Euro 2008 SF2 LiveBlog: Spain vs Russia

SEMI-FINAL 2	June 26th, 2045 CET, Vienna (Austria)
Spain 3 VS Russia 0 Xavi 55′, Guiza 73′, Silva 82′

GAME Germany v Spain it is.

Silva gol:

Guiza gol:

UEFA is saying a foot injury for Villa. No news on any time limits, but if he’s out, both Guiza and Cesc have made a case.

89′ And for all the talk of Spain’s name in lights attack, the majority of credit goes to Spain’s defense. For a keeper of Casillas’ quality to have so little to do over two knockout games is just immense.

Guiza saved by Akinfeev 1v1. Yikes.

88′ Casillas finally hops off his Lazy Boy to make a goal saving stop. Nice header from Russia.

Xavi’s goal:

88′ Another question: So, uh, who didn’t like that Cesc for Villa sub?

Looking ahead now, who ya got? Spain has been impressive, but Germany was nearly the universal pre-tournament favorite. Quite the battle looming. A proper final.

ESPN is letting us know 5-8-6 all time against Germany. I’d like to see Germany’s record in major tournament finals, which would be more telling. Something tells me it’s pretty good.

82′ GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL Silva.

Spain v Germany it is.

80′ Russia really trying to get forward but not creating any quality chances in Spain’s final third.

One thing to remember, though. This Russia team is the youngest at the tournament. They should be an absolute powerhouse in World Cup 2010.

78′ Silva into the box, nothin’ doing.

76′ Senna foul, Russia trying to get back into the game….stifled at the top of the box. Rough foul on Iniesta. Little bit of frustration there.

74′ GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL GUIZA. What is it, El Chikichiki?

Was sent in clear on goal and Spain has 9 toes in the final.

73′ We’ve got a new report that Arshavin has been spotted playing cards in the locker room this half. So that explains it.

72′ Russia has yet to have a decent chance, really. Casillas has had to make one great save, PKs aside, in the last two games.

70′ Cesc Fabs sends in an unexpectedly nice ball, saved by Igor, who I still cannot believe is 22.

69′ Xabi for Xavi and Guiza for Torres now. Spain’s subs are done.

68′ FT tackled really well in the box by Zhirkov and Andy Gray agrees, which is just flat out astonishing. I bet he’s got his red & yellow skivvies on.

66′ Torres is having bows thrown in his face now. And Cesc is plowed from behind. Where’s the love?

65′ Pavlyuchenko offside in the 6 yard box, but not sure it was going anywhere anyway.

64′ Sychev is fouled about 5 yards outside the box and Russia gets a free kick to the left of Casillas…Zhirkov…..fired off the wall. Throw.

62′ HAB Ramos freakin’ AGAIN with a cross to Torres who attempts to finish with whatever bdy part he can but puts it wide. That was 2-0 right there.

61′ Great ball by Iniesta to a streaking Fabregas who lofts it over an out of position Akinfeev but has it headed out…….HAB Ramos again, looking like a MOTM, crosses into Fernando Torres who fires it just wide. Spain feeling their grapefruits now.

60′ Yellow card to DB already. Nice start.

First card of the game. What a civil atmosphere.

58′ Spain possessing with all those playmaking central mids. Zyryanov, whose name hasn’t been mentioned too much tonight, fouls Xavi just inside the Russian half.

Sychev on as well for Saenko. Sychev who’s got tons of talent but doesn’t always translate it to the pitch..

56′ Sub comes on. Fuck, it’s Bilyaletdinov…who will now be known as DB. I quit at 10 characters.

55′ Zhirkov is getting owned by HAB Ramos today. Don’t fuck with the Spanish Don Johnson.

53′ Cesc took a boot to the face there. Tasty leather.

52′ Russia goes right back down the other end an win a corner. Cleared well out. Spain on the attack again…..Fernando Torres fires one over the bar at the other end.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL Xavi. Brilliant run by Xavi. Iniesta’s shot was going wide but a flying Xavi spikes it past Akinfeev. That was 100% Barcelona playmaker.

48′ HAB Ramos making another run with a very nice cros headed out….Russian counter….the 1-2 is a bit strong and Iker picks it up easily.

47′ No changes. Boring start to this half thus far.

SECOND HALF KICKOFF

HALFTIME Uh, neither team has really had a clear goal scoring chance. And the sky above Vienna (or Wien) looks like armageddon is forthcoming. Nice.

45′ Long distance free kick taken easily by Akinfeev. Pavlyuchenko down the other end…Russia loses possession. You know, for all this attacking ability Spain has, they still haven’t scored in 165 minutes of regular time. Villa going off won’t help, either.

43′ Iniesta stifled well by Zhirkov, or else he was free in on goal. Akinfeev takes the cross easily.

42′ Here comes HAB Ramos again, who will now be playing as RB and ST with Villa out.

40′ The Spanish midfield will now be holding a passing clinic for the youngsters after the game. HAB Ramos takes Zhirkov off the ball.

38′ Cesc Fabs with a brilliant ball to Torres who brings it down with a nice touch but fires a weak left footer to Akinfeev. Anyone else notice how often Spain is being forced onto their weaker foot?

37′ UEFA’s take on the Villa injury: “Villa appeared to injure himself.”

Nice assessment.

36′ HAB Ramos cuts in, fires one left. I’d like to see his meters covered stat right now. He and Zhirkov are going to need O2 tanks after this one.

34′ And as we’re all weeping for Villa, Pavlyuchenko damn near puts on in at the other end. Pokes it just wide.

33′ Uh oh, David Villa is down and Cesc is coming on. Wow, what a huge loss for Spain. Can’t help but feel sorry for him.

32′ Silva with a nice ball into the box, headed out. Russian throw in down in the Spanish end.

Whoa, Cesc is getting ready. Injury?

31′ Pavluchenko makes a nice attempt on goal but it’s just a bit wide.

30′ Akinfeev’s save on David Villa earlier:

28′ Pretty rough tackle on Silva there, free kick from about 30m out….picked up easily by Akinfeev. Russian counter……..foiled by Spain….but here they come again….poor ball into the box. Damn is that Russian counter exciting.

27′ Oh Iniesta….whiffed on a ball in the box and did the hokey pokey and he turned himself about.

25′ Marchena gets frisky because Saenko held onto the ball for an extra millisecond. de Bleeckere lectures the children.

24′ HAB Ramos takes an easily savable shot from outside the box. Meh. He should stick to romance novel covers.

23′ Zhirkov wins a corner and another 3m onto his transfer fee. Russia eventually wins a throw which eventually becomes a goal kick.

21′ Semak wins a free kick….sheets of rain in Vienna today. Dangerous position on the flank…Saenko….headed down by Senna and then cleared out of danger.

20′ Arshavin tries to do a bit too much and his shot is flubbed, Spain goes onto the attack where HAB Ramos takes a throw in with his long hair.

19′ Ignashevich, who should probably win best insertion after starting on the bench in the first game, takes Torres off the ball.

17′ Play has slowed down…and just as I say that Zhirkov makes his first surging run forward. Figures. Goalkick Spain.

15′ If Andy Gray were a referee he’d give 17 penalties a game to Spain. Free kick to Russia about 25m from Iker dead center…..Pavlychenko hammers it just over the bar.

13′ Saenko down in the corner fires one of Capdevila for a Russian corner….stakes it short….lofted ball to the far post, no body there. Casillas takes the chest bump from Sergio “Hot As Balls” Ramos

11′ Villa cracks onesaved well by Akinfeev. Spain looking a bit more comfortable down in the Russian end now.

10′ First real chance for Russia but the cross is hit to a waiting and comfortable Casillas. Here comes the counter…..Pavlyuchenko…tackled by Puyol.

9′ More jabbing here but nothing comes of it, though Senna makes a run into the Russian half…..nothing comes of it, though.

8′ Russia still haven’t been able to make their way into Spain’s final third.

6′ Torres 1v1 in front of the net but it was a tough turn for FT and it’s saved easily by Akinfeev.

5′ Sergio Ramos showing no regard for health or safety and fires his head into a cross…but winds up like 2 yards short. A for effort, D- for execution.

4′ Spanish free kick just inside the half resulted in Russian possession. Kind of reminds of the first game, where Russia controlled much of the game but was lacking the quality which Spain displayed.

Spanish corner coming.

2′ Spain finally gain some possession only to give it back…Arshavin on the ball, looking to impress the Barca suits in the crowd.

1′ Russia start off with possession…little bit of feeling out the Spanish here for the first minute.

KICKOFF

Anthems are done, speeches against racism have been made, and we’re approaching gametime….

I’d just get prepared for another blackout ladies and gents, that sky looks like its ass is mighty chapped.

We’ve got a lot of lighting over the game already. Spain, I’d suggest you go inside and change. You pissed off the football gods.

Spain’s wearing their unlucky yellow. Make the semis and you grow balls the size of watermelons. Destiny seems like a lady who requires patience and nurturing. I’m not sure walking up to her and saying emphatically “I’m going to bed you tonight” is the way to go…

I’d just like to suggest that for WC2010 or Euro 2012 (wherever the hell it’s held), could we get something a bit more relevant than the Rolling Stones? This isn’t Euro 1908.

Another puzzle for ya:

The lineups have been announced, so here are the starting 22 for our last semifinal match. Spain goes with the exact side that beat Italy, and Russia brings in one of the Berezutski twins on defense, to replace Denis Kolodin:

Russia: Akinfeev, V.Berezutski, Anyukov, Ignashevich, Saenko, Semak, Zyryanov, Zhirkov, Semshov, Arshavin, Pavlyuchenko.
Subs available: Gabulov, Malafeev, Yanbaev, A.Berezutski, Adamov, Ivanov, Shirokov, Bilyaletdinov, Sychev, Bystrov.
Spain: Casillas, Marchena, Puyol, Capdevila, Sergio Ramos, Iniesta, Xavi, Senna, Silva, Villa, Torres
Subs available: Palop, Reina, Albiol, Fernando Navarro, Fabregas, Santi Cazorla, Alonso, Sergio Garcia, Guiza, Arbeloa, Juanito, De la Red.

Alright, we’re into countdown mode and you know what that means: puzzle time. These are scrambled, so you’ll have to work out the order.