Germany players should not be judged on whether or not they sing the national anthem before matches, coach Joachim Loew said Monday as he hit back at criticism over his team's Euro 2012 performance.

Spain have surged ahead of Brazil to become the new benchmark for world football, and the only way to make up ground on the world and European champions is to follow their example and adopt a long-term approach, coach Mano Menzes told Reuters in an interview.

In an ominous sign for their rivals for an Olympic soccer medal, Spain's coach Luis Milla says his team at the London Games will be a richly talented and well-drilled outfit with the same roots and playing style as the nation's all-conquering senior side.

Soccer's rulemakers and its governing body FIFA bowed to pressure on Thursday (early Friday, PHL time) when they finally approved the use of goal-line technology and agreed to allow Muslim women players to wear a headscarf.

Brazil's 1970 World Cup winners contained more gifted individuals than Spain's current all-conquering national side, the Brazilian side's greatest player Pele said on Wednesday (Thursday, PHL time).

Walking down the aisle to get married this weekend will be much more nerve-racking than playing in Euro 2012, said Spain's Andres Iniesta, who was voted the best player of the tournament for his cool, commanding performances.

Euro 2012 winners Juan Mata, Jordi Alba and Javi Martinez were included in Spain's soccer squad on Tuesday for the London Olympics later this month.

Fernando Torres hailed a "magical evening" in Kiev after Spain thumped Italy 4-0 in the final of Euro 2012, where he scored a goal to land the tournament's Golden Boot award.

Andres Iniesta, who helped Spain to a second successive European Championship triumph in Poland and Ukraine, was named the best player at the tournament by UEFA on Monday.