Spain makes Euro 2008 final on 3-0 victory over Russia

VIENNA, June 26, 2008 (Xinhua) -- Spain's Carlos Marchena (R) vies with Russia's Roman Pavlyuchenko during the semifinal match at the Euro 2008 Championships in Vienna, Austria, on June 26, 2008. (Photo credit: Wu Xiaoling/Xinhua)Fabregas, however, came out the most important player on the pitch for Spain's victory over the rapid Russians.

A lovely move launched by the Arsenal playmaker, just 21 years old, short into the second half saw Spain thread it from Xavi to Torres to Iniesta, who looked up before playing it into Xavi's path against the error-committing Russian midfielder.

Twenty-three minutes later, Guiza chested the ball down after a superb one-two with Fabregas, who cleverly dunked it over Ignashevich, and slotted it over Akinfeev and into the back of the net.

Silva then scored another superb goal at the 82nd minute. After a succession of passes, Iniesta scooped a lovely ball towards Fabregas on the left and the latter slid an eye-of-a-needle pass to Silva, who side-footed home brilliantly.

The Spaniards, however, didn't occupy any advantage on ball possession until 19 minutes into the second half, as the youngster-packed Russia fought bravely and patiently to play on a nailbiting first half.

With both sides trying to make thorough possession on ball, the free-flowing attacking football that many had hoped for had yet to materialize before break, with both defenses tightly marking the creative players and strikers on each side.

Roman Pavlyuchenko could have become the only player to score in three consecutive matches at the tournament as the Spartak Moscow striker's free kick from central edge of the box on 16 minutes just went a slim high over the bar.

Again Pavlyuchenko missed the best chances of Russia twice in three minutes with a quarter left before the interval, overcooking a shot in the 31st minute before kicking wide an opportunist pass after Russia free kick from just inside the halfway line landed a this feet.

The Russians have made history after knocking out the Netherlands 3-1 to make it to the semifinals.