Aragonés's Spain scratch 24-year itch

Luis Aragonés warned before the start of UEFA EURO 2008™ that Spain lacked just two things if they wanted to become champions – how to manage a game and that elusive stroke of luck. There is no greater test of managing a knockout match in modern football than outplaying world champions Italy and then winning on penalties. Here in Austria/Switzerland, Spain have both matured and helped themselves to slices of good fortune – semi-final opponents Russia hit the post while dominating the start of the teams' first group game, then Iker Casillas outdid Giuanluigi Buffon in the Vienna shoot-out with Italy. They needed no luck against Russia on Thursday, though.

Route to the final
The section opener against Russia saw Spain survive a torrid first 20 minutes before prevailing 4-1 with David Villa scoring three goals and laying on a fourth. Four days later, Spain briefly led Sweden thanks to a training-ground corner routine and a muscular Fernando Torres finish but Zlatan Ibrahimović equalised before Villa won the game in the last seconds. La Furia Roja had won Group D and Aragonés successfully rested ten of his starting XI against Greece, as his side claimed a 2-1 comeback victory earned by Rubén de la Red and Daniel Güiza.

The quarter-final against Italy was goalless and although Gianluigi Buffon saved from Güiza in the shoot-out decider, Casillas had already denied Daniele De Rossi and then blocked Antonio Di Natale's effort. It was the cue for Cesc Fàbregas to step up and send his side through, 4-2 on penalties. Fàbregas was also central to Spain's triumph against Russia in the last four after coming on for the injured Villa ten minutes before half-time. After Xavi Hernández had broken the deadlock, the Arsenal FC man set up further goals for Güiza and David Silva.

Final record
Spain lifted the Henri Delaunay trophy in 1964 when they beat reigning champions USSR 2-1 in Madrid, with Marcelino scoring the decisive goal six minutes from time. Twenty years later they lost the 1984 final to hosts France, succumbing to goals from Michel Platini and Bruno Bellone at the Parc des Princes.
• 1964 USSR W 2-1
• 1984 France L 2-0

Pivotal moment
Unquestionably Casillas saving from De Rossi and Di Natale in the quarter-final shoot-out on 22 June, the very day on which Spain had fallen on penalties to Belgium at the 1986 FIFA World Cup, to England at EURO '96™ and to Korea Republic at the 2002 World Cup.

Key player
Until he suffered his thigh injury it was Villa but in the striker's absence it may be Casillas. The Spain captain's heroics against the Azzurri have been much documented but he has been consistently brilliant throughout the tournament. Had he not go his fingertips to Roman Pavlyuchenko's arcing shot on Thursday with the scores still goalless, the match may have panned out very differently. If Casillas has any weakness it is perhaps when up against an aerial threat, so his handling of Miroslav Klose may be crucial.

Tactics
Against Sweden, Italy and the two games with Russia, both the 4-1-3-2 shape and the personnel were identical. That changed in the semi-finals when Villa was forced off and Aragonés brought on Fàbregas as his side switched to a 4-1-3-1-1 formation. From then on Spain were almost unplayable, with Russia coach Guus Hiddink admitting: "We could handle Torres and Villa in the first half OK, but with the change taking a striker off and a midfielder coming on, they gained more ability." Andrés Iniesta sometimes switches wings, from right to left, without Silva crossing to the right. 

Shoot-out record
Three wins from six. As mentioned, all the defeats came in 22 June quarter-finals, against Belgium, England and Korea Republic. The last of those followed a last-16 penalties triumph over the Republic of Ireland, which was Spain's first such victory since the 1984 semi-final against Denmark. The Italy win thus improved their UEFA European Championship shoot-out record to 2-1. Ominously, Carles Puyol, Carlos Marchena, Joan Capdevila and Xavi were in the Spain team that lost the 2000 Olympic final 5-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw with Cameroon in Sydney.

Route to UEFA EURO 2008™
Spain had ended 2006 as a team in crisis, a shock 3-2 defeat against Northern Ireland and a 2-0 loss in Sweden leaving them with just three points from their first three Group F games. Results improved in 2007, however, with a 1-1 draw against Iceland in Reykjavik the only blip during a run of eight wins in nine. Indeed, a 1-0 win against Northern Ireland in their last qualifier secured top spot in the section, but Luis Aragonés said: "Spain have been qualifying for tournaments for many years so this isn't a success but simply doing our duty."

Quotes
•"We have a tremendous gift for football." Casillas betrays a new-found confidence.

• "I've seen him have better games." Villa's father after the striker ran the show in the first game with Russia, having a hand in all four goals.

• "It was the first time I've taken a competitive penalty since I was 15." Fàbregas admits that his last spot-kick victim, before putting one past Gianluigi Buffon, was a schoolboy.

• "I've known the King since he was just a prince – I even asked if he could sort out a wage pay." Aragonés on a royal presence in the dressing room after the defeat of Italy.

What the papers said
• "Look out Germany, we are a machine." Free paper Qué issues a warning.

• "This team isn't the ugly duckling anymore, the eternal losers in Spanish sport." AS, the Madrid sports daily, growing in confidence after progress to the final.

• "Iker the Spanish barrier." El País lauds the last-eight hero.

• "Iker changes history." Marca notes that it was 22 June but Spain won on penalties in a quarter-final.

• "End of our quarter-final jinx." La Vanguardia leads a collective sigh of relief after beating Italy.