Euro 2008 Semifinal Preview: Spain v Russia

Neither of these teams were supposed to be here. Spain because of their history and Russia partly because of the history they don’t have. But both are more than deserving of their spot in the semifinals and though it’s essentially a rematch of their group encounter, won 4-1 by Spain, it’s really anything but.

The scoreline of the opening game flattered Spain greatly, as Russia really pushed the game at times and the three goals (plus Cesc’s offside goal) were a result of clinical finishing against a shaky back line. Russia has since gone through a minor overhaul, both in the back and elsewhere, and steadied their weak knees. Of course, part of that overhaul included their best player returning from injury, Andrei Arshavin. Now, if you haven’t been paying attention the last two games, you may want to now, because he may set the record for highest increase of a transfer fee over the course of a tournament. His attacking skills are lethal and the weakened Russian attack is now more than formidable with a newly less chunky Roman Pavlyuchenko enjoying his time with Andrei. They’re young, they’re fast, they’re skilled and they’re just really damn good.

On the other hand, everyone knows about Spain’s attack already. (Particularly those on the hunt for David Villa’s signature.) An attack which was stifled and negated in the quarterfinals, and don’t think the master, Guus Hiddink, wasn’t watching. Actually, Aragones can only be worried about going from game-planning against one of the worst coaches in the tournament to arguably the best. Great coaches read and react well, taking lessons from losses and turning disappointment into glory. Most coaches the caliber of Hiddink don’t mess up a chance at redemption, so Spain has a great deal of work to do, and will be ushered hastily out of the tournament if they think the first game was any kind of indicator. (And might we not recommend betting on another Villa hat trick?)

However, Spain does have that gorilla of its back and perhaps the lost pressure will allow them to settle down and simply fulfill their potential, something they haven’t done in a tournament in a long, long time. Or, they could crumble once again under a false sense of security, which could only be disastrous for the long term mentality of anyone who puts on the La Furia Roja kit. This will perhaps be the most interesting aspect of Spain’s game going in. How will they respond to having the weight of the world lifted off their backs?

Funny, because this game is being billed as a game of speed and fire between two dynamic attacking teams, yet it could turn out to be a battle of mental strength and wits. Have to love tournament time.

Unlike yesterday’s game, guys aren’t being plucked out of the crowd to fill the bench for either team. There are a few, but the key players seem ready to go and that’s the most important part. A quick breakdown of potential absentees:

Spain: Marco Senna is questionable but training. For some reason, guys who are “iffy” before a big game always seem to show up. Doubt this one will be any different.

Russia: Denis Kolodin and that jackhammer of a left foot are suspended, as well as Dmitri Torbinski, he of late game Dutch heroics. Neither are irreplaceable, but Kolodin’s spot will be key because that back line was shaky against Spain the first time around and his partnership with Sergei ignashevich seems to have righted the ship.

Also questionable is Ivan Saenko with a bruised knee.

Schedules

Spain
10/06/2008 - Russia 4 - 1
14/06/2008 - Sweden 2 - 1
18/06/2008 - Greece 2 - 1
22/06/2008 - Italy 0 - 0*

Russia
10/06/2008 - Spain 1 - 4
14/06/2008 - Greece 1 - 0
18/06/2008 - Sweden 2 - 0
21/06/2008 - Netherlands 3 - 1

Referee
Frank De Bleeckere (BEL)

Squads

Spain squad

Russia squad

Gear

Buy Spain team gear here.

Buy Russia team gear here.

Team Blogs

Cesar, Elisa and Ryan at the Spain Blog.

Nick at the Russian Blog.

Liveblog

Follow the Spain vs Russia LiveBlog here.

Bet on Euro 2008