EURO2008 Semifinal Round 2 Day 18 26/Jun/08

Russia v. Spain 0-3
The Russian dream ended this thuesday when Andrei Arshavin failed to consagrate when his team most needed. Spain displayed the same dose of good football against an attemptive Russian side, who failed to impress the football world. The scope of the youngster Spanish side was to be proven.
As early as the 7' Torres provided Sapin the first chance, also Xavi with a wide defelected shot early on 6'.The first minutes were calmed even with a mediocre start from the Spanish side, especially the midfield. Iniesta is a good example, he has no idea of the overlaping concept. Even Xavi so famous for his "passing" cannot give Torres a wide open space pass, the usual he encounters in Liverpool. At 16' Roman Pavlyuchenko shot wide from a free kick, followeda at 61' from another wide kick. Spain was calmed and focused, while producing several chances which did not end as they would like, touching and creating while Russia speculated and waited.

In the second half things openedfor the "visiting" side. The lead came in the 50' through Iniseat which assisted Xavi on a fine cross inbox. At 53' a wide shot from Torres came from a Cesc asisst. The Spanish side showed several attempts to extend the lead which capitalized in the 75' when Dani Güiza defined marvelously after a chip pass by Cesc. This was an excellent play which delivered us with the perfect technique execution of Cesc and the clean finishing of Güiza. Spain at that moment was showing to be a good contender in the last match. At that moment of the game I was wondering all the fuzz that the media made around Arshavin. Was he really playing? Because if he was the I did not notice it, and my brother and cousin neither noticed so? The point is that he dissapeared completely from the pitch, he was nulified by Ramos, Marchena and Puyol. I remebered that joke Fernando Palomo from ESPN quote from an English peper about The Prince Harry and Dirk Kuyt. In the final stages of the match Cec again found an open space in the left and assisted youngster Silva, who controlled and defined in the close post. In that way Spain earned their way through the Final match. With style and good game play.