Germany coach Joachim Low insists there have been no discussions with goalkeeper Jens Lehmann about retiring.

Lehmann, who will play for Stuttgart next season after five years at Arsenal, was beaten by Fernando Torres at the Ernst Happel Stadium as Spain were crowned European champions in Vienna following a 1-0 win.

The 38-year-old became the oldest player to feature in the final of the tournament - but there have been no talks about throwing in the towel.

"I didn't speak to him about that," Low said. "I said 'congratulations, you played very well, the best in this tournament'.

"He is also a leader in our team and very professional. I told him 'thank you' for what he did."

Michael Ballack, who had recovered from a calf injury to play, ended on the losing side in a final again but Low insisted his skipper deserved a winner's medal for his efforts during the tournament.

It adds to Ballack's tag of being a 'nearly man', after being suspended for the World Cup final in 2002 just after Bayer Leverkusen missed a trio of chances for silverware.

This season Manchester United pipped him to the Barclays Premier League and Champions League - and he finds himself the bridesmaid once more.

"I was glad when he and the physios indicated on the afternoon of the game that he could play," Low said. "It was important to have him on the pitch and good to have him there.

"He is very important for our team always and he did a lot of special things in this tournament.

"He was our leader and he represented the team and Germany superbly."

When asked if he deserved a medal, Low replied: "Yes, he does."

Low admitted Spain were worthy champions, adding: "I think we have to recognise the high quality of the Spanish players, they were playing very well during the whole tournament and today they were technically excellent and had more chances than we had. So I think they deserved he victory.

"We are disappointed after the match but I think we can be satisfied with the tournament on the whole. The team was performing very well over the 45 days we've spent together."