skip to content

  • Kick-off: 19:45
  • Venue: Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna
  • Attendance: 50000
  • Referee: De Bleeckere, F

Live Commentary

90mins

Full-Time: RUSSIA 0-3 SPAIN.

90mins

Sychev and Zhirkov make some space, but the former shoots well wide of target.

90mins

Two minutes of added time to be played.

90mins

Guiza gets away and his shot is blocked by the advancing Akinfeev, who was left exposed again.

88mins

Russia almost get a goal back, but sub Sychev's header is superbly blocked by Casillas, who wants a clean sheet to his name.

86mins

A matter of minutes to go and the game is almost as flat as the Russian fans, who are all soaked just to add to their woes.

85mins

Guiza is almost through on his own, but Anyukov gets back to make the challenge.

83mins

That is definitely game over now, the Russian challenge has wilted in the rain.

82mins

RUSSIA 0-3 SPAIN, a quick break catches Russia out and Fabregas plays in a superb ball from the left and SILVA has time and space to net with a left-foot shot.

79mins

Just over ten minutes to play and Russia look down and out, as Arshavin misplaces a pass into the Spain box.

77mins

Carles Puyol makes a strong challenge on Pavlyuchenko as Russia push for a way back into the game.

74mins

A killer blow for Russian hopes, they have failed to find top gear tonight.

73mins

RUSSIA 0-2 SPAIN, it's surely all over now, Fabregas lifts a ball over the Russian defence and the arriving GUIZA lifts a cute effort over the advancing Akinfeev.

71mins

Alonso tests Akinfeev following a short corner from Fabregas, it's all Spain at the moment.

70mins

Fabregas is spot-on with a fierce long-range drive which Akinfeev has to tip over the top for a corner.

69mins

Goalscorer Xavi trots off and Xabi Alonso comes on, while Torres makes way for Dani Guiza.

67mins

Fabregas feeds Torres who is about to pull the trigger when Zhirkov makes a superb covering challenge.

66mins

Torres threatens to get away in the area, but Anyukov covers well and clears the danger.

65mins

Twenty-five minutes to play and Russia have it all to do.

63mins

Ramos fires in a cross and Torres finds a yard of space, but directs his effort off-target from 12 yards.

61mins

Iniesta releases Fabregas, but his cut-back past Akinfeev is headed clear by Anyukov, with Torres waiting to pounce.

60mins

Bilyaletdinov brings down Silva and is cautioned.

60mins

An hour played and Russia are beginning to look a bit ragged.

58mins

Hiddink has wasted little time in making some changes, but Spain are in control at the moment.

57mins

Russia also bring on Dmitry Sychev for Saenko.

57mins

Yuri Zhirkov is the first player to be booked, for a late trip on Iniesta.

56mins

Hiddink brings on Diniyar Bilyaletdinov for Igor Semshov.

55mins

Russia look a bit nervous now, they need to find the fluency which put paid to the Dutch last time out.

54mins

Silva is upended by Ivan Saenko, who gets a stern talking-to from the Belgian referee.

53mins

Silva's superb run opens up the Russia defence, but when Xavi plays the ball to Torres the striker lifts his shot over the top from a useful position.

51mins

What a stroke of luck for Spain, Iniesta was trying to shoot at goal but ended up playing in a perfect pass.

50mins

RUSSIA 0-1 SPAIN, Iniesta fires the ball across the face of goal from the left and XAVI arrives on cue to touch it past the stranded Akinfeev.

49mins

Fabregas and Ramos forge an opening down the right, but from the latter's cross Zyrianov heads clear.

48mins

Fabregas brings down Zyrianov in midfield, free-kick to Russia.

47mins

Ramos aims a forward ball towards Silva, but it skids off the surface through to Akinfeev.

46mins

Spain start the second period.

45mins

Half-Time: RUSSIA 0-0 SPAIN.

45mins

One minute of added time to be played.

45mins

Xavi lofts a free-kick into the Russian area, but Akinfeev is there to collect with ease.

43mins

Torres makes another run out towards the flank, but he has been well covered so far by Sergey Ignashevich and Berezutsky.

41mins

Arshavin has made little impact for Russia yet, they need him to get on the ball more often.

40mins

Fabregas looks to have added some much-needed urgency to the Spain midfield.

39mins

Fabregas finds Torres on the right, he cuts inside the full-back, but his shot is too weak to trouble Akinfeev.

38mins

Half-time is approaching and neither goalkeeper has been seriously extended as yet, but the game has been far from dull.

36mins

Spain have had a bit of a reshuffle with Villa going off, that could be a major blow.

35mins

Pavlyuchenko takes down a high ball into the area, but he cannot find the target with a rushed left-foot shot.

35mins

The injured Villa is forced to leave the field, with Fabregas taking his place.

33mins

Cesc Fabregas is already starting to warm up for Spain.

31mins

Pavlyuchenko finds just enough space on the edge of the area to curl a shot goalwards, but it goes just a matter of inches wide of goal.

29mins

Villa shoots goalwards from the free-kick 30 yards out, but it causes Akinfeev few problems as he gathers on his goal-line.

29mins

Silva is brought down by Konstantin Zyrianov, who is lucky to escape a yellow card.

27mins

Xavi lofts a fine pass through to Andres Iniesta, but he completely misses his kick inside the area and the opportunity goes begging.

24mins

Ramos plays a one-two from a throw-in and his ambitious left-foot shot from wide on the right is right down the throat of Akinfeev at his near post.

23mins

Russia force a corner, but they again play it short and it comes to nothing.

21mins

Carlos Marchena is down injured after a challenge on Sergei Semak inside the Spain half, but he's soon back up and moving okay.

20mins

Arshavin drives forward from midfield, but his eventual shot is blocked and Spain come away with the ball.

17mins

The rain is pouring down in Vienna, with Spain coach Luis Aragones already looking a little animated.

16mins

AS Roman Pavlyuchenko fires in a free-kick from 30 yards, but it's just too high to worry Casillas in the Spain goal.

15mins

A tight opening to the game, Spain have shaded it in terms of sights of goal.

13mins

Ramos chests the ball back to Casillas after Russia take a short corner on their right flank.

11mins

Villa fires in a right-foot shot from 25 yards out on the left flank and Akinfeev parries it clear low down at his near post.

10mins

Alexander Anyukov finds space down the right, but his cross is straight into the arms of the waiting Iker Casillas.

9mins

David Silva and Joan Capdevila combine well down the Spain left, but the former's final pass is misplaced.

7mins

Spain have woken up now and have made the first opening of the game.

6mins

Villa feeds Torres in the Russian area, but keeper Igor Akinfeev makes a smart block from close range.

5mins

Xavi curls in a cross which is just too far in front of Sergio Ramos. Spain win a second corner, but that is cleared away as well.

4mins

Fernando Torres wins the first corner of the game after a good run down the right, but Russia clear the set-piece.

3mins

A very quiet opening to the game, with Russia being given time and space.

2mins

The early possession is with Russia, with Spain content to sit back.

1mins

Russia get the game underway.

0mins

Spain thrashed Russia 4-1 in the group stages, but since the return of playmaker Andrei Arshavin, Hiddink's side have been reborn.

0mins

Russia coach Guus Hiddink is forced into one change, with Vassily Berezutsky stepping in for the suspended Denis Kolodin in central defence.

0mins

Spain are unchanged from the side who needed penalties to see off Italy in the quarter-finals, with tournament leading scorer David Villa leading the attack.

0mins

Russia and Spain meet in the second semi-final of Euro 2008 in Vienna, with a clash with Germany in the final the prize for the winners.

Match Report

Spain powered into the final of Euro 2008 with a 3-0 semi-final demolition of a lacklustre Russia in a rain-soaked Vienna.

Spain were unchanged from the side who needed penalties to see off Italy in the quarter-finals, while Russia coach Guus Hiddink was forced into one change, with Vassily Berezutsky stepping in for the suspended Denis Kolodin in central defence.

The opening minutes of the game saw few clear openings, although Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev made a smart block from close range after David Villa had played in Fernando Torres.

Villa then forced a relatively comfortable save from Akinfeev with a long-range drive, as the rain began to pour down in Vienna.

Just before the half-hour mark Xavi lofted a fine pass through to Andres Iniesta, but he completely missed his kick inside the area and the opportunity went begging.

Soon after AS Roman Pavlyuchenko found just enough space on the edge of the area to curl a shot goalwards, but it flew a matter of inches wide of goal.

Spain were then forced to replace the injured Villa, before Pavlyuchenko took down a high ball into the area, but failed to hit the target with a rushed left-foot shot.

Five minutes into the second half Spain hit the front as Iniesta found space on the left and fired the ball across the face of goal and Xavi arrived on cue to divert the ball through the legs of the stranded Akinfeev.

Torres lifted a shot high over the crossbar when well placed soon after, as Spain went in search of a killer second goal.

Torres wasted another opening just past the hour mark and after subs Cesc Fabregas and Xabi Alonso had tested Akinfeev with long-range efforts, Spain did grab the all-important second goal.

The outstanding Fabregas lifted a ball over the Russian defence and fellow sub Dani Guiza ran through to lift a cute finish over the advancing Akinfeev.

Eight minutes from time it was 3-0, as Iniesta's pass released Fabregas and he weighted a fine ball across the area to David Silva, who had time and space to net with a low, left-foot shot.

Russia's only effort on target came two minutes from the end as Dmitry Sychev's header was superbly blocked by Iker Casillas, as Spain swept into the final, where they will face Germany.

Russia

Spain

Corners

34

Fouls

1714

Goal attempts

620

Shots off target

58

Offsides

14

Free to play Fantasy Football

advertisment

advertisement