Penalty hero Casillas ends Italian jinx

GIANNI RUSSO
At Ernst Happel Stadium

Spain may have broken their quarter-final curse with their penalty shootout triumph over Italy at Euro 2008 but they are not prepared to settle just for this victory when a greater prize remains to be claimed.

Luis Aragones' side will face surprise packages Russia - the team they beat 4-1 in the opening match in Group D - on Thursday with substitute Cesc Fabregas having scored the decisive spot kick after the Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas saved two of Italy's penalties.

It is the first time Spain have reached the last four since they got to the European Championship final in 1984.

The victory was also their first over Italy at a major tournament outside the Olympic Games but Aragones was taking nothing for granted.
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"Like all the Spanish camp I'm delighted by this victory," said the 69-year-old after his team had defeated the world champions. "But we've done nothing more than win a small battle. I think Spain just about deserved to win, but we didn't play good football and neither did Italy.

"We did the job and in Spain we have always talked about not getting past the quarters, but now we have a chance of getting to the final. The team is convinced they can win this."

A cagey, tactical duel at the Ernst Happel stadium went to penalties after extra time ended 0-0 and Spain claimed victory helped by Casillas.

Aragones admitted it had been a frustrating game. "The rhythm was slow and if we had been able to speed it up a bit more maybe we would have had more chances. It wasn't a great game though.

"Italy are always a difficult side to break down and very dangerous on the break."

The first time Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was really tested came when David Villa hit a free-kick after 25 minutes, while David Silva drove two shots wide late in the half.

Spain continued to have the better of the game after the break but although they managed to get past the Italian full-backs they were unable to threaten the goal.

The Italy substitute Mauro Camoranesi almost opened the scoring moments later, but his fierce close-range shot was brilliantly saved by Casillas.

Midfielder Marcos Senna then almost snatched it for Spain nine minutes from time when Buffon fumbled a powerful long-range drive on to the post but he managed to gather the ball.

However, neither team could break the deadlock and it became the third quarter-final to go to extra time.

Silva went close again with another crisp drive and Italy striker Antonio Di Natale forced a finger-tip save from Casillas soon after but it would take penalties to separate the teams.

Casillas saved Italy's second kick from Daniele De Rossi but Buffon then kept out Spain's fourth penalty by Daniel Guiza. The Spain No.1 put his side back in the driving seat by saving from Di Natale before Fabregas slotted home to seal Italy's fate. "Penalties are always a lottery and it was about time we won one, we deserve it," said Casillas. "It was important because our team haven't made it beyond the quarters for so long."

The win allowed Spain to break a losing streak of shootout defeats on June 22. They lost to Belgium in the 1986 World Cup, England at Euro 96, and co-hosts South Korea in the 2002 World Cup, each time in the quarter-finals on that date.

Roberto Donadoni, the Italy coach, was phlegmatic in defeat saying: "I think the players should leave here with their heads held high. They gave everything they had: we've simply got to live with this. Tomorrow is the start of a new era."

Spain Casillas, Ramos, Puyol, Marchena, Capdevila, Senna, Iniesta (Cazorla 59), Xavi (Fabregas 59), Silva, Villa, Torres (Guiza 84).
Booked Iniesta, Cazorla, Villa.
Italy Buffon, Zambrotta, Panucci, Chiellini, Grosso, Aquilani (Del Piero 109), De Rossi, Ambrosini, Perrotta (Camoranesi 58), Cassano (Di Natale 74), Toni.
Booked Ambrosini.
Referee Herbert Fandel (Germany).

Taken from the Herald