Casillas the hero as Spain wins shootout

Spain will face Russia in the Euro 2008 semi-finals after defeating world champions Italy 4-2 on penalties after a 0-0 draw in Vienna tonight.

After a dreadful 120 minutes of few chances, Iker Casillas was Spain's hero, saving spot-kicks from Daniele De Rossi and Antonio Di Natale, before Cesc Fabregas sent Buffon the wrong way, clinching a deserved victory for Spain.

It appeared as though the Italians were prepared to play for penalties throughout much of the game, as they continually sat back and rarely ventured forward in search of a goal. Meanwhile, the Spaniards pushed and probed around the Italian penalty area, but were often crowded out by Italian defenders, creating a lacklustre game.

Despite creating little themselves, the Spaniards certainly were value for their win, and many purists will describe Spain's triumph as a win for football, such was Italy's negativity. Spain also went some way to rectifying their terrible penalty-shootout record, against a side that has a better history than most in the feared shootout.

Spanish manager Luis Aragones started the same XI that defeated Russia and Sweden, whilst his Italian counterpart drafted in Alberto Aquilani and Massimo Ambrosini in place of suspended Milan pair Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso.

Pirlo's absence was extremely noticeable, as the four central midfielders selected by Donadoni all lacked the craft and guile required to feed the isolated Luca Toni, and only later in the game when Mauro Camoranesi and Antonio Di Natale were brought on did Italy look like finding a goal.

From the kick-off, Spain dominated the lion's share of possession, but were limited to shots from distance as the Italians camped on their own penalty area. David Silva showed a constant proclivity for cutting in from the right flank onto his favoured left foot, but his subsequent shots failed to adequately test Gianluigi Buffon.

Euro 2008 top goalscorer David Villa had Spain's best chance of the first half, but his drilled free-kick from the edge of the box was comfortably dived on by Buffon.

For the Italians, only Simone Perrotta managed a shot on target, as he met Ambrosini's early cross, but he failed to get enough purchase on his header and Casillas claimed safely.

Toni was the target of many long balls from midfield, but despite possessing a distinct height advantage over Spain's central defenders Carlos Marchena and Carles Puyol, he failed to meaningfully impose himself on the game, and was often crowded out as a result.

The second half brought more of the same, with again Spain's midfield passing around looking for the elusive opening. Fernando Torres nearly created the chance after shrugging off Christian Panucci on the left, but his square ball was cut out by Giorgio Chiellini with Villa ready to pounce.

However, as is so often the case, Italy manufactured the best chance of the match on the hour, and only Casillas' leg kept Italy from surging ahead. After Toni made a nuisance of himself following another long ball, a goalmouth scramble ensued, and substitute Camoranesi's subsequent effort was blocked by Casillas despite appearing to be wrong-footed.

Sensing Spain's problems, Aragones replaced Barcelona pair Xavi and Andres Iniesta with Fabregas and Santi Cazorla, and the introduction of Fabregas proved inspired as Spain immediately became more creative in attack.

Nevertheless, clear opportunities were still few and far between, but Spain nearly broke the deadlock from a rare Buffon error.

Moments after Buffon had punched clear a dangerous free kick from Marcos Senna, Senna tried his luck again from distance, and despite seemingly travelling straight at Buffon, the ball squirmed from his grasp, but Buffon gratefully dived on the ball after it rolled back off the post.

Italy then raced up the other end on the break and almost fashioned a winner, but an inviting ball from Di Natale was wasted by Toni, despite Grosso charging onto the ball in a better position.

With no goal to separate the sides, the game went into extra-time, and Silva again shot wide from the edge of the area moments after the restart.

But as was the case in normal time, Italy had the best chance to win it in extra-time as well. Only seconds after Marchena had nicked the ball away from Toni after Grosso's dangerous cross, Zambrotta's cross from the right was met by Di Natale, but Casillas expertly tipped his header over the bar.

Both teams half-heartedly searched for a winning goal, but the game seemed destined for penalties throughout much of the extra-time period, and such was the outcome.

After Villa, Grosso and Cazorla all scored, Casillas pulled off a miraculous save to his right to keep out De Rossi's effort. After Senna and Camoranesi converted, things nearly went pear-shaped for Spain as Buffon saved the substitute Dani Guiza's shot. But Casillas wouldn't be denied, as he claimed Di Natale's penalty low to his left. It was then left to Fabregas, who self-assuredly stepped up and dispatched his penalty into the bottom corner, sending Spanish players and fans into delirium.

Spain now faces Russia in the semi-finals, a team they beat 4-1 in the group stage. But as has been shown throughout the tournament, anything can happen, and the confident Russians will surely give a better account of themselves this time around.


Ratings

Spain
1 - Casillas - 9 - The hero for Spain. Pulled off important save during game too.
4 - Marchena - 7 - Kept Toni in check for much of the game.
5 - Puyol - 6 - Reliable as always, but struggled a bit with his injury.
6 - Iniesta - 6 - No real influence.
7 - Villa - 7 - Worked tirelessly without reward.
8 - Xavi - 6 - Struggled for creativity.
9 - Torres - 6 - Never managed to meaningfully involve himself.
11 - Capdevila - 6 - Assured.
15 - Ramos - 6 - Didn't venture forward enough.
19 - Senna - 7 - Tenacious.
21 - Silva - 7 - Wasteful, but lively.

(SUB) 10 - Fabregas - 7 - Looked the man most likely to create opening.
(SUB) 12 - Cazorla - 6 - No real impact.
(SUB) 17 - Guiza - 6 - A handful for the defence.

Italy
1 - Buffon - 7 - Made a couple of important saves.
2 - Panucci - 7 - Defended well.
3 - Grosso - 7 - Did his job.
4 - Chiellini - 8 - Grew in confidence with each game.
9 - Toni - 5 - Never got into it. Poor tournament with no goals.
10 - De Rossi - 6 - Didn't create enough.
13 - Ambrosini - 6 - Battled.
18 - Cassano - 6 - No decent service.
19 - Zambrotta - 6 - Fine.
20 - Perrotta - 5 - Peripheral.
22 - Aquilani - 4 - Quiet.

(SUB) 7 - Del Piero - 6 - No time.
(SUB) 11 - Di Natale - 6 - Looked lively.
(SUB) 16 - Camoranesi - 7 - Helped Toni out in attack.