Euro 2008: Spain make storming start as David Villa scores a hat-trick against Russia
Spain (2) 4 Russia (0) 1
The moody microclimate in this beautiful Tyrolean valley reverberated with thunder and rain and Spain provided the lightning strikes. In weather better suited to Siberians than Iberians, Spain still made light of the inclement conditions to exploit Russian naivety with a series of wonderful counter-attacking raids, three of which were finished off by the terrific David Villa.
Arsene Wenger picked the wrong day to bemoan the quality of Euro 2008. After Roman Pavlyuchenko showed what could be achieved by pressuring Carles Puyol and his fellow defenders, one of Wenger’s Arsenal glitterati, Cesc Fabregas, restored Spain’s three-goal lead with a simple header.
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So Russia, the team who deservedly pipped England to the second Euro 2008 ticket from qualifying Group E, were soundly thrashed and one dreaded to think what damage Spain would have inflicted on England. Technically and tactically, Luis Aragones’ men were magnificent.
Spain often manage one eye-catching display in a tournament, and they will surely not encounter defenders as poor as Denis Kolodin, yet if they maintain this level of performance they may be set for a longer stay than usual. As well as Villa, who can now expect to be linked with every wealthy Premier League club again, Spain boasted individuals like Fernando Torres and particularly the Barcelona pair of Xavi and Andres Iniesta. All excelled. Valencia’s David Silva also impressed on the left.
Wenger’s comments earlier in the day that players at Euro 2008 lacked sparkle and stamina hardly fitted in with Spain’s performance here in Innsbruck, let alone the fireworks launched into the Berne night-sky by Holland. Moving the ball quickly over a surface slickened by a torrential downpour, the Spaniards seemed to be playing football at ice hockey pace and accuracy.
The lesson in the art and craft of possession began after 24 minutes. When Torres ran at Kolodin, the Dinamo Moscow centre-half went into meltdown, surrendering the ball. Russia’s defence lay in shreds.
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