Euro 2008 Diary [day4]

Spain 4-1 Russia

In picturesque Innsbruck, according to Mark Lawrenson, "it's time to put up or shut up" for Spain. If they heard him above their apparent self-induced racket then it would seem they opted for option one. Russia are arguably the better side in the opening fifteen minutes; but their intricate passing leads to nothing. The Spanish players' penchant for long shorts and un-tucked shirts gives them the strange appearance of a team of dwarves. Although not in control they prove much more clinical; Fernanado Torres is released by a clearance downfield and beats his man before squaring to David Villa who gives them the lead and the two celebrate as if they had won the tournament itself.

Russia try to forge a way back into the game and are unlucky not to level, hitting the woodwork twice. First to do so is Konstantin Zyrianov who is the only player in the Spanish area not to ignore Dmitri Sychev's cut-back, but he can only direct his shot against the foot of the post. Roman Pavlyuchenko almost catches out Iker Casillas as effectively as he catches out the Swiss production team; his shot against the bar filmed, presumably, from atop of a nearby Alp. As is the way of this tournament if at first you don't succeed expect to be punished on the break; Spain make it 2-0 as Andres Iniesta rolls a perfectly weighted pass toward Villa who gets his second goal.

Early in the second half Torres enjoys that rarest of delicacies; according to Jonathan Pearce he has "got Kolodin on toast". However the game peters out around the hour mark leaving Lawrenson to fill the tedium by answering Pearce's rhetorical questions. Aleksandr Anyukov makes a great last ditch challenge to deny Villa a hat-trick, but it's only temporary. With twenty minutes left Villa gets his third goal finishing after a deft pass from Cesc Fabregas. Pavlyuchenko gets his nation a consolation goal as he flicks home from a right wing corner, and from a similar set-piece two minutes time the Russians threaten to make it interesting by coming close to a second goal. Instead Spain manage to extend their lead as a counter attack ends with Xavi's volley saved and Fabregas heading home the rebound.

Greece 0-2 Sweden

The reigning champions take the field led by their coach Otto Rehhagel, a man with suspiciously dark hair for his age. However, since his greatest hour his team's defensive tactics appear to have been exaggerated by the media leaving Tyldsley to summarise the opening twenty minutes as "not sterile Jim". As for Jim, well he seems to think the Greek side are giving him the come on, saying of Giorgos Karagounis; "he's writhing around a little too much for me". Half an hour in and Sweden create the match's first telling chances; Henrik Larsson squares when he perhaps should have shot, whilst Zlatan Ibrahimovic flicks Fredrik Ljunberg's inswinging cross over the bar. Ina fairly physical game Ljunberg is in the wars, suffering a simultaneous challenge from Traianos Dellas and Kostas Katsouranis. "That's what you call a Greek sandwich" offers Beglin, master of the 'less-than-single-entendre'.

"Its tight, its tense, its goalless" is Steve Ryder's summation of the first half. The Greeks are playing a patient game and are happy to knock the ball around their back-line when they get possession, but if you listened to the commentary team you'd be forgiven for assuming they were playing a 10-0-0 formation. Christian Wilhelmsson should score when put clear, but he lifts his shot over the bar and then just as Tyldsley is bemoaning the match's lack of highlights Ibrahimovic provides one with a gloriously struck shot to give Sweden the lead. Their second goal follows soon after and is as clumsy as the first was sublime. Ljunberg misses a great chance but the ball subsequently loops into the air and lands in the goalmouth where Petter Hansson bundles it over the line.