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Aragones' Spain scratch 24-year itch
by Graham Hunter from Vienna
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Cesc Fabregas take his first senior penalty
and sends Spain into the semi-finals (¿Getty Images)
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Luis Aragones warned before the start of UEFA EURO 2008T
that Spain lacked just two things if they wanted to become champions -
how to manage a game and that elusive stroke of luck. There is no greater
test of managing a knockout match in modern football than outplaying world
champions Italy and then winning on penalties. Here in Austria/Switzerland,
Spain have both matured and have helped themselves to slices of good fortune
- semi-final opponents Russia hit the post while dominating the teams'
first group game, then Iker Casillas outdid Giuanluigi Buffon in the Vienna
shoot-out on Sunday.
Route to the last four
The Group D opener against Russia involved Spain surviving a torrid first
20 minutes before prevailing by 4-1 with David Villa scoring three goals
and providing a fourth. Four days later Spain briefly led Sweden thanks
to a training-ground free-kick and a muscular Fernando Torres finish but
Zlatan Ibrahimovic equalised before Villa came to the rescue in the last
seconds. La Roja had won Group D and Aragones successfully rested ten
of his starting XI against Greece, as his side claimed a 2-1 comeback
victory earned by Ruben de la Red and Daniel Guiza. The quarter-final
against Italy was goalless and although Gianluigi Buffon saved from Guiza
in the penalty decider, Casillas had already denied Daniele De Rossi and
then blocked Antonio Di Natale's effort. It was the cue for Cesc Fabregas
to step up and send his side through: 4-2.
Semi-final record
When Spain play Russia in Thursday's Vienna semi-final it will be only
their third such test at this level in 48 years of trying, though they
have a perfect record. Having beaten Hungary in 1964, they went on to
win the final against the Soviet Union courtesy of a goal by Marcelino.
They waited another 20 years to return to the last four, needing penalties
to get past Denmark before losing to hosts France. The only time they
reached the FIFA World Cup semi-finals, that stage of the competition
was played, uniquely, as a round-robin group in Brazil in 1950 - Spain
finished fourth.
1964 Hungary W 2-1 aet
1984 Denmark W 1-1 aet, 5-4 on pens
Key moment
Unquestionably Casillas saving from De Rossi and Di Natale in the quarter-final
shoot-out on 22 June, the very day on which Spain had fallen on penalties
to Belgium in the 1986 FIFA World Cup, to England at EURO '96T and to
Korea Republic in the 2002 World Cup.
Key player
Overall, Villa. Against Italy very little came off for him but his prodigious
work-rate matched his prodigious scoring from the earlier games and his
modern combination of goals, assists, free-kicks, penalties, headers and
leading of the line means he remain's Spain's most threatening player.
His hat-trick against Russia is the only one of the finals so far and
his four-goal tally is the highest.
Injuries and suspensions
Currently, none of either. Carles Puyol and Santi Cazorla have overcome
foot injuries and David Silva recovered after twisting his ankle.
Tactics
Against Russia, Sweden and Italy, both the 4-1-3-2 shape and the personnel
were identical. Against Greece the coach used Xabi Alonso and De la Red
together in the centre of midfield, with two wingers and with Fabregas
just off striker Guiza for a 4-4-1-1. Andres Iniesta sometimes switches
wings, from right to left, without Silva crossing to the right.
Shoot-out record
Three wins from six. As mentioned, all the defeats came in 22 June quarter-finals,
against Belgium, England and Korea Republic. The last of those followed
a last-16 penalties triumph over the Republic of Ireland, which was Spain's
first such victory since the 1984 semi-final against Denmark. The Italy
win thus improved their UEFA European Championship shoot-out record to
2-1. Ominously, Puyol, Carlos Marchena, Joan Capdevila and Xavi Hernandez
were in the Spain team that lost the 2000 Olympic final 5-3 on penalties
after a 2-2 draw with Cameroon in Sydney.
Quotes
"I've seen him have better games." Villa's father after the
striker ran the show against Russia, having a hand in all four goals.
"It was the first time I've taken a competitive penalty since I
was 15." Fabregas admits that his last spot-kick victim, before putting
one past Buffon, was a schoolboy.
"I've known the King since he was just a prince - I even asked
if he could sort out a wage pay." Aragones on a royal presence in
the dressing room after the defeat of Italy.
What the papers said
"Iker the Spanish barrier." El Pais lauds the last-eight hero.
"Iker changes history." Marca notes that it was 22 June but
Spain still won on penalties in a quarter-final.
"Que Viva Espana." AS, the Madrid sports daily, echoes what
the fans were singing in Vienna on Sunday.
"End of our Quarter-final Jinx." La Vanguardia leads a collective
sigh of relief.
Euro2008.com,
24 June 2008
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