Euro 2008: Spain repeat Russia demolition

As the elements threw themselves ceaselessly at the Ernst Happel Stadium last night, Russia discovered to their horror that Spanish lightning does strike twice. Russia's tournament ended as it began, with a three-goal margin of defeat to Luis Aragones' skilled technicians.

Conjuring up some of the magnificent passing moves that had spiced their 4-1 Innsbruck trouncing of Russia on June 10, Spain particularly impressed here by parading the range of their goalscorers in progressing to their first final since 1984.

Russia, clearly invigorated by Guus Hiddink, will come again in the future – they possess too many good, hungry players not to – but for now the moment belongs to Spain, deservedly so, because they have been a joy to watch at Euro 2008. Their fans are a delight, too, a mass of swaying red and yellow.

Sunday’s collision with Germany promises to be a meeting between genuine heavyweights, a broadcaster’s dream, a head-to-head duel between two of the best full-backs in the world, Sergio Ramos and Philipp Lahm, and the prospect of Michael Ballack trying to elude Marcos Senna.

Spain possess comfortably the better goalkeeper in Iker Casillas, whose fingertip save from Roman Pavlyuchenko was one of the stops of the tournament. At 0-0, it was also hugely important.

Fernando Torres seeking to get the better of Germany’s keeper, Jens Lehmann, will be a sight familiar to English audiences, but the climax of this wonderful tournament will also remind viewers on the Scept’red Isle of the depth and breadth of quality outside the Premier League.

Cesc Fabregas, the art and soul of Arsenal’s midfield, cannot even get a place in Aragones’ starting XI. No wonder. When Andres Iniesta and Xavi are in this dynamic form and Senna is anchoring so assiduously, it is no surprise.

Iniesta passed and moved, often nicking the ball and disappearing upfield before his Russian opponent even realised. Spain’s No?6 made Xavi’s goal five minutes after the break, albeit inadvertently, and the life drained from Russian hearts and legs.

Fabregas again accelerated Spain’s impetus from midfield when arriving from the bench, but the balance of Aragones’ midfield does benefit from the blend of Senna’s tackling, the Barcelona understanding of Iniesta and Xavi and David Silva’s quicksilver movement forward.

The decision may be made for Aragones if David Villa fails to recover from the muscle injury that allowed Fabregas to began displaying his gifts after 34 minutes. Fabregas was outstanding, delivering the perfect passes for Daniel Guiza and Silva to put Russia completely to the sword. Guiza’s matador celebration spoke of Spanish ruthlessness with a flourish.

Such was the speed of Spanish movement, Russia’s midfielders and defenders might just as well have sat in the stand for all their ability to intervene. After a goalless first half, Spain’s football was of an elevated class that England can only dream of, the ball caressed at speed between friendly feet, the touch as instant as the vision was inspired.

Russia, so vibrant since that Innsbruck rout, were simply outplayed again, with Andrei Arshavin a particular disappointment. The Zenit St Petersburg attacker simply could not escape from the net Senna threw across the area in front of Spain’s defence.

Even before Spain conjured up some exquisite second-half goals, the day had brought many remarkable sights and sounds, first with a Russian woman spending €200,000 on jewellery in Vienna city centre and then Michel Platini threatening meltdown in the Premier League fixture computer by suggesting Euro 2012 starts in August.

Oligarch partners and Uefa dignitaries then entered the storm-lashed Ernst Happel Stadium on a day when even Harry Lime would have stayed at home. If the Russian contingent were disappointed, there was much to admire for neutrals, Uefa bigwigs and Spain’s terrific supporters.

Iniesta was named man of the match, but it could easily have been Ramos, who kept charging up and down the right, showing as much naked ambition as the 200 Russian fans who ripped off their shirts and stood there in the teeming rain, willing Mother Nature to do her worst.