Spain vs Italy

Onto the last quarter final of the UEFA Euro 2008 and this one has Group D winners, Spain, who won all 3 of their matches. Their opponents are world champions Italy. They left qualification late until a 2-0 win over France in their final game. 

Roberto Donadoni was missing influencial midfielders Grande Gutusso and Andres Pirlo as they both recieved their second booking of the tournament vs the team they defeated in the World Cup final. Luis Aragonés on the other hand goes back to his original line up after playing the reserves in their dead rubber game vs Greece, which they won thanks to goals from Ruben de la Red and Daniel Guiza. 

AT the 10 minute mark, Spain had a shocking 72% to ITaly`s 28% possession. BUt despite having so much more of the ball, they had not done much with it.

And it was the team who have had less of the ball who got the opening effort of the game. Perrotta suddenly got the ball and lost his marker, Carlos Poyul, headed it goal words but Casillias managed to save it. Slight scare though. 

Spain had their first shot on target in the 25th minute when tournament top scorer David Villa struck a low free kick very well from 25 meters out. Despite the shot being clean and with lots of power, Gigi Buffon did very well to get down and catch it. Good free kick. 

Villa club mate and namesake at Valencia, David Silva, had a similar chance. His low effort from the left, after getting past 2 defenders, had the same result has the Juventus man pulled off a decent save.

Antonio Cassano had a wonderful cross to beat the entire defense and find Luca Toni, who has had a poor tournament and is still looking for his first goal, headed it but it was put out for a conner by Marchena.

David Silva, who was having a great game, drifted in from the left before releasing his shot towords the far post. A great shot while under pressure from the defenders went just wide of the upright. 

The winger then had a penalty shout when he was caught on his ankle by Fabio Grosso. The refree who was close to the incident waved it off for a dive but replays show that there was contact and that was certainly a foul, though just outside the area. 

A first half that Spain completely dominated. Italy had their chances as well but it was Aragonés`s men who were the better side. A third goal less opening 45 in the quarters. The world champions certainly missing Gatusso and Pirlo. 

Mario Camoranesi was the first man to come on replacing former Real Madrid striker Antonio Cassano. Cesc Fabregas and Santi Cazorla were brought on for Barcelona pair Xavi and Inesta. Coach Luis Aragones being frustrated and trying to change things to help his cause.

AT around the hour mark in the match, Luca Toni got a great ball and he tried to shoot it above the keeper but Casillias got a hand to it. The ball fell to second half sub Camoranesi whos shot was saved superbly by the spanish captain.

The top scorer of the Bundasliga had another opportunity to score when he got a good ball from Zambrotta but he headed it wide of the goal, just like he has throughout the tournament.

On the counter attack, David VIlla had the ball in the area with 3 defenders around his. He went down and was booked by the official for a dive, despite him protesting that he was brought down. Replays showed that the refree got the decision spot on and it was simulation more than contact. 

Marcos Senna, who is still looking for his first goal for Spain, tested Buffon from way out. His shot was saved at the first instance for the stand in Italy skipper, but the ball spun out of his hands before hiting the frame of goal. So close to being an embarrassing moment for the Italian keeper who survived by the skin of his teeth. 

Italy had the last chance of the 90 when a fabulus ball found Groso on the far post, but mis communication or mis understanding or whatever you want to call it between him and Toni and before the Lyon man could shoot his own team mate got in the way and the spanish defense scrambled the ball away. 

Into extra time for the third game in a row.

Just at the start of the first period of extra time David Silva got the ball on the edge of the area after a loose clearance from Giorgio Chiellini. But the winger`s powerful shot from between Chiellni and de Rossi, who were very close to him, went just wide of the post in another wonderful chance for him and his team.

Just a few miniutes later a Di Natalie header was perfectly placed by Iker Casillias got a stupendous finger tipe save to send the ball over the crossbar. The skipper to the rescue agian.

Just in the dying minutes, 119th to be precise, the same time when Croatia scored day before yesterday, second half sub Santi Cazorla could have won it for his sdie. The Villareal winger ran into the box and shot across the face of goal. He should have crossed it in for his team mate who was waiting at the far post to tap it in.

But that was that and it was now time for penalties. Italy frustrated Spain for 2 hours and now took it to a stage where its just anybody`s game. The curse of Vienna still lasts and into the second shoot out at this stadium. Argubially two of the finest keepers in the world, Buffon vs Casillias.

It was Spain and David Villa who took the first spot kick. Buffon dived to the right as the Valencia man sent the ball to the left. 1-0.

Fabio Grosso, the man who scored the winning penalty for Italy in the final of the world cup in Berlin 2 years ago, was going to take this one. Despite Casillias going on the same side as the ball, Grosso`s curling effort was a bit to strong and high for the keeper to get upto. 1-1.

Santi Cazorla could have won the match in extra time but he was now going to put that behind him and help his side attempt to still book a place in the semi final. An almost identical penalty from his side`s first spot kick and it was 2-1. 

Daniel di Rossi up next. He shot his kick on the left and the Real Madrid keeper pulled up a wonderful save. The first non converted penalty of the shoot out and it was advantage spain. The score still 2-1, with 2 penalties taken each. 

Marcos Senna has never scored for his adopted country and he was going to take the third. He sent the ball onto the roof of the net and made it 3-1.

Camoranesi up next and he took one of the coolest penalties you will ever see at this stage. His powerful shot went to the top right conner, giving the keeper no chance. 3-2.

La Liga`s top scorer Daniel Guiza up next. His penalty went low on the right hand side but so did Buffon and a wonderful save to keep the score still at 3-2.

Spain`s advantage was gone if di Natalie scored but the Udanise man had an almost identical peanlty to that of Guiza and San Iker, as the spanish call him, pulled off yet another incredible save. 

Arsenal`s Cesc Fabregas, whos had a small part of play this tournament could send his side through if he conveted. And he did just that. After a long run up from outside the area he tucked it into the bottom right conner as Buffon went the  other way.

Spain, deserved winners of this, will go onto play Russia in the semi finals, a team they beat 4-1 at the group stage. As for Italy, their plan of frustrating their rivals and taking it to penalties worked, but they did not think things through after the 120 minute mark.