Germany shocked Spain to win the Under-21s European Championship title as Mitchell Weiser's header clinched glory.
Disappointing Spain were chasing a record-equalling fifth title but rarely looked like winning their third crown in four tournaments.
Five-goal top scorer Saul Niguez and Real Madrid wonderkid Marco Asensio barely made an impact as Germany, who beat England in the semi finals, shut them out.
Max Meyer hit the post for Germany early on and the best Spain could muster was when Saul's drive was turned away by Julien Pollersbeck.
While Spain were the favourites the Germans, and charismatic coach Stefan Kuntz, had enjoyed a relaxed build-up with Kuntz singing and joking in his pre-match press conference.
Spain, in contrast, appeared uptight and Kuntz had fired an early warning that they should not take winning the title for granted.
His words resonated early on as Meyer's neat header rattled the post after eight minutes and Max Arnold drilled just wide during an impressive German start.
While Arsenal's Hector Bellerin glanced wide for Spain his former Gunners team-mate Serge Gnabry drilled into the sidenetting as Kuntz's men hunted their opponents down.
Gnabry missed another fine chance when Kepa Arrizabalaga gathered his close-range effort but the German pressure was growing with Spain unable to find a rhythm.
With Asensio and Saul nullified Spain had no outlet and Germany deservedly opened the scoring five minutes before half time.
They had been patient in their build-up and when one move broke down Germany went again down the right, eventually working the ball for Jeremy Toljan and he crossed for Weiser to guide a brilliant looping header over Kepa from 10 yards.
Spain needed a swift response and improved after the break but Germany almost had a degree of control.
Saul tested Pollersbeck from distance but despite Spain seeing more of the ball it was Germany who almost doubled their lead after 61 minutes.
Jorge Mere's loose pass allowed Meyer to slip in Gnabry but Kepa saved the winger's low effort and Marc-Oliver Kempf headed the resulting corner just wide.
Inaki Williams replaced the disappointing Sandro Ramirez, who is set to join Everton, for Spain and Dani Ceballos whistled a drive wide with 19 minutes left.
Williams' arrival gave Spain a lift but Germany battened down the hatches to claim their second European title.
Triumphant Kuntz called on his players to emulate the class of 2009 after their shock Euro victory.
They last won the title eight years ago with a side which included Manuel Neuer, Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira - who all won the World Cup in 2014.
And Kuntz, who also won Euro 96 as a player, wants to see his men take the next step at senior level.
"We talked about the fact that every second year a European Championship starts, and when it does, you look at the last success, which was 2009," he said. "People look at what the players are doing today - eight or nine are big players now, but I told them that, 'if you win, people will remember you'.
"I think the semi-final penalty shoot-out (win over England) was seen by nearly 10 million people in Germany, so my players' reputation at home is very high.
"But today is just today. If we had been sent home by England, I wouldn't have been a better or worse coach."
Spain missed the chance to clinch a record-equalling fifth title and boss Albert Celades admitted they fell short.
He said: "We knew Germany's strengths, we'd seen a lot of them. But every game is different. In the first half they made us suffer, we weren't comfortable out there, we didn't like what was happening, we tried to turn things around but it wasn't to be.
"You learn from everything, you can draw positive and negative conclusions, but I am proud of the players for all they have done, the brilliant tournament they have had. But it is hard to lose a final, it takes a lot to get there.
"We're sad as you'd understand after losing a final. We were up against a great opponent who outplayed us in the first half."
