Spain dump out Italy after shootout drama
Spain had previously gone out of three major tournaments on 22 June, in quarter-finals, on penalties.
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Sunday, 22, Jun 2008 10:34
Spain have booked their place in the Euro 2008 semi-finals after beating Italy 4-2 on penalties in Vienna.
After a 120-minute stalemate, the Spaniards put their history of under-achievement behind them to set up a a semi-final against Russia on Thursday.
Iker Casillas saved penalties from Daniele de Rossi and Antonio di Natale, while Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas slotted home the winning spot-kick.
Spain boss Luis Aragones named the same side that beat Russia and Sweden with Fabregas starting on the bench, while Alberto Aquilani and Massimo came in for the suspended midfield duo of Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso.
The game was predictably a tame affair with Roberto Donadoni's side stifling Spain's flair.
After a lacklustre opening 20 minutes, Liverpool striker Fernando Torres felt he should have had a penalty when he had his shirt tugged by Fabio Grosso but the referee waved play on.
Italy's only notable effort on goal in the first half came from Simone Perotta whose header was comfortably saved by Casillas.
Aragones' men upped the tempo in the rest of the half with David Villa's low free-kick saved by Gianluigi Buffon, while David Silva flashed a shot inches wide from the edge of the box.
Barcelona's Andres Iniesta then dragged a low shot narrowly wide as the half drew to a close.
With the second half following a similar pattern, Fabregas and Santi Cazorla came on to try and spark the Spanish into action.
But it was the Azzurri who came closest to breaking the deadlock when Luca Toni set up substitute Mauro Camoranesi, whose ferocious effort was stopped by Casillas using his left foot on the hour mark.
Buffon, regarded as the keeper of the tournament, nearly cost his side a place in the semis when he spilled Marcos Senna's strike from the edge of the box with the ball hitting the post.
Aragones made the shock decision to substitute Torres on 85 minutes and bring on David Guiza.
His decision nearly paid off two minutes later but Guiza shot straight at Buffon and was penalised for controlling the ball with his hand.
Neither side was able to score a late goal to force extra time for the third night in a row.
Both sides came agonisingly close to scoring in the opening five minutes with Silva skimming the post with a low strike from the edge of the box, while Casillas spectacularly tipped Di Natale's header over the bar.
But the game then petered out, forcing Donadoni to bring on Alessandro del Piero as his final change at the start of the second period.
That substitution failed to spark the Italians into attacking mode as they seemed content on holding out for penalties.
And in the inevitable shootout, De Rossi and Guiza missed for each side to keep the scores level.
But Roma midfielder Di Natale's tame spot-kick was then saved by Casillas, with Fabregas sealing victory.