful midfielders as little space and time on the ball as possible.
"Spanish football in general puts great emphasis on being comfortable on the ball, while their distribution is fantastic," Bierhoff said.
"All their players are capable of playing a defence-splitting pass and if you let them have time and space you are in trouble. We have to contain them, close them down and play a pressing game."
