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Euro 2008: Russia vs. Spain (Matchday)

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Good afternoon folks. Apologies for the delay in getting this post up but it’s been a busy day.

Today marks the semifinal we’ve all been waiting for. Spain vs. Russia. Andrei Arshavin vs. Marcos Senna, Roman Pavlyuchenko vs. Carlos Puyol, Guus Hiddink vs. Luis Aragones.

There should be plenty of drama and plenty of skill in what should be a much better match-up than the first meeting between these teams in group play.

If you will be watching the action, or if you just need a place to follow along, please feel free to check in here and provide your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the match.

Comments

  1. I have no idea where all this German love is coming from, especially the infatuation with their style of play. Maybe you like the fact that they just get the job done (which they definitely deserve credit for), but in all honesty they got seriously outplayed by Turkey on Wednesday. Where was Ballack? Ugur Boral and Kazim Kazim were running rampant in the first half. Everyone remembers Lahm’s great finish but do they remember him getting skinned by Sabri? What on earth were Metzelder and Mertesacker doing all game? They looked completely lost whenever balls were floated into the area. The Germans won because an opportunistic Klose capitalized on a Rustu blunder (apparently he didn’t want Lehmann to outdo him in that department) and because Schweinsteiger was all over the pitch and produced a wonderful finish from the Podolski cross.

    Meanwhile, the Spanish defense looks as solid as ever (Sergio Ramos has been much better the last two matches than he was in the group stages, and Puyol was a rock against Russia). Senna marked Arshavin into oblivion – let’s see if he can do the same thing to Ballack (who got Mehmet Aurelio’ed out of the semifinal). And Xavi/Silva/Cesc/Iniesta were absolutely brilliant on Thursday. If those four can perform the same way against Germany on Sunday, you can kiss goodbye to the Spanish curse.

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  2. “Thom” (at 4:57) obviously has no clue about football, yet later boasts about “being smart enough…”. Pathetic, really.

    Spain played a smart match and a cracking 2nd half with top attacking as well as defending. The goals were very good, the second one a sublime effort from the very top drawer (Fabregas!).

    The final is 50-50. Spain has better players, but Germany are sometimes capable of raising their game for big occasions. And they have 4 instead of 3 days to prepare. I certainly will be cheering for Spain.

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  3. Spain in final… what a shame. such a poor playing team arrived there, when many others deserved it better…

    the uefa should find a solution where only good playing teams go aehad, despite the results.

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  4. DeLarge – I completely agree you except for one thing that could prevent Gemany from winning:

    Jens Lehmann – he is the x factor that could let Spain win because he is train wreck looking for a place to happen.

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  5. As much as Spain looked great out there, the Germans will close up that space in the middle, and Lahm will clamp down on Sergio Ramos.

    It will be a tight game, but the Germans will outmuscle the Spanish. I just don’t see it any other way.

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  6. Oh by the way….what the hell was wrong with Russia tonight? The played with the energy and effort of an over 50 pub team after a night of hard drinking. They simply played with no joy or passion whatsoever. I guessed they watched Turkey yesterday and Gus said,” ok boys, our game plan is to do the exact opposite”.

    As for my comments above…as much as I hate their style I am smart enough to know Spain is the best collection of talent at this Euro by far.

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  7. Spain deserved to win on the night. Russia, outside of a few isolated moments, did nothing the whole night. Sergio Ramos, who was my MotM, added thrust to the attack on the right, and completely shut down the left flank for Russia. Arshavin was invisible, and Zhirkov, who I thought would have a big match, was completely locked down.

    Still, Spain squandered a lot of chances in and around the area, and have shown a lack of finishing in the last couple of games, despite the 3 goals tonight. They will face a much stiffer test in the Germans, and I expect the Germans to take the trophy (then again, I expected the Russians to beat Spain, and the Italians).

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  8. Is Barry Bonds in Switzerland/Austria…cause if not, why is Pedro Gomez there for ESPN??

    Great game from Spain today. Germany is in trouble

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  9. I know everyone gets a woody for technically beautiful football but today’s game is a perfect example of why I will, as a viewer, take a fast, powerful,slightly less technical EPL type match over techinically perfect football any day vs., for example, the spanish natonal side. It is bores me to tears. No wonder Torres looks bad at the Euros- his style is much more suited to the Germans or any top EPL club and so is my viewing prefrence.

    I hope Germany runs at them hard for 90 because unless Senna, Spains best player beside Castillas in my opinion, dominates midfield possesion and closes all passing lanes Spain will be crying on Sunday like so many times before.

    tap tap tap—poof tap tap tap—poof

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  10. I don’t know if I’m more disappointed by Arshavin or Hiddink’s game plan, but they were both way too subdued.

    Fabregas must start in the final, which will be a monster. Hope Villa is ok, especially with Torres delivering a Chad Barrett-like performance.

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  11. So , is anyone surprised by this result? i thought Russia would at least get one goal…wasn’t expecting it to be close at all though..sounds like a good final.Spain vs Germany…good stuff….

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  12. 92nd minute- Russia with 1 chance left, and a short spell of posession end with Sychev pushing a shot wide.

    And moments later, there’s the whistle!

    FULL TIME

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  13. 88th minute- Ramos concedes a free kick on the right, wich Russia played short, and leading to a header from close range that Casillas does well to save!

    Very poor making by Spain, who won’t want that to happen against the Germans.

    Spain nearly score on the break, but the keeper comes out to stop the shot!

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  14. MM challenges the gods, and they nearly deliver a Russian strike off a header, but Casillas has too much pride to give up a cheapie.

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  15. Russia burned on the counter again. A long ball was played into Fabregas, who slid the ball along to Silva who was streaking in the center of the penalty area, and he put away the chance!!!

    3-0 Spain!

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  16. I guess you hire Gus Hiddink to get you to the semi-finals, but it looks like his current team is crapping out there again.

    Where was the team that had to out-attack Holland to survive?

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  17. 78th minute- Iniesta hits a long ball on the ground to Guiza, which was knocked out by a defender for a corner, but nothing came of it.

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  18. 77th minute- Arshavin attempted to play a through ball, but was intercepted. Arshavin has been almost invisible tonight.

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  19. Fabregas with a sweet, sweet one touch to loop the ball into the box. Maybe he saw David Silva, maybe Guiza, but Silva is crowded out by the defender but Guiza beats his man to the ball and hits a deft lob over the keeper.

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  20. Brilliant counterattack from Spain. Ramos feeds it to Fabregas, who flips a ball at the top of the area to Guiza, who slipped behind the defense, chested down the ball, then turned and finished!!

    Beautiful play, 2-0 Spain!

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  21. 71st minute- Russia needs to start working from the right, as they’ve gotten nothing from the left flank all game.

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  22. 71st – As subs walk onto the pitch, Cesc tries to steal a goal with a blistering effort touched over for a corner. They take it short and Alonzo takes a whack.

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  23. 70th minute- Fabregas hits a shot from distance, and the Russian keeper is forced to make a sprawling save at the top of the net.

    Alonso hits a shot from distance moments later which tyhe keeper punches away.

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  24. 68th minute- Torres was making a run into the penalty area, and Zhirkov made a stop that saved Russia! Brilliant tackle by Zhirkov.

    Guiza and Xabi Alonso for Torres and Xavi.

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  25. 64th minute- Sychev gets a ball played into him, and was taken down for a free kick in a good position, left of center and about 10 yards from the penalty area. Zhirkov took it but hit it into the wall.

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