Spain made it to the Euro finals after 44 years. So long ago it came during Francisco Franco’s iron fisted rule, an era abhorred and overturned by thousands who have made Spain, a beacon of democracy and social progressivism.
Today’s match against Russia turned out to be anti-climactic as Guus Hiddink’s team was a shadow of itself, tentative and tremulous. Andrei Arshavin chose the wrong match to turn invisible. Roman Pavlyuchenko provided a few uplifting moments for the Russian fans but the Spanish defence and Iker Casillas proved to be a step quicker, in a reversal of the much parodied versions of earlier teams.
Spain right from the outset went on the attack and tested Igor Akinfeev with some smart and crisp volleys which was a good tactic as the incessant rain made the ball slick and hard to handle. Fabregas introduction for the injured David Villa as the slot striker leaving Torres up front was a bit surprising (he usually replaces Xavi) introduced a crisper passing game. But the Russians managed to battle the first half to a draw.
The second half saw some of the most scintillating soccer from Spain as their fluid midfield led by Iniesta, Xavi, and Fabregas began wearing down the Russian defence. The stalemate ended when Xavi smartly sliced the ball past Akinfeev from a heads up pass by Iniesta after a lovely bit of passing. Torres was surprisingly taken off and replaced by Dani Guiza. To be fair, Torres was a thorn in the Russian side but he seemed to be just a bit off his timing. Aragones probably realized that he needed at least one more goal to put this past the Russians to avoid a Turkish surprise.
His move paid dividends as minutes later in a brilliant 1-2, Fabregas adroitly lifted the ball past Ignasevich and Guiza chested it down and toed it past Akinfeev to score the second goal. Then after a great bout of passing, Iniesta hands of to Fabregas, whose run ends in his pass threading the needle to find Silva, and the diminutive left footed winger controls the ball, shifting it to his natural foot and lays the ball into goal. Spain is three up and the nail is in the coffin.
The Russians were outdone by a superior team and their fairy tale written largely by Arshavin’s exploits, came to an end. Except for a few moments, the fluid and open style that the Russians used to shell shock the Netherlands was missing. In its place, the Russians became as predictable as the Italians as they sought their big man, Roman Pavlyuchenko.
Correction: Spain also made it to the 1984 Euro finals where they were beaten by France, 0-2.