Spain

www.spain.com

World Ranking 4

Squad

Team Review

Spain are another team who perpetually under achieve at major tournaments, but this year they really do have a good chance. The main factor for this in my view is the strikers they possess in their squad, who are up there with the best on the planet! David Villa and Fernando Torres are quite simply sublime, and I can’t see any defence being able to cope with those two all game so I’m sure there will be goals a plenty when Spain are playing. Another factor that will help their chances is that they really don’t have any weak players in their squad this is backed up by the fact that not even Real Madrid’s Raul could force his way into the squad.

Star Man

David Villa, not having the greatest of seasons in La Liga with Valencia flirting with relegation but is still a key player on the international stage

as shown by all the interest from the top clubs around the world chasing his signature. Spain will be hoping by the tournament he will be firing on all cylinders and help Spain to an overdue piece of silverware.

Also check out who we think will be the 'players to watch' in the tournament

Tournament History

Quarter Final

	Q.Final	Time	Home		Away	Stadium
	4	19:45	Spain	0 - 0(aet)	Italy	Vienna Ernst Happel

Semi Final

	S.Final	Time	Home		Away	Stadium
	2	19:45	Russia	0 - 3	Spain	Vienna Ernst Happel

Final

	Final	Time	Home		Away	Stadium
	F	19:45	Germany	0 - 1	Spain	Vienna Ernst Happel

Match Reports

Spain 4 - 1 Russia

(Villa 20, 44, 75, Fabregas 90)

The game started at a blistering pace with Russia and Spain both going for it, but in the first 10-15 minutes it was Russia who was putting the most amount of pressure on the Spanish defence but shortly after a nice bit of interplay between the front two resulted in a goal for the Spaniards scored by David Villa.

The next attack came from the Russians and within minutes after Spain’s they hit the frame of Casillas’s goal at the other end. The game continued as it had started, at a blistering pace and on the stroke of half time Spain’s little hitman struck a again with a goal of real quality as he timed his run perfectly latching on to a flawlessly weighted pass from Iniesta to slot home between the legs of an outstretched Akinfeev.

The third came in the 75th minute and was the third goal on the night scored by an outstanding David Villa and he took it superbly well again coolly slotting the ball past the Russian keeper after evading the challenge of the oncoming Russian defender. After this goal the game was dead and buried in terms of the Russians getting back into but there was still more action as in the 86TH Pavluchenko scored a conciliation goal but to make matters worse Spain finished off the drubbing with a fourth from their substitute Cesc Fabregas in the 90th minute with a diving header.

This game will really send shivers down the spine of Spain’s next opponents Greece who were beaten easily by an average Sweden team and to be honest I think Sweden will be looking forward to playing the Russians after their performance last night.

Sweden 1 - 2 Spain

(Ibrahimovic 34) (Torres 15, Villa 90)

Spain had lit up the tournament with their first game and were looking to do the same again, but as in every major tournament they failed to deliver a performance like they did against the Russians. They did however go one nil up early on via a goal from the ever talented Torres but 20 minutes later conceded a goal to the mercurial Ibrahimovic who was having quite a good game.  Ibrahimovic then limped off afterward which was in my view, game over for Sweden who although hung on till the dieing minutes fell to a poacher’s goal from the undisputed star of the tournament so far David Villa. That was nearly the last kick of the game leaving Sweden no time to try and get an equaliser.

Greece 1 - 2 Spain

(Charisteas 42) (De la Red 61, Guiza 88)

Spain were already through and Greece already out so this game was just a formality for either side but gave Aragones the chance to shuffle his team round and see what his second string team could do, which he duly did leaving out 9 of his starting 11 that played against Sweden in the previous game. Greece on the other hand were playing for pride after losing both their first games and in doing so not retaining the European cup that they won 4 years ago in a miraculous fashion.

Spain started like they did against Russia and were threatening the Greek back line within minutes. Alonso let rip with an audacious 50 yard effort which just went over but had Nikopolidis beaten. A surprise came in the 42nd minute when Greece took the lead with a header from a Charisteas who capitalised on some lapse defending by Spain from a set piece to take the current European champions into a one nil lead at half time.

The Spaniards came out all guns blazing and it took them under 15 minutes to level with great header form De la Red. Spain carried on battering the Greeks and eventually found their winner with Guiza firing in a thunderous shot from just inside the area easily beating Nikopolidis who was to retire on the back of this game. After that the game was only going to finish one way and that was with a Spanish victory which is exactly what happened.

Quarter Final

Spain 0 - 0(aet) Italy

Spain win 4 - 2 on pens

With Spain playing the kind of football that makes fans mouths drool it was no surprise to see that the Italians opted for a more cautious approach to the game added to the fact that their best player Pirlo had to watch the game from the sidelines. Spain took the initiative early on by driving forward in numbers and attacking the shaky looking Italian defence.

The game then went on to become a bore encounter with the Italians defending as deep as possible inviting pressure but the Spanish never really took advantage as they too them selves didn’t have enough energy and were quite happy to play it between themselves at the back and in midfield.

Spain did have a few opportunities but the best were both penalties that should have been given but were both deemed to have been dives even on when looking at photo evidence both were certain penalties, Italy did have one chance which fell to Camoronesi but his shot was well saved by Casillas.

The game had 0-0 written all over it and that’s how it finished. Extra time didn’t serve up too much excitement except for a howler form Buffon who was saved by the post after letting a long range effort from Senna go through his legs.

Both teams looked happy enough to let penalties decide the game with neither team really going for it and playing it between themselves deep in each teams half and that’s what it came down to. The lottery that is penalties was won by Casillas with two great saves from De Rossi and Di Natale before Fabregas converted the decisive spot kick that sent the world champions crashing out of the tournament and back home with their tails between their legs.

Semi Final

Russia 0 - 3 Spain

(Xavi Hernandez 50, Guiza 68, Silva 81)

Spain gave a master class in how to beat an opponent using slick passing, vision and creativity to tear apart a Russian team that looked more than formidable coming into this game. The 3-0 scored flattered the Russian’s who simply just didn’t turn up on the night and for a game of this magnitude and importance I was very surprised as they are coached by Guus Hiddink who knows better than most what is required in major tournaments. Right from the off Spain took control but didn’t threaten too much in the early stages, and were dealt a massive blow when their star striker.

Half time came with the Russians hanging on but still had a chance with the game being goalless. After the break Spain came out all guns blazing with the wizardry of Iniesta and Fabregas conjuring up some magical football between them. It took them just 5 minutes after halftime to break the deadlock as Iniesta curled the ball into the area for Xavi to finish in between a sleepy Russian defence. As Russian resistance failed to materialise, Spanish supremacy grew and there was no looking back as they threw men forward with substitute Daniel Guiza adding to the score line. By this time the Russian had all but given up and shortly after Guiza’s goal David Silva scored to make it 3-0 it could have been a lot more had Spain’s finishing been on par with their build up play.

This game could have been troublesome for Spain but for their holding midfield player Marcos Senna who had a brilliant game keeping Arshavin so quiet, he was so quiet in the game that I don’t even remember him holding on to the ball for a long enough period to make a chance for the Russians.  The game ended 3-0 and Spain were looking favourites going into the final against the Germans who only just beat the Turks and didn’t look to convincing.

Final

Germany 0 - 1 Spain

(Torres 33)

The game was always going to by a tight one and it proved to be quite the opposite as Spain once again took the game to their opponents who early on looked shaky. Torres hit the post with a header early on in the half, but it took the Spanish jus 30 minutes to carve open the German defence after a masterful pass from Iniesta to play in Torres in, who still had a lot to do, and by god didn’t he do it! Out pacing two defenders and chipping the ball nonchalantly over the advancing Lehman who was helpless as the ball bounced in the side netting.

The game was to continue as it had started with Spain dominating and playing the kind of attack branded football Spain have made their own during this tournament. Spain had a few other chances to increase their lead but failed to do so. I felt sorry for Ballack who tried his best to drive his team on but to no avail. It was to be Ballack who had Germany’s best chance of the game and it was a half chance at that, as he struck a volley with his shin with the ball bouncing harmlessly wide of the post. Apart from that, the Spanish kept them pinned back in their own half producing pass after pass of sheer quality. You could see the Spanish players just looking for that killer pass and on a few occasions nearly found it.

The game didn’t have to many other chances as Spain were perfectly happy to just knock it about them selves in the German half frustrating the hell out of their opponents. The game was to finish 1-0 but it was a deserved win by the Spanish who were the team of the tournament largely thanks to their midfield which was for lack of a better word perfect in every position.