Tough tackling Xabi Alonso delivered the goods for Spain on his 100th international appearance with a header and a penalty to see off France in their Euro 2012 quarter-final.
"There's a lot of personal satisfaction in getting to 100 caps and of course getting on the scoresheet," said Alonso after the Spanish booked a semi-final showdown with Portugal in Donetsk on Wednesday - where he will come up against Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo as well as defender Pepe.
"We are now in the semis and of course all the games at this stage are life and death. We didn't have that many chances but we had the match totally under control," said the 30-year-old former Liverpool star.
"The most important step is the next one," said Alonso, who went off clutching the shirt of another Real Madrid colleague Karim Benzema and who Saturday became just the fifth member of the Furia Roja's ton-up club.
Source: AFP
