Article
Quick Report: Russia 0-3 Spain
VIENNA (SW) - Spain are through to the final of Euro 2008 following a very convincing 3-0 win over the Russians in the semi final on Thursday.
The Spaniards were the stronger side in the first half but never created a one hundred percent chance.
And there was bad news for the Iberians as star striker David Villa pulled a muscle in his upper leg when taking a free kick and had to come off.
His replacement Cesc Fabregas though, proved to be of great importance in the second half and improved the connections between midfield and attack.
The deadlock was broken in the 50th minute when Andrés Iniesta sent in a low pass for Xavi Hernández to put the ball between goalkeeper Akinfeev's legs.
And things got more certain for Spain in the 73rd minute. Fabregas found substitute Guïza with a great looping pass to beat the defense, and Guïza lobbed it over the goalkeeper to double the lead.
Things were really in the pocket for the Spanish when David Silva converted a Fabregas cross in the 82nd minute to make it 3-0.
Spain have three days to prepare for their third ever European Championships final, which will be played against Germany on Sunday.
Info
Goals
0 - 1 |
50' Xavi
|
|
0 - 2 |
73' Daniel Güiza
|
|
0 - 3 |
82' David Silva
|
Lineups
| Player | Bookings |
|---|---|
| I. Akinfeev | |
| V. Berezoutski | |
| S. Ignashevich | |
| A. Anyukov | |
| Y. Zhirkov |
 57'
|
| S. Semak | |
I. Semshov
|
|
| K. Ziryanov | |
| A. Arshavin | |
| R. Pavlyuchenko | |
|
I. Saenko
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|
| Coach: G. Hiddink | |
Substitutions
| Player | Bookings |
|---|---|
|
for I. Semshov 56' |
60'
|
|
for I. Saenko 58' |
| Player | Bookings |
|---|---|
| Iker Casillas | |
| Carlos Marchena | |
| C. Puyol | |
| Sergio Ramos | |
| Joan Capdevila | |
| Andrés Iniesta | |
| Marcos Senna | |
|
Xavi
|
|
| David Silva | |
|
F. Torres
|
|
|
David Villa
|
|
Substitutions
| Player | Bookings |
|---|---|
|
for David Villa 34' |
|
|
for Xavi 68' |
|
|
for F. Torres 69' |
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