Russia vs. Spain -- Semi Final 2
I'd be very concerned if I were Aragones. The Russians are peaking at exactly the right time and extremely fit. The Spanish picked the lock of the Russian defense four times in the group stage, but since then, they've conceded only one in three games.
The Spanish did go the distance to get by the Italians, which demonstrates unbeforeseen resolve, and they do have Villa, Torres, and the mighty, mighty Fabregas.
This should be a cracker.
posted by gooner71 @ 8:06 AM
80 Comments:
Surely a cracker this - I pray as I type this 3 hours before kickoff and skipping on work to go see this...
I fancy Russia - they are uber fit, have had a day's more rest and Spain are chokers.
Good shout, Simon. I'm plumping for Spain, but I wouldn't be shocked with a Russian win. I just saw Russia's #1 Maria Sharapova knocked out in a major Wimbledon upset, while Spain's Rafael Nadal breezed through his second round tie earlier. An omen...?
Poor Maria. I'm here if she needs some shoulder to cry on.
I'm sure you are!
Here are the sides for today's match:
Russia: Akinfeev, Aniukov, Vasili Berezutsky, Ignashevich, Zhirkov, Semak, Zyryanov, Semshov, Saenko, Pavluchenko, Arshavin
Subs: Gabulov, Malafeev, Yanbaev, Alexei Berezutsky, Adamov, Ivanov, Shirokov, Bilyaletdinov, Sychev, Bystrov
Spain: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Marchena, Puyol, Capdevila, Iniesta, Xavi, Senna, Silva, Villa, Torres
Subs: Palop, Reina, Albiol, Fernando Navarro, Fabregas, Santi Cazorla, Alonso, Sergio Garcia, Guiza, Arbeloa, Juanito, De la Red
Referee: Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium)
Cesc Fabregas must wonder what he has to do to get into this side. He scored the fourth goal against Russia in the first match. And he converted the crucial winning penalty against Italy last time out. Surely it's time to consign Senna to the graveyard of holding midfielders and go with a more attacking approach.
Spain are in their "unlucky" yellow away kit for today's match.
And we're off....
Let's hope for an early goal to open things up!
That was nice. A long ball out finds Xavi, who feeds Torres. Torres needs two bites at the cherry, but he finally gets his shot off at close range and it's saved by the legs of Akinfeev.
Spain have certainly started the better of the two sides.
Villa takes a pop from forty yards and makes Akinfeev work.
Hey, I am here guys after 15 minutes.
Why are Spain not wearing red. Strange
Arshavin wins a free kick from Puyol. It's their first real chance of the match...
Pavlyuchenko fizzes it just over the bar.
Welcome, Dave!
I suppose that they lost the coin toss and Russia got to wear the red.
Torres really hasn't looked himself in this tournament. It's got to be the way that Aragones has him playing.
They are the group winners!
I know it is nitpicking but I would be annoyed if it was United
I've got half an eye on Andy Roddick's match. It's a squeaker. In the fourth set - at tiebreak.
Boy it is bucketing down!!
The Beeb says that if the game was postponed, it would be played tomorrow.
I'm not sure that that's how they do those things. The stupid thing is that Aragones came out publicly and said that he thought yellow was unlucky. What an old tosspot. I'll be glad to see him shuffle off to the obscurity of Turkish football next year.
He could lose the match with that set
That would be okay by me - I've got nothing on tomorrow afternoon. You?
Roddick lost!!!!
Nope, nothing in the afternoon.
Only a breakfast to go to in the morning and then 60 days off, nothing to do
He has lost it! #6 seed and he's out. More bad news for U.S. tennis. James Blake also went out this morning. Lots of top seeds falling by the wayside.
Lovely jubbly!
Are there any Americans left?
What is with the weather in these two countries??? The weather has been atrocious.
I think that you're right. It's rained every day of this tournament. Meanwhile, London has had four straight days of hot, sunny weather.
Iniesta takes a swing and a miss!!!
I think that all the U.S. men are gone. There are of course the Williams sisters and Lindsay Davenport on the women's side.
Iniesta has been rubbish in the past two matches. Where's Cesc?
That should have been a yellow.
It is tipping down but they didn't call off that earlier match with Switzerland and Turkey when there were big boggy areas of the pitch.
Wimbledon is one more advertisement for the use of technology in sports. I love how they've started to use the "Three Challenges" system. The argument against has always been that it would slow down the match but it doesn't seem to. And the crowd gets into it as well. When they show the replay, the crowd in the stadium goes "Woooooooo!"
Great shot by Pav
The keeper touched that
That was close from Pavlyuchenko. Hit the stanchion.
Way hay, Fab's up off the bench!
Let's hope it's Senna coming off. I hate that dude.
I agree.
The scoreboards at Wimbledon have changed this year. They are actually screens. Replays can be shown.
Next year, the Centre Court will have a roof!!
David Villa looks to be coming off.
Out of the Final?
Pav should have been in there
Big blow for Spain - Villa off and now Cesc is coming on. Did he crock himself at a free kick?
Arshavin nearly got in there.
Cristiano Ronaldo has telephoned Manchester United to say ‘I’ll be back’,
It's odd that Aragones went with Fabregas rather than Guiza, the obvious like for like replacement.
I suspect that that was a crank phone call.
Great control by Torres
Good stuff from Torres there, but his shot was weak at the end.
I hate this weak foot garbage!! I can use both feet, why can't a professional???
Torres seems to be out of sorts. He seems to not know where the ball is
Into a single minute of stoppage time
Half-time: 0-0.
Well, this hasn't been quite the match we'd hoped for yet. Let's hope it explodes into life in the second half.
Half time
Nothing like yesterday's game.
A lot of these games are completely different than what you expect.
Second half starting...no changes yet. Not surprising, that. Both coaches will be anticipating extra time at this point.
GOAL! Iniesta with a cross-shot and Xavi finishes it off with one in off the shin. I agree with Andy - it's a bit lucky but we needed a goal.
Spain 1-0!
How will the Russians respond now.
Torres should have tested the keeper with that chance. Instead of bending it, he should have hit it with his "weaker" left foot.
Just got back from picking up the boys.
I missed a goal
Yes, you did. It was good if a bit jammy. A Ricky Roberts cross-shot shinned in by Xavi.
I just looked at it. I don't think it was off his shin. I thought it was a good finish. The cross was lucky but not the finish
I agree with Andy - Arshavin and Pav have been anonymous tonight.
What a great pass that was
Torres tries to chest it in!!!
Another decent chance for Fernando. Why didn't he just tap that in?
Hiddink's not happy. How exactly do you say "Get off your arses!" in Dutch...or Russian?
Zhirkov with a chance from a free kick...
Straight into the wall.
Torres coming off again!
Alright, that was a better finish than I'd recently thought.
Two changes from Aragones....
Torres off again and Guiza on. The goalscorer Xavi is off as well.
I don't understand using all your subs when you're 1-0 up with twenty minutes to go. What if Russia score and it goes to extra time and penalties. He's got Villa, Torres and Xavi all off - they'd have probably all have taken penalties since they did last time. Guiza is on and he missed his last time! Madness!
Viva Espana
GOAL! Supersub Danny Guiza scores. Was he offside. I'd like to see it again. It was a nice interchange that played him through and then a neat little finish over the keeper.
He looked slightly off to me, just a shoulder but benefit of the doubt went to him and I'm fine with that.
2-0 Spain.
Very close
This is a really odd performance from the Russians after their brilliance against the Dutch. Van Basten must be wondering at home why Guus Hiddink's side didn't play like this in the quarterfinals. Spain have brought everything today but the Russians just simply didn't show up.
Three nil
Fab has been Fab
GOAL! Spain 3-0!
Marvelous counterattacking play. Iniesta lobbed one forward for Fabregas, who picked out Silva in the box and he slotted into the left side of the goal.
Shut that bloody music up!
Yes, surely Cesc has earned a place in the final now.
I am off to pick up my third kid and then off to work and then to the dance after promotion.
Great to talk to you.
Now for the Final
Let's hope Tony has Germany or Spain in his envelope.
Cheers
Dave
Full-time: Spain 3-0.
A comprehensive hammering by the Spanish. That sets up the final that most of us wanted to see in the end. Looking forward to it.
Loved this result. I think this sets up a better final than if the Russians had got there.
Davey, I confess, it was me that called Old Trafford. I found Ferguson's mobile number and pranked him. "I'll beee back, Senor Boss. No problem. My mum likes rain and grey skies, not sunshine and paella."
You can give him a call too. I'll give you his number.
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