It says everything about the confidence coursing through this Spain squad that the loss of David Villa, the tournament's leading goalscorer, to injury merited barely a mention yesterday. His team-mates briefly expressed sympathy, but that was drowned out by excitement at the opportunity that lies ahead of them in Vienna tomorrow evening.

Forty-four years after their only triumph in a leading tournament, Spain have the opportunity to lift the European Championship tomorrow and, as history beckons, individual agendas have been forgotten. Villa's hamstring injury means that Cesc Fàbregas is likely to start only his second game in the tournament after a hugely impressive contribution as a substitute against Russia in the semi-final on Thursday, but the Arsenal midfield player made light of that possibility as he reflected on what the final means for his country.

“We are not celebrating yet because we want to give our country the biggest joy by winning the cup,” Fàbregas said. “We know that Germany is a very competitive team, one of those national teams that we will have to give our all in order to beat. But we are a very strong unit. I won't get tired of saying that. We are a team that has great unity on and off the pitch. All of us - those who have played more and those who have played less - feel important and we want to support the team.”

Fàbregas, 21, was not born when Spain last reached the final of a leading tournament, losing to France in Paris in this competition in 1984, and even Xabi Alonso, a comparative veteran at 26, is far too young to remember. Alonso's father, Periko, won 20 caps playing for Spain in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but even he was in short trousers when his country, then in the grip of General Franco's dictatorship, became European champions on home soil in 1964.

“I don't know how it worked 44 years ago, but having been with these boys for a month, the group is fantastic,” Alonso, the Liverpool midfield player, said yesterday. “We have a great atmosphere in the changing-room. That is one of the keys to our success.

“It is difficult for David Villa with his injury and it is a shame for him because he has been an important member of the team, but we have different options in the squad, different possibilities. We have enough cover and it will not be a problem for us. We are hungry for success and we want to lift the cup on Sunday. We need to finish off what we have done so far.”