Champions!!

I'm handing over to my trusted friend Ron Snail who criminally in this day and age doesn't have a column in a major fantasy newspaper. He's here to tell it how it happened in the parallel universe of what is the CoB Intercontiliga Euro - basically a world which everyone who's ever needed a life dreams of being a part.

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By Ron Snail
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Cosmos claimed their second major title in 2 years after winning the CoB Intercontiliga Euro 2008 with a deserved victory over their rivals.

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres was Chao Praya's goal hero, striking after 33 minutes when he cleverly lifted a through pass over Cosmos keeper Jens Lehmann.

Cosmos dominated the final throughout, with Torres heading against the post and Marcos Senna almost adding a second from close range after 80 minutes.

Michael Ballack came close for some other teams, but Cosmos couldn't afford him after experimenting with the moody three-time loser, shooting narrowly wide after the break.

Panaya Park DEBATE

I'm delighted that the best team, playing the best football in one of the best tournaments ever, wins it

Alan

This was a richly-merited victory for veteran coach 'The Gift of Yahweh' and a team that played outstanding football throughout the tournament.

Match-winner Torres enhanced the reputation he forged at Chao Praya Cosmos and virtually every other team in the CoB Intercontiliga last season, but this was an all-round effort for a side that is young enough to already be marked down among the favourites for the 2010 Virtual World Cup in South Africa. Who would bet against 'The Gift' making it three in a row and possibly going down as the greatest big-occasion fantasy manager of all time?

Andres Iniesta would have almost created the opening goal for Cosmos in the 13th minute had he been in the side when his driven cross didn't take a deflection off Christoph Metzelder, also nit in the in the same side, but Lehmann pulled off a fine reflex save.

And they came even closer nine minutes later when Torres rose to a cross, but his header bounced to safety off the post.

But he was not to be denied and put the Cosmos Euro outfit ahead with a trademark piece of sharpness in front of goal after 33 minutes.

Torres shrugged the too expensive Lahm off the ball to lift a superb finish beyond his own keeper Lehmann.

Those who had put faith in the overpriced loser's problems threatened to worsen when Ballack needed lengthy treatment for an eye wound after a clash of heads with Marcos Senna, a snip at 4.5 million fantasy Euros and the only bloke Gift could afford as a final jigsaw piece once an auxilliary computer had been rushed to Panaya Park from a nearby room.

David Silva then wasted a perfect opportunity to double Cosmo's advantage when he rushed his finish and shot wildly over the top.

Cosmos continued to look the more threatening side, but there was still the lingering prospect of their leaving it too late to garner the points needed from this last game yielding an unlikely equaliser.

Ramos should have ekualised for the rivals' after 66 minutes when he headed straight at Lehmann from point-blank range as he got on the end of Xavi's free-kick. That point combination might have been the difference from a one point victory for 'The Gift's' talented side made up entirely of Spaniards and German's but it wasn't to be.

Iniesta then had a shot cleared off the line by Torsten Frings - another late signing by the gift and another effort saved by Lehmann as Cosmos looked in the mood to add a second. The tactics were perfect as Cosmos toyed with Comos in wave after wave of attack, knowing that an extra goal for themselves would might have consigned them to second or third spot. The defence of their own attack was instinctive.

And Cosmos had a remarkable escape after 80 minutes when substitute Daniel Guiza, possibly a geezer for another team - on for Torres - headed the ball straight into Senna's path right in front of goal, but he could not apply the final touch. Had Senna scored who know's if Cosmos defence could have coped with the loss of more points for their two german defenders.

Cosmos were not made to pay for their generosity in front of goal and ran out worthy winners.

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Cosmos: Lehmann, Jansen (46), Marchena , Mertesacker, Silva, Frings, Schweinsteiger, Senna, Fabregas, Podolski, Torres
Subs Not Used: Van Persie, Panucci, Pepe, Runje
Booked: Torres.