June 10, 2008: David Villa shone in Spain’s 4-1 victory against a spirited but somewhat inexperienced Russian team when the two clashed for the opening Group D match at Innsbruck, Austria. It was a great way for the Spanish team to start their campaign for championship in Euro 2008.
The Spain vs. Russia match was characterized by quick attacks and counter-attacks. Although the final score-line can give an impression of the game being one-sided, yet nothing can be further from the truth. It took the experience of the Spanish team at higher competitive levels and the great form exhibited by David Villa to make the best of the opportunities they got at crucial moments of the game. David Villa scored the first hat trick in the championship for the last eight years, and the seventh in the history of the Euro Cup.
The Spanish team opened the scoring in the 20th minute, when Villa made the best of an opportunity set up for him by Liverpool star Fernando Torres, who foxed the Russian defense with his strength and technique. Russia came close to equalizing when a shot from Konstantin Zyryanov hit the post. Spain continued to live dangerously when another shot form Pavulchenko struck the post in the 25th minute. Minutes before the half-time, Villa kicked home his second from a concerted counter-attack involving Silva, Capdevila and Iniesta.
The Russian team started the second half with much gusto, and gaps were soon discovered in the Spanish defense. However, mistakes at significant moments hit them hard. Spain depended much on their speed and counter-attacking skill. Luis Aragones brought in a crucial replacement in the 54th minute, when Fabergas came on for Torres. It was a fair outing for Torres. He engineered Villa’s first goal, though he failed to score himself.
At the same time, Villa was unstoppable. He almost had his hat trick in the 66th minute, but was thwarted by a superb tackle from Anyukov. However, within ten minutes he found the back of the net, clinically finishing a solo run within the box, dribbling Roman Shirokov. Russia was rewarded for their persistent attack in the 86th minute, but it came a bit too late for them. Pavlyuchenko’s well-directed header from a Ayryavov corner drew some consolation. Russian joy was short lived, as Fabergas scored his first for the country in the injury time to seal the fate of the match.
Luis Aragonos, the Spanish coach, confessed that the match was much better competed than what the score-line indicated. Gus Hiddink, the Russian coach, on the other hand said his side played well but failed because of their inexperience at such high competitive levels. He blamed it on what he perceived to be his side’s ‘naiveté’.
Final Score Spain – Russia Match June 10
Spain 4 – 1 Russia
Goals Scored: 5
Teams:
Spain: Iker Casillas, Joan Capdevila, Carlos Marchena, Carles Puyol, Sergio Ramos, David Silva, Marcos Senna, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, David Villa, Fernando Torres. Substitues: Cesc Fabregas, Santi Cazorla, Xabi Alonso.
Russia: Igor Akinfeev, Denis Kolodin, Sergei Semak, Roman Shrokov, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, Konstantin Zyryanov, Yuri Zhirkov, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Igor Semshov, Dmitri Sychev, Aleksandr Anyukov. Substitutes: Vladimir Bystrov, Dmitri Torbinski, Roman Adamov.
