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Spain book place in Euro 2008 final after sinking Russia

27/06/2008

Spain have reached the Euro 2008 final after beating Russia 3-0 in Vienna.

Goals from Xavi, David Guiza, and David Silva set-up a showdown with Germany in Sunday's final.

Spain are looking to win their first tournament since lifting the European championships in 1964.

Despite scoring the winning penalty against Italy, Cesc Fabregas was again on the bench, while Russia replaced Vasili with the suspended Denis Kolodin.

Luis Aragones' side made a blistering start with Sergio Ramos inches away from connecting with Xavi;s cross, while top-scorer David Villa's 20-yard strike was parried by Igor Akinfeev.

In contrast the Russians were cautious with their only effort of note falling to Roman Pavlyuchenko, who lashed a free-kick over the bar.

Guus Hiddink's then cranked up the tempo with Pavlyuchenko forcing Iker Casillas into a stunning save to keep out a 25-yard curling effort, while the striker flashed a shot inches wide minutes later.

Fabregas was given an early chance to impress when he replaced the injured Villa.

And the Arsenal midfielder provided the Spanish with an extra spark in the second half. They broke the deadlock on 50 minutes when Andreas Iniesta's cross-shot was deflected in by his Barcelona team-mate Xavi.

Aragones' men adopted a deadly counter-attacking strategy for the rest of the game which almost reaped rewards when Fernando Torres curled an effort from 18 yards over the bar.

The Liverpool striker was guilty of missing a hatful of chances, drilling a shot from eight yards wide then failing to slot home Ramos' cross.

Torres and goal-scorer Xavi were then brought off for Danny Guiza and Xabi Alonso.

And Guiza made an instant impact when he ran onto Fabregas' clipped pass and dinked the ball over Akinfeev on 73 minutes to make it 2-0.

Seven minutes later Fabregas was again the provider, this time his cross found Silva who controlled the pass and fired the ball into the net.

Russia came close to a consolation in the dying minutes with Sergei Semak's header saved by Casillas, but Spain held on to reach the final and put them on the verge of ending their reputation as under-achievers.