Spain vs. Russia - Live Commentary

90' (+2): And it's over.... Spain nails this one... and the team looks pretty good!!!

90': GGGGGOOOAAALLLL for Spain... Cesc Fabregas 4-1... another counter attack after Russia missed a CLEAR chance again... Looks like a replay

90': Corner for the Ruski

89': Sergio Ramos made two or three ridiculous mistakes during this match that could be costly against a better team.

85': Roman Pavlyunchenko looked for a goal the whole match and he found one. A good, unstoppable header. 3-1 ... but there's no time for reaction

85': GGGOOOAAAALLLL... RUSKI

75': Spain is back to the pacing controlling, excellent passing line...

74': Hat Trick Hat Trick Hat Trick ... David Villa buries Russia for good!!! Villa Receives, turns the defender in and out and shoots... this time Akinfeev can't do anything!!! GGGGGOOOOLLLAAAAZZZOOOO

73': Great play by Fabregas on the right side. He crosses but the ball is saved by Akinfeev

72': Another shot for Russia. Pavlyuchenko risks it from the top of the box but the low shot was easy for Casillas.

70': This is a very, very, very strange decision for the Russian coach. He replaced the Bystrov who had come in in the second half (????)

64':

Spain with total control of the match... I mean, TOTAL CONTROL. La Furia is actually playing with a lot of calm. Passing the ball in defense, attracting the Russian team and exploring the space left behind their defense. 

64': Akinfeev had to work hard again. Villa found once again space behind the Russian defense but this time the keeper got to the ball before he could dribble and score the third

63': Andres Iniesta, who played a great match, leaves the pitch and is replaced by Santi Cazorla

61': Bilyaletdinov takes a good shot from the left side of the box that went really close to Casillas goal, but I don't see Spain losing control of the match. The Spanish team seems comfortable and wirking well in defense and midfield and creating good offensive plays. David Silva just had a great opportunity that was cleared by the Russian defense

57': Torbinskyi comes in for Senshov in the Russian squad

53': So I guess Aragonés is testing now his 4-1-4-1 formation right? With Villa being the only striker

53': Here comes Fabregas!!!! the number 10 comes in for Torres

49': Bystrov had a good chance after the corner but the shot went straight to Casillas hands

47': Bystrov tries to run with the ball on the right side but David Silva protects it and get the goal kick for Spain

45': A sub for the Russian team during half time: Sychev, number 21 leaves the pitch and Bystrov comes in

Half Time:

Two very different "schools" of European football. Spain with talent, technique, offensiveness versus Russia with discipline, tactics, pace control ... Both teams played well this first 45 minutes but Spain was just better. More efficient and after the initial "studying" period of the match Spain got their first goal, were save by the post and managed to explore the counter attacks well. Russia didn't give up but the second goal might have opened the door for Spain to score more. 

44': After the bad corner kick taken by the Russian team Spain used the same weapon used by the Netherlands to beat Italy: fast counter attacks. A great ball by Iniesta found Villa in good condition behind the defense and the forward didn't waste the opportunity. Spain 2, Russia 0.

44': GGOOOOAAAALLLLLL for Spain!!!! Villa again!!!!

43': Great play for the Russian offense. Another corner

40': Zhirkov goes down. Iniesta took him and the referee calls it a foul for Russia.

39': The Russians are alive!!! The Russian forward is caught offside but they are now finding spaces behind Spain's defense

35': 35 minutes of good and wet football. No team can claim dominance of the match so far. Spain scored their goal on a perfect combination midfield/Torres/Villa but Russia also had chances to level things up.

32': The Russians are trying but they struggle to penetrate Spain's line of 4 defenders.

31': Shot by Torressssss!!! No. That was an easy ball for the keeper

29': Zhirkov moves up and gets a corner for Russia. The corner is taken and Marcos Senna clears the danger

27': Another chance for Villa. Great pass by Iniesta and the keeper Akinfeev puts it out for a corner. Believe folks, there will be more goals in this match... and it could be for any of the teams

23': The match takes an incredible speed and despite the rain both teams are demonstrating a lot of energy and determination.

22':

Two minutes after Spain's goal Russia had the chance to tie the match... But the ball just hit the right post when Casillas couldn't do anything else.

In the sequence Spain also got close to score another one...  

20': A deep pass to Fernando Torres on the left. Torres takes on the defender and pass it sugar coated ball to David Villa who followed the play in the middle... And then it was easy: Villa just sent the ball inside the net... Great breakthrough goal for Spain right when Russia was starting to feel confortable

20': GGGGOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL for Spain!!!! David Villa!!!!

18': corner for Spain. After a good play by Villa on the left the defender knocks it out

18': Is Spain already suffering the pressure of being the eternal underachievers???

14': Here comes the Russians!!! Greatp lay on the right and the finish by Semshov goes wide but very dangerous

14': The rain might play an important role in favor of the Russians who are fast and play well the ball crossed in the box. For Spain the rain can be a problem because makes it more difficult for talented players to control the ball

10': Good play by the Russian team on the left but the flag went up... Offside

9':

Sorry folks... Technicals problems... But I'm here live now!!!

After a initial mistake by Sergio Ramos the match is pretty balanced...