Euro 2008 Diary [day12]

Sweden 0-2 Russia / Spain 2-1 Greece

John Champion is perhaps the only commentator who will ever use the line "surrounded by fields of cows" when building up the atmosphere to a crucial international match. With Spain already through and holders Greece already out the focus is on Innsbruck, home of cows seemingly, but also venue for the winner-goes-through match between Sweden and Russia. As a brief aside here, has anyone else noticed the similarity between the Russian National anthem and the music from Police Academy? No?

The Russians have welcomed back playmaker Andrei Arshavin after a two match ban, and he is proving to be the missing link for an impressive team. Methodical and controlled in possession the "red army" as Champion lazily references them, look much more accomplished than their Scandinavian opponents. Arshavin almost catches out Andreas Isaksson with a high cross-cum-shot whilst Yuri Zhirkov also flashes a volley just wide from a corner before Russia deservedly break the deadlock after twenty-four minutes. A well-worked move down the right flank orchestrated by the impressive Aleksandr Anyukov ends with Roman Pavlyuchenko finally breaking his tournament duck with a well placed low shot.

Pavlyuchenko could have another goal within minutes, but this time he ends a similar flowing move with a chipped shot onto the crossbar. Despite Russia's early dominance Sweden start to find their feet toward the end of the half with Mikael Nilsson and Freddie Ljunberg threatening, but their best effort is a flicked Henrik Larsson header that strikes the bar.

Like their fellow early qualifiers Spain have rested players for their match with Greece, but unlike the others it appears to have made a difference. Despite a range of spectacular close efforts from Xabi Alonso the Spanish trail to Greece's first goal of the tournament, a well placed powerful header from Angelos Charisteas.

Back in Innsbruck and Russia look to have confirmed their place in the quarter finals just five minutes into the second half. Arshavin plays in Zhirkov down the left and then makes it into the box to slide the return pass past Isaksson. Sweden could boast the better possession for the remainder of the match, but they failed to make anything from it and were left open to Russian counter-attacks. Konstantin Zyrianov only prevented from making it 3-0 by the upright, as Russia move on to face the Netherlands in the quarter finals. "First Eurovision, now this" is Champion's strangely prioritised summary.

In Salzburg Russia's fellow Group D quarter finalists have returned from a goal down to defeat Greece 2-1 and qualify with maximum points. Ruben de la Red equalised on the hour mark with the sort of shot Hot Shot Hamish would have been proud off, cannoning the ball home via Antonios Nikopolidis' now probably broken hand and the crossbar. With two minutes to go the Spanish complete their come back as Daniel Gueza wanders freely beyond a terrible offside trap to head home a Sergio Garcia cross.