Euro 2008 Spain 3 Russia 0
Thursday, 26 June 08, 10:19 PM · Comments (23)
A magnificent second half display from the Spanish team blew away Russia by three goals to nil and Spain must now be fancied to beat Germany in Sunday's final. Barça's Xavi Hernandez put Spain on the road to victory when he met Iniesta's cross to side foot the ball under the Russian keeper.
In the first half the Spanish defence led by a superb Carles Puyol kept Pavlyuchenko and Barça target Andrei Arshavin pretty quiet, and when Pavlyuchenko did get a shot in Casillas brilliantly got his fingertips to the ball to turn it round the post. Spain had to reorganise after David Villa was forced to come off injured in the 34th minute, but the readjustment worked well for Spain with Cesc Fabregas coming on to play a free role in midfield behind Fernando Torres.
Spain got the breakthrough five minutes into the second half when Iniesta's cross found Xavi who had made a great run into the box to score. After the goal came the exhibition. With Iniesta, Xavi and Fabregas playing some delightful passing football the Russians were left chasing shadows. Fabregas set up the second for sub Dani Güiza and the third for David Silva as Spain cruised to their first final since 1984.
Anyone want to jump off the Arshavin bandwagon? ;-)
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LINK Does anyone know if this is on Saturday 28th June also at what time?
Great game. I was never really on the Ash wagon... so its not for me to get off it either :)
im still on the bandwagon!!:D:D cuz i believe
d rate spain churn out this creative midfielders is alarmin
i feel silva played well today, he wouldnt be a bad buy
arshavin: not so sure about his specific position.he's a good player but cant judge him just based on this tournament only, about the match: in modern football, it is extremely hard for a player under d microscope in a not so excellent team playin against a far better team to make the expected impact
sell deco, ronnie & eto'o
get arshavin, ibra & rivaldo. play ibra with henry up front
maybe hernanes & renato augusto
set
i know arshavin is the central playmaker for russia just as messi is for argentina and the prospect of having him on the left and messi on the right looks quite interesting however I'd prefer it if Barcelona still try to get Silva first.
He has put up consistent performances in all the games he has played in and that tells you alot. This fellow is pure class and much younger than arshavin so there is still lots of time to further develop into a complete player
Is Barcelona still trying to acquire Silva?
23 Comments · Add yours
I'm glad that Spain won and I hope they thrash Germans in the final but I'm a bit shocked right now because I watched Russian channel Ren TV after the game and hoped to see their emotions. Here's what the reporter told me without laughing.
15 minutes after the game - The score is 0:0 and that gives hope for Russian team.
16 minutes after the game - A western club has offered €25m for Arshavin but it is not known who that club is.
20 minutes after the game - They show happy Russian fans watching Russia - Sweden match in a pub.
25 minutes after the game - Arsenal is leading the race for Arshavin's signature as they have offered €30m but Arshavin wants to play for either Barcelona or Real Madrid.
You can trust the Russian media, they wouldn't lie to you.
Arshavin just can't beat Puyol in the defend line means-Puyol is a great defender. maybe he lost focus in the game because too much expectations on him. he just an ordinary player-sometime score goals sometime not.
Spain has 4 great defenders and no doubt Russia especially Arshavin cant beat them.. i think he can play better than today.
Well done to Spain and i like to give a credit to Russians because of they achivement in EURO. Spain will win the final. just beat Lehmann