June 23, 2008

SPAIN beat Italy 4-2 on penalties to reach the Euro 2008 semi-finals and in so doing break a number of painful hoodoos.

Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas saved penalties from Daniele De Rossi and Antonio Di Natale before Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas buried the winning spot-kick after the match had ended 0-0 after extra-time.

Spain will play Russia in Friday's (EST) semi-final in Vienna, having already beaten them 4-1 in their opening Group D match.

The Iberians had never before beaten Italy at either the World Cup or European Championships and on three previous occasions over the last 22 years had lost a quarter-final at a major tournament on penalties on this exact date: June 22.

"This is wonderful, it is impossible to find the words to express such an emotion," gasped Fabregas.

"We are just simply delighted. This is an important victory for this young side. We have been waiting for this for a long time."

For Spain coach Luis Aragones it was a case of being vindicated for not stepping down after they went out in the second round of the 2006 World Cup finals.

"I would like to congratulate first of all my players for their remarkable behaviour and maintaining their morale during the match," said the 69-year-old.

"It was very difficult because the Italians closed down all the spaces, which made it difficult to play our natural game."

The match took on a predictable pattern in the first half with Italy defending resolutely and Spain overplaying the passes and underplaying the urgency.

Italy had the first shot on target when Massimo Ambrosini crossed for Simone Perrotta but his header lacked power.

David Villa had a shot blocked by De Rossi before Gianluigi Buffon got down quickly to save his free-kick.

Fernando Torres then beat two men on Spain's left but De Rossi, again, was there to block before David Silva sent the follow-up just wide.

Just after the restart a ricochet in the box presented Silva with an opportunity but having created space onto his right foot he tried to bring the ball back onto his favoured left and the chance went begging.

On 56 minutes Spain finally took a more direct route and Torres muscled Christian Panucci off the ball only to have his cross aimed at Villa cut out by Giorgio Chiellini.

The Juventus stopper was proving majestic in defence and cut out a cross from Joan Capdevila that looked destined for Torres's head.

Italy came within a whisker of taking the lead after a scramble in Spain's box with goalkeeper Casillas kicking away a shot from substitute Mauro Camoranesi.

Italy were starting to have more of the game and Luca Toni headed wide from a great cross by Gianluca Zambrotta.

Ten minutes from time Marcos Senna forced Buffon to punch clear his fierce free-kick and moments later Buffon spilled a shot from the same player before clutching on gratefully after the ball came back off the post.

Extra-time was immediately more exciting than what had come before as Silva flashed a shot wide just after the restart.

Up the other end Casillas tipped over a header from Di Natale and Toni flicked another header just over the top.

But the match quickly settled back down into its frustrating stalemate.

Spain had the last chance of the match but Santi Cazorla dragged a shot wide instead of squaring for the unmarked Villa.

Where to next for Hiddink? China?

June 26, 2008

DEFENDER Philipp Lahm's late strike put three-time European champions Germany in Sunday's Euro 2008 final and sealed a 3-2 win to knock out injury-ravaged Turkey.

Lahm's 90th-minute goal made sure Vienna will be Germany's final destination after Turkey's Semih Senturk had forced an equaliser just four minutes from time to make it 2-2 to set up another dramatic finish.

Germany striker Miroslav Klose had nudged his side into the lead on 79 minutes after Bastian Schweinsteiger's first-half goal had cancelled out Ugur Boral's early strike which put Turkey into a shock lead.

“We're near the summit, but it remains to be seen if we can make it to the top,” said the Bayern Munich striker.

“I think we need to make a bigger effort in the final.

“The Turks played with real fire, they had real belief.

“I think it showed our strength that we still made a comeback, and scored several goals with so few opportunities.

“We had a lot of lows in the game, we didn't convert our chances, we didn't go hard in the personal battles and hung back from the challenges.”

This was Germany's first win over Turkey since May 1992, and Fatih Terim's battered side used their never-say-die spirit to make Germany work hard.

Having reached Basel's St Jakob-Park semi-final by forging a reputation as the tournament's comeback kings with last-gasp wins over Switzerland, Czech Republic and Croatia, Turkey threatened Germany with the same treatment.

Coach Fatih Terim had said he wanted to put his team on the map and their battling spirit has reminded the football world again what Turkey can do having reached the 2002 World Cup semi-final.

Turkey were without the banned quartet of keeper Volkan Demirel, Middlesbrough's Tuncay Sanli, Arda Turan who scored their last gasp winner against the Swiss, and Emre Asik.

And captain Nihat Kahveci, whose pair of late goals sank Czech Republic, was missing with a thigh injury.

By contrast, Germany had all 23-men fit and ready to go having responded to their shock 2-1 defeat by Croatia in the group stages by knocking out much-fancied Portugal with an impressive 3-2 defeat last Thursday.

Germany coach Joachim Loew played the same line-up and 4-5-1 formation he had used against Portugal for the semi-final, but it was Turkey who dominated the first-half chances with Kazim Kazim driving a shot against the bar on 14 minutes

And Turkey took a deserved lead when Kazim again hit the crossbar before Fenerbahce's Ugur Boral fired at Jens Lehmann who watched helplessly as the ball trickled over the line on 22 minutes.

Germany's reply was immediate as attacking midfielder Lukas Podolski slid in a cross which Portugal's tormentor Bastian Schweinsteiger flicked into the net on 26 minutes for his second goal in two games.

Lehmann was in action again as he punched clear Hamit Altintop's free kick just after the half-hour mark one of nine first-half chances Turkey created compared to Germany's one.

At the break Simon Rolfes made way for Torsten Frings in Germany's midfield and match-winner Lahm was unlucky not to have won a penalty when he was brought down on the edge of the area by Sabri Sarioglu on 52 minutes.

In a much-tighter second half, Turkey kept the pressure on with Altintop bossing the midfield against his Bayern Munich colleagues in Germany's ranks.

But the break through came in the 79th minute when Klose rose above three Turkish defenders and goalkeeper Recber Rustu to score his second goal in two games.

Turkey pulled a late goal out of the bag for the fourth time in succession when Semih slipped marker Per Mertesacker to stab home Sabri Sarioglu's cross on 86 minutes to equalise.

But Lahm put German fans in seventh heaven with his 90th minute strike to send his side to Vienna.

Germany captain Michael Ballack said he had no preference which team his side faced for the European title, but they needed to re-group first.

“Our legs were a bit heavier, the team are tired, but we're happy, we're in the final and that's what counts,” said the Chelsea midfielder.

“We're going to take a break for a few days and build up our strength because we'll need it.”

And Loew admitted he would be smoking his customary cigarette to recover from the drama of the late win.

“I'm a little knackered from the game, it was an incredible battle,” said Loew, who was suspended for the quarter-final win over Portugal and had to watch the game from the stands at the St Jakob-Park Stadium.

“There was incredible suspense right up until the last minute, but we made it and of course we're happy.

“Throughout the tournament, we had one or two games where we weren't that great but we've made it to the final and that is the mark of a good side.”

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.

I have a friend that is a follower and he is avid that Germany will win 2-0!

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I think spain will win the final, i dont think Germany's defense will be able to with stand the pressure.

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June 30, 2008

A BRILLIANT first-half goal from Fernando Torres gave Spain a deserved 1-0 victory over Germany and the European Championship title for the first time in 44 years.

Torres struck in the 33rd minute of the Euro 2008 final, running on to a Xavi through ball and sprinting around defender Philipp Lahm to dink a delicate shot past advancing Germany keeper Jens Lehmann.

Spain, playing the cultured football and swift inter-passing that has marked them as the most entertaining team in the tournament, carved out several other chances they could not convert.


“ For me, it's a dream come true
– Fernando Torres
” More Spain reaction In one of the most exciting finals in many years, Germany also looked dangerous on the counter-attack. It was Spain's first major title since winning the European Championship in 1964.

Spain seemed to start tentatively, and a mistake from Sergio Ramos gave Miroslav Klose a glorious opportunity after just four minutes, but after taking the ball past Carles Puyol his next touch was too strong and he ran the ball out of play.

Spain gradually started to settle but three-time champions Germany still had the next chance, Thomas Hitzlsperger hitting a tame shot straight at Spain captain Iker Casillas.

Just before the quarter-hour mark Jens Lehmann came to Germany's rescue as a cross from Andres Iniesta deflected off Christoph Metzelder's boot, and only a stunning reaction save from the Arsenal stopper prevented a goal.

Spain were starting to take control and Torres headed a Xavi free-kick over the bar.

On 23 minutes, Sergio Ramos cut in from the right and crossed to the back post where Torres climbed above the considerably taller Per Mertersacker; his downward header beat Lehmann but unfortunately for Spain not the base of the post.

Up the other end, Spain's slightly suspect defence was struggling to cope with the direct running of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski but Germany created little despite captain Michael Ballack's volley being blocked by Sergio Ramos.

“ It is very sad to lose when one has come such a long way
– Michael Ballack
” More Germany reaction Then, on 33 minutes, Torres put Spain ahead with a moment of sublime quality.

Having latched onto a piercing through ball from Xavi and outpaced Lahm, Torres could have threaded the eye of a needle with his chip-shot which beat Lehmann.

Spain were suddenly rampant and Iniesta crossed to the back post where the unmarked David Silva had a rush of blood to the head and lashed a volley wildly over.

Spain seemed brimming with confidence at the start of the second period and both Xavi and Silva went close with long-range efforts before Torres again outpaced the Germany defence but couldn't quite reach the ball before Lehmann came out to smother.

Germany coach Joachim Loew responded by sending on a second forward in Kevin Kuranyi to replace midfielder Hitzlsperger.

That immediately shifted the momentum of the game and on the hour a mistake from Puyol was almost punished as Ballack fired just wide; moments later Casillas came storming out of goal to take a cross from Ballack off Kuranyi's head.

Spain remained dangerous and Sergio Ramos forced Lehmann into a fine block with a powerful header from a Xavi free kick before Torsten Frings cleared a shot from Iniesta off the line.

Brazil-born Marcos Senna came within inches of settling the game in the final 10 minutes but he couldn't quite stretch his leg out far enough to meet substitute Daniel Guiza's downward header with the goal at his mercy.

Spain striker David Villa may not have played in the Euro 2008 final but he still finished up as leading scorer in the tournament with four.

The Valencia marksman, who was injured and unable to play, opened his account with a hat-trick in the 4-1 win over Russia in the group stage and added another against Sweden, also in the first round.

The overall record is held by France legend Michel Platini - now president of UEFA - with nine in the 1984 edition which France won, beating Spain.

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