What Are The Spanish Doing That We Aren't?

16 June 2013 09:16
Everything good in football comes up smelling Spanish these days. European champions - World champions - and the European Under-21 Championship is just 90 minutes away.

As England crashed out without a single point ... defending champions Spain are through to the final of the European Under-21 Championship after comfortably beating Norway 3-0.The Spaniards came into the semi-final as a heavy favourite after winning their three group games without conceding a goal and their class told as goals from Rodrigo, Isco and Alvaro Morata sealed victory.The three-time champions will meet the winner of the second semi-final between Holland and Italy in Tuesday's final.Spain nearly had the lead two minutes before half-time as Asier Illarramendi's shot from the edge of the area was palmed away by Orjan Haskjold Nyland and Fredrik Semb Berge managed to clear away.Just a minute later Nyland was called into action again as Cristian Tello hit a rasping shot from 20 yards out which the keeper did well to turn round the post.The Spaniards had their tails up and eventually took the lead on the stroke of half-time through Rodrigo.Thiago Alcantara swung in a corner which was headed into the air by a defender and, when Marc Bartra won the second header, he flicked the ball into the path of Rodrigo who volleyed past Nyland with the outside of his left foot.Norway had a chance to equalise with five minutes remaining as Vegar Eggen Hedenstad's set piece created confusion in the Spanish box but when the ball fell to Stefan Strandberg the centre-half could only put his shot over the bar from six yards out.The result was put beyond doubt in the 87th minute as Isco showed sublime skill to double the lead.Morata found the Malaga forward on the edge of the penalty area and the 21-year-old first dropped his shoulder to beat his man before taking two strides forward and curling into the top corner with the outside of his right foot.And in the third minute of time added on Morata continued his record of scoring in every game of the tournament as he saw his initial shot saved by Nyland before curling in the rebound from a seemingly impossible angle.

Source: Newcastle United Mad

Source: FOOTYMAD