Spain win shootout to reach semi-finals

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VIENNA (Reuters) - Spain beat Italy 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a highly tactical Euro 2008 clash on Sunday to set them up with a semi-final against Russia.

Cesc Fabregas coolly slotted home the decisive penalty after goalkeeper Iker Casillas had saved two of Italy's spot kicks.

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The match had ended goalless after extra time following 120 minutes in which both defences were too well-organised to break down despite the determine efforts of both strike forces.

It is the first time Spain have reached the semi-finals of a major tournament since they got to the final of the European championships in 1984.

They are the only one of the group winners to make it to the final four after Portugal, Croatia and Netherlands were knocked out of the tournament.

The match at the Ernst Happel stadium was an eagerly anticipated affair, but it developed into a cagey encounter with Spain frustrated by an Italy side who have rediscovered their defensive solidity after a shaky start to the tournament.

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As expected Spain quickly got control of the ball and midfielders Xavi and Andres Iniesta set about probing for gaps in the Italian back four, but they got little change out of centre backs Giorgio Chiellini and Christian Panucci.

David Silva managed to break through but his shot deflected off a defender and ballooned into the hands of goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, while Fernando Torres lashed over the bar after being put clear by David Villa.

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The first time Buffon was really tested came when Villa fired in a low free kick after 25 minutes, while Silva then drove two shots past the post late on in the half.

SET PIECES

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The Italian threat was largely confined to set pieces with Daniele De Rossi and Antonio Cassano searching out Luca Toni with lofted crosses into the area but the big striker never managed to get a clean header.

Italy were missing defensive midfielder Gennaro Gattuso through suspension but the inexperienced Alberto Aquilani did a fine job in helping shackle Spain's creative players.

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Spain continued to have the better of the game after the break but although they managed to get past the Italian fullbacks they were unable to threaten the goal.

Coach Luis Aragones threw Cesc Fabregas and Santi Cazorla into the mix just before the hour to try and shake things up in the midfield.

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But it was Italy substitute Mauro Camoranesi who almost gave Italy the lead moments later, his fierce close-range shot brilliantly saved by Iker Casillas with his feet after a goalmouth scramble.

Midfielder Marcos Senna almost snatched it for Spain nine minutes from time when Buffon fumbled his powerful long-range drive although the keeper was able to gather the ball after it rolled on to the post.

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But neither team could break the deadlock and it became the third quarter-final to go to extra time.

The lively Silva went close again with another crisp drive and Italy striker Antonio Di Natale forced a fine finger-tip save from Casillas soon after but with both sides refusing to take too many risks it took spot kicks to separate them.

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(Reporting by Simon Baskett, editing by Ken Ferris)

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Comment 13 - 32 of 32

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I am still convinced that's better to be of the mafia than racist.But we know what we are at least!!!What you say are just offences not criticals....green with envy!? Come down from your perfection.You know the news? You and your culture aren't!! Study a little bit of history!!
From sluna@ymail.com, on Mon 23 Jun 12:20PM
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By the reports on the games, it looks like I have not missed much!
Glad not to have wasted my time watching a load of posers.
I used to love footie but it's not the game it was.
Boring!
From Foveo's Corner, on Mon 23 Jun 12:20PM
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bit of an anticlimax watching game, also predictable re score and extra time, to be honest only 1 team deserved to win and thankfully they won viva espania.... lets hope its a great semi final, come on turkey... think the wineer will be coming from spain & russia, especially if turkey can carry on there underdog winning ways......
From sorseuk, on Mon 23 Jun 12:03PM
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Why is it that anyone who thinks they know a lot about football but actually have no clue always side with the Italians?
When the italian player who fell down for no reason realised he was off the pitch and rolled back in, that was very low and desperate even for the Italians. Sad.... very sad.
From simonefenech, on Mon 23 Jun 10:23AM
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Enhorabuena Espanya!!! Este ingles esta muy contento con la victoria espanyola y os desea mucha suerta en lo que queda del Euro 2008.
From James D, on Mon 23 Jun 10:17AM
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bien espana, italia va par casa muy bien.
From richardfernandez, on Mon 23 Jun 10:03AM
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Spain-Russia 4-1, Holland-Italy 3-0, Holland-Russia 1-3, Italy-Spain 0-0 is there any logic????? Please, could anyone of you "Football guru" explain this string of results to me, with defensive or offending theories????Thanks a lot
Ps: I feel really sorry for all of you who not having a prestigious national team just keep floating from team to team trying to be always on the winner's side!!! Just grow up and think that in life you should be able to accept defeat as well as victory, you cannot be 100% winner all the times!!!!
From marlob692000, on Mon 23 Jun 9:34AM
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Luca, did you really see the match? Two penalties were obvious (at least one). All the time Italians on the ground, stopping the game. Spain was the only team who try to win. Good luck Spain in semifinal.
From titorob7777, on Mon 23 Jun 9:23AM
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What a bunch of irrelevant sentences from people who don't understand football. Both teams were boring. However the only cheating team was Spain with two players who have been booked for falling in the penalty area! Learn a bit about football before making comments!
From Luca F, on Mon 23 Jun 8:51AM
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ITALYS CANT EVEN A SCORE A GOALS.... WHY FREE KICKS AND DIRTY DIVE.... LOOKING PENTLIES THEY ARE BABIES !!!!!!!
From hart154soul, on Mon 23 Jun 7:57AM
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While it cannot be denied that Italy have fielded some fine teams in the past, that is all history. Football is about now and the future. It is a spectator sport and relies on its fans to continue. If all games were played like this, then football will die. If players who are played obscene wages can't perform on a platform like the Euro's then do they really deserve their place in the team? Maybe their place should be given to younger players who are more hungry for success than those who simply have to turn up to get to watch their bank balances grow!!!
From JONATHAN G, on Mon 23 Jun 7:52AM
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WELL DONE GUY!!...KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK...SPAIN DESERVED TO WIN EURO 2008 THIS LUCKY TO GET IN SEMI BE BRAVE....
From hart154soul, on Mon 23 Jun 7:51AM
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can anyone remember how italy won toe 2006 world cup.let's call ziadan mother a???????????? then get him to react and have him send off.and this is called honnor.well done spain and good luck.
From ffc, on Mon 23 Jun 7:29AM
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The best team won as simple as that. Italian are boring and dull. Lets just all defend and we will win on penalties. They were wrong. Their all foulers and divers really. They also are generally very lucky in winning games.
From sahsah72, on Mon 23 Jun 6:30AM
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Italians were playing dull football,but it was their tradition. I can't belive Spain was so boring, too.
From zhangxu@ymail.com, on Mon 23 Jun 6:22AM
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as if Italy don't dive,world cup 06 vs australia
From zacharydegiovanni, on Mon 23 Jun 6:12AM
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Italy made the game a pain generally to watch..so now the pain is Italys...as a commentator said 'Italy have some great players'...would'nt it be good if they played the game as they can..even if they lost then at least they would be appreciated just as the Dutch were....well done Spain...Italy could do much better for football and the passionate Italians who love to watch the game...but not like this surely it was so boring and dissapointing..football won in the end.
From Anthony B, on Mon 23 Jun 5:53AM
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I will say this to you too kenyon YOU FOOL. In history no one will remember how teams won finals it will just say ITALY WINNERS 1934,1938,1982,2006 now remember that .When your nation can say they are the greatest european football team ever then your opinion might be worth something. Go back and watch 66 again because in your lifetime thats the only memory you will have of seeing england lifting the trophy .I was there in 06 too see the player of the tournament cannavaro lift the trophy.
From kidcamille50, on Mon 23 Jun 4:30AM
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Italy were just rubbish - finally exposed as a poor team. They may have won WC 2006 but they were not the best side in that tournament and they certainly weren't in this.
From p.kenyon971, on Mon 23 Jun 3:51AM
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Dear "Joe T" I do agree with you that defensive tactical games (Italian one) can be boring.
However, Italy did play that tactical defensive game in the past many many times (boring to Italian also) but when they were winning 1 nil at least
(I can never forget in “Italia 90” Italy winning 1 nil after scoring in the first 5 minutes and play defense for 85 minutes more … hard and very suffering for us !).
What we have seen tonight was different …
Good defense played against a very good team (Spain)…
and a not convincing attacking Italian team against a Spanish defense that
could be beaten (only if Italy played well).
So about the BBC commentators: “the Italians were playing dull defensive football”.
Why should any team play defensive football if they did not yet score a goal?
Then, what would be the point for the Italian team scoring 3 goals if Spain, meanwhile, had score 10 goals ?
About Team that “entertain the fans” remember that these teams “entertaining fans” many times do not even make it through and stay home watching the all European Cup on Tele. sitting on the sofa.
When talking about Soccer and Italy do not make confusion and think that
you’re talking about Big Brother entertainment program.
There are big difference … please inform the BBC commentators on this … would you?
From Raphael S, on Mon 23 Jun 2:14AM
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