Spain Triumphs Over Russia in Euro 2008 Soccer

Spanish striker David Villa scored three goals against Russia in Euro 2008 championship play, singlehandedly sealing Russia's fate.

Spain faced Russia in Round One of the UEFA Euro 2008 soccer Championship. Meeting under steady rainfall in at Stade Tivoli Neu, in Innsbruck, Austria, the Spanish squad showed its offensive skill, defeating the Russian team 4–1.

The game was even for the first twenty minutes, then Xavi sent a long feed upfield to a streaking Fernando Torres, with David Villa on his shoulder, creating a two-on-two deep in the Russian end. Torres, battling hard with the Russian fullback, managed to get a foot on the ball and direct it to Villa who had broken through alone in the middle. Villa had the entire net to aim at, and drilled the ball past Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeyev.

The two teams battled back and forth for another twenty minutes before Russia missed a corner kick, leaving a long rebound which Spain played ahead to David Villa, who broke through the Ruyssian defenders, ran down the ball, and drilled a low shot between the legs of Russian keeper Akinfeyev.

At the half, Spain led, 2–0.

Even Their Defense Is a Good Offense

At ten minutes into the second half, midfielder Cesc Fabregas came on to replace added striker Fernando Torres, as Spain shifted from attack to defense, trying to protect its lead.

Spanish forward David Villa (R) shoots the ball past the Russian defence to score his third goal of the game. (Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty Images)

Even with only one striker, Spain penetrated the Russian defense for several good chances. The Russians, down by two, had no choice but to focus on scoring, leaving their center soft on defense.

Spanish striker David Villa took advantage of this, breaking away yet again, and shifting his way through two Russian defenders to drive a shot into the lower left corner, scoring the first "hat trick"—three goals by a single player in a match—in Euro 2008 play.

With five minutes left to play, Russian striker Roman Pavlyuchenko hit a header past the Spanish keeper, breaking the shutout, but it was too little, too late.

Then at the last second of regulation play, david villa broke free waited patiently for his suuport, then chipped a pass to his right, where his wingman was open to send a pass across the front of the net, where Cesc Fabregas, in a s a substitute, was waiting to drive a low header into the left side of the net, to give Spain a 4–1 lead, killing any hope Russia might have had of making a comeback.