RUSSIA V SPAIN
Overview
Russia have, it is fair to say, been the revelation of this tournament to date. Gone is the clunking, defensive side of old, and in has come a flashy, stylish new Russia, expertly turned aroud by Guus Hiddink's tactical nous and Ardnrei Arshavin's individual brilliance. When your country plays the gifted ranks of the Dutch dynamos off the pitch in the quarter finals, you know you're onto something special. The glorious warriors of the motherland may well be able to emulate the USSR side that triumphed in the opening European Championships back in 1960, back when Communism was all in vogue.
Spain won the tournament after the USSR win, in 1964, but since then we've got bored of waiting for their talented squads to make good on their potential. They've already beaten the Russians in this competition, a David Villa hat-trick inspiring them to a 4-1 win in the group stages, although that was pre-Arshavin Russia. They also deserve some sort of recognition for eliminating the desperatly dull Italians on penalties in their own quarter final. With the talents of Villa, Fernando Torres, David Silva, Xavi et al available in their ranks, is this the year that Spain shut up all the "underachiever" moans for good? Probably not, no.
Team News
For Russia, Ivan Saenko, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and Alexander Anyukov are all doubts, having picked up knocks against the Netherlands in the quarter finals, but reports say they should be ready to play. Which is nice. Denis Kolodin and Dmitry Torbinski will both be missing, however, through suspension. No players in either team aside from the suspended pair currently carry a booking, and so there will be no worries of a stray yellow card seeing a player miss the final.
Spain have few worries, aside from deciding what is their strongest eleven. Although they are injury-free, there are some areas where Luis Aragones faces an embarrasment of riches. For the role of creative medfielder, for example, does he go with his first choice, Xavi, or switch to Cesc Fabregas, who impressed against Italy when he came on? Up front, things are likely to remain the same, although Aragones did withdraw Fernando Torres in a surprising move towards the end of the game against Italy.
Probable Teams
Russia: Akinfeev, Aniukov, Ignashevich, Berezutski, Zhirkov, Semak, Zyryanov, Semshov, Saenko, Arshavin, Pavluchenko.
Spain: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Marchena, Puyol, Capdevila, Iniesta, Senna, Xavi, Silva, Villa, Torres.
ITV Coverage Predictions
- Steve Rider promises this game will be the greatest match ever witnessed by anybody, and immediately announces a commercial break.
- Brief pre-game show spent almost entirely on discussing latest news from the ongoing Cristiano Ronaldo-to-Real Madrid transfer saga.
- David Pleat introduces himself to the commentary with typical breezy "evening, everybody", then immediately mispronounces Roman Pavluckenko's name.
- Clive Tyldesley bleats on about Fernando Torres/Cesc Fabregas in the misguided belief that this sort of thing makes the game more interesting for English viewers.
- Steve Rider greets half time by indicating that it was the greatest first half since records began, before giving way to a commercial break.
- Questionable penalty claim for Spain laughed off with patronising "he went down a bit easily" comment from Tyldesley, before replays show clear, leg-shattering impact of defender's leg on striker's ankle.
- Steve Rider greets final whistle by boasting about how that was easily the best game of any tournament ever, before segueing slickly into commercial break.
- Studio shot of token studio guest (Gary Neville/Sam Allardyce/whoever) looking bored while Andy Townsend wrestles with cheap-looking touchscreen tv screen, accompanied by many "I'll just literally put an arrow there" comments as he vaguely taps the screen in wonderment.
- Lack of live final coverage on the channel forces Rider to instead advertise upcoming low-rent boxing match as the main sporting draw for the weekend, in lieu of Euro 2008 final or Wimbledon tournament.
Games of Yore
These two have met three times before in the European Championships, Spain beating the USSR on their way to the trophy in 1964, and then beating plain old Russia in Euro 2004 and at this tournament as well, meaning that the omens at least are with the Spaniards.
Stat-u-Like
Venue: Ernst Happel Stadium, Vienna
Capacity: 50,000
Referee: Franck De Bleeckere (Belgium)
On Patronise
Patty continues on it's merry way through the tournament's closing stages. Live minute-by-minute coverage will begin from 19.20 BST on Thursday. You lucky people, all three of you.
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