Last Updated: 24th June 2012
XABI ALONSO’S double put an end to decades of Spanish heartache against France as the champions stormed through to face Portugal.
Related Stories
Never before had Spain beaten Les Bleus in a competitive match, losing five key matches and drawing one in the last 28 years.
They ended that hoodoo last night to set up a semi-final with neighbours Portugal.
Their slick display confounded their doubters and re-affirmed they are STILLthe team to beat as they bid for a historic treble of back-to-back tournaments.
Those stupid enough to dub Germany overwhelming favourites following their 4-2 win against Greece had surely revised their opinion within 20 minutes as Alonso headed the opener on his 100th cap for his country.
England will face Italy tonight knowing that should they go through, if Spain play like this there really is no hope for anyone else. Spain passed it better than anyone has in this tournament.
They pass it better than anyone ever has in any tournament.
The only way Spain will fail to win this tournament is if they don’t want to.
Coach Vicente del Bosque keeps starting without a striker and once again last night he selected Cesc Fabregas ahead of Fernando Torres.
Yet even with this Spain, there’s always something new to learn about the game and the limits of a professional footballer’s ability with the ball. And without.
How Andres Iniesta and Co dribble, change direction, shuffle their feet to mesmerize opponents.
The story of this match had two former Arsenal stars at its centre.Last summer Fabregas and Samir Nasri left Arsenal in search of silverware.
Fabregas won the Spanish and European Super Cups with Barcelona as well as the Club World Cup and the Spanish Cup. Nasri won the Premier League with Manchester City.
An hour before kick-off the two had a 10-minute chat.
Spare a thought for Gunners boss Arsene Wenger who was here at the Donbass Arena and would have loved to eavesdrop. But the former Arsenal pals were certainly not talking about the past.
For different reasons those two hogged all the pre-match talk. Fabregas for starting, Nasri for being dropped. No wonder they were hiding their mouths for fear of expert lip-readers on either side catching an inside view.
Les Bleus chief Laurent Blanc dropped Nasri after his bitter rift with Alou Diarra threatened to destroy the delicate harmony in the French dressing room.
A dressing-room bust-up after the loss to Sweden with several stars blaming each other for the result brought back ugly memories of the 2010 World Cup when they returned home in disgrace after a dressing room war.
Blanc switched to a 4-5-1 system, which completely failed to disrupt Spain’s passing game.
Maestro Xavi and his orchestra got into their groove and it could — and should — have all been settled after just six minutes.
Fabregas was clear but Gael Clichy brought his former Arsenal team-mate down from behind.
Italian ref Nicola Rizzoli should have pointed to the spot and dismissed Clichy. Instead he waved play on leaving Fabregas rightly disgusted. But Spain kept surging forward and taking their opponents apart before inevitably taking the lead.
Xavi released Jordi Alba and he crossed for Alonso to slam home his header. Fabregas then slotted Iniesta through but Clichy got back just in time to block.
The French showed glimpses of life around the half hour mark.
Iker Casillas brilliantly tipped over Yohan Cabaye’s free-kick. Franck Ribery swung in the corner, the Spain skipper dropped it but dived at the feet of Adil Rami to snuff out the danger.
Iniesta then was through after a one-two with Fabregas but Gunners ace Laurent Koscielny got a foot to block as another great chance went begging.
The French drew a complete Blanc in the first half.
On the hour, Ribery crossed and Newcastle target Mathieu Debuchy headed inches over in their only real chance. Hugo Lloris then dived at the feet of Fabregas to deny a killer second. Blanc brought on Nasri and Jeremy Menez with only 25 minutes left.
Fabregas gave way to striker Torres on 67 minutes and shortly after Koscielny saved France by diving in front of Torres who was ready to tap in Pedro’s cross.
Right at the death Anthony Reveillere brought down Pedro and this time Rizzoli pointed to the spot.
Alonso netted to set up a date with Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo & Co back here on Wednesday.
The way Spain performed last night, Ronaldo’s famous Euro 2004 waterworks — remember the lost the final 1-0 against Greece on home soil — are likely to be in full flow come the final whistle.
DREAM TEAM
SUN STAR MAN — XABI ALONSO (SPAIN)
SPAIN: Casillas 7, Arbeloa 7, Pique 8, Sergio Ramos 8, Jordi Alba 8, Xavi 9, Busquets 8, Alonso 9, Silva 7, Fabregas 8, Iniesta 8. SUBS: Pedro (Silva 65) 7, Torres (Fabregas 67) 7, Cazorla (Iniesta 84) 5. Booked: Ramos.
FRANCE: Lloris 7, Reveillere 6, Rami 6, Koscielny 7, Clichy 7, M’Vila 6, Debuchy 6, Cabaye 7, Malouda 6, Ribery 7, Benzema 5. SUBS: Menez (Debuchy 64) 5, Nasri (Malouda 64) 3, Giroud (M’Vila 79) 5. Booked: Cabaye, Menez.
No comments:
Post a Comment