June 27, 2008

ONE of the pre-tournament title favourites Spain ensured they made their first final for 24 years when they demolished Russia 3-0 in their Euro 2008 semi-final.

Xavi, Daniel Guiza and David Silva scored the goals as Spain brought Russia quickly back down to earth following their surprise win over The Netherlands in the quarter-finals.

They now have a chance of a second European crown after the one they won in 1964 - they also made the 1984 final in which they lost to hosts France.

However, their joy was slightly tempered by the news that leading scorer David Villa would miss the final with a leg muscle injury.

Spain coach Luis Aragones said that he had been nervous in the first-half.

"We weren't doing very well in the first-half," said the so-called "Wise man of Hortoleza".

"But in the second-half we were able to play more freely and rediscover our game.

"We are in the final and the adversary is called Germany.

"It's a hell of a challenge."

Spain's Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas was a standout player, creating two of the goals after coming on for leading scorer David Villa in the first-half, and said that the task was not over.

"We came here to win the title, and the most difficult match is to come," said the 21-year-old.

"It was kind of strange coming on that early and also as I am not a natural striker a strange position for me to take up.

"Will I play in the final? Well he (Luis Aragones) is the boss and I will be there if he needs me."

Russia's wizard-like coach Guus Hiddink said that there could have only been one winner.

"We lost to a really good team from Spain," said the 61-year-old Dutchman, who has now met defeat in three major semi-finals with Holland and South Korea in the 1998 and 2002 World Cup and now with Russia in the European showpiece.

"The Spanish were excellent and deserved their victory. I am obviously disappointed by the result, but despite that I am proud of my team."

Hiddink's team failed to spark, with the much-hyped Andrei Arshavin a huge let-down.

Spain were always the more controlled and measured and when they let their passing game flow in the second half they proved too irresistible for their inexperienced opponents.

The result matched the 4-1 Group D drubbing the Spaniards had dealt Russia in their opening game of the competition and they will now meet Germany - who beat Turkey 3-2 in the other semi-final - in Monday morning's (EST) trophy match.

Russia began with a lot of energy, although their final ball more often than not was poor.

Arshavin was largely anonymous throughout although his strike partner Roman Pavlyuchenko proved an occasional menace and lashed a free-kick over the bar in the 16th minute.

Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta was holding his head in shame just before the half hour mark as he swiped at thin air after latching onto a ball over the top and in the 31st minute, Pavluychenko forced Iker Casillas to tip a curling shot around the post.

Spain suffered a blow moments later as striker Villa limped out with a leg injury but Aragones curiously chose to replace him with Fabregas rather than Guiza.

Almost immediately Pavlyuchenko should have scored as he took down the ball on his chest only to have his heel clipped as he went to shoot, failing to make good contact and flicking the ball wide.

Spain had the last chance of the half with a piece of great skill from Torres who took down Fabregas's pass and turned onto his left foot only to scuff his shot straight at Akinfeev.

And they had the first chance after the break, taking the lead in the 50th minute as Xavi, who up until then had had a quiet game, arrived late in the box to convert Iniesta's driven cross, poking out a foot to prod the ball between Akinfeev's legs.

The game had needed a goal and that opened it up with Torres curling a shot over the bar moments later.

Hiddink made a double change soon afterwards and his team started to play with more urgency, although at the expense of their accuracy.

With Russia pushing forward Spain started to hit them on the counter-attack with Torres enjoying much more space until he found himself surprisingly replaced by Aragones in favour of Guiza.

The move bore fruit in the 73rd minute as Fabregas flicked the ball over the top and Guiza beat the offside trap of a stretched Russian defence to chip delicately over the onrushing Akinfeev and give Spain a comfortable cushion.

They were flowing and Silva completed the rout in the 82nd minute, converting another measured ball from Fabregas on the counter.