Russia stun Spain to take gold

Russia stunned hosts and world champions Spain 60-59 in the European Championship final to secure the gold medal on Sunday night.

Jon Robert Holden sank the winning two-pointer with two seconds remaining leaving the favourites Spain with silver.

Russia earned automatic qualification to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Spain have already qualified.

Russia last won gold in 1985, when they competed as the USSR, making it their 15th gold medal in the Euros. It was Spain's sixth failure in the final and they have never won gold.

Russia's Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko scored a game-high 17 points and was voted the tournament's MVP. He was supported by Victor Khryapa with 12 rebounds and seven points.

"This was a meeting of David against Goliath, we faced the beast and knocked him down," said Russia coach David Blatt. "Our plan was to stay in the game and make them feel the heat, the pressure of 15,000 fans, and to see how they play. Fortunately, we did that and we won."

Urged on by their passionate home support, Spain tore into Russia at the start and opened up a 12-point lead early in the second quarter.

But Blatt's side did not lose their heads, tightened up in defence, and slowly reeled them back to trail 34-31 at half-time.

Russia's Zakhar Pashutin sank a three-pointer to level for the first time at 49-49 at the start of the fourth and it was neck and neck until the closing seconds when Holden gave Russia the one-point advantage.

Spain had two seconds to respond but Pau Gasol's despairing last shot bounced on the rim and out as the buzzer went.

Pepu Hernandez's side were led by Jose Manuel Calderon with 15 points and Gasol with 14, the only two to make double figures.

"I am going to think about all our errors, but I am not going to wash our dirty linen in public now. We deserved to win and nothing else is a compensation," said a downcast Hernandez.

"This is the best basketball team in Spain's history and still has an extraordinary future in front of it."

Lithuania took bronze after beating 2005 winners Greece 78-69 in the third-place playoff match. The victory also earned Lithuania automatic qualification to the Beijing Olympics.

Ksistof Lavrinovic top scored for the 2003 gold medallists with 19 points, supported by Ramunas Siskauskas and Linas Kleiza with 13 each.

Greek guard Nikolaos Zisis notched a game-high 23 points for the former champions, who trailed from midway through the second quarter.

Earlier, Germany beat Croatia 80-71 to finish fifth and Slovenia overcame France 88-74 to end up seventh.

Greece, Germany, Croatia and Slovenia enter the pre-Olympic qualifying tournament next July.