Villa's Spain Flatten Porous Russia

The Netherlands' 3-0 win over Italy may grab more headlines than this score, but Spain's win over Russia was the most commanding performance of the tournament so far, barring maybe Portugal's. A couple of defensive blips aside, Spain were firmly in control and completely deserved their victory.

What's more, the irrepressible David Villa fully merited his hat-trick after a superb showing, ably assited by the likes of Capdevila, Iniesta and Cesc as he found his way to goal. He was barely hindered by the Russian defence, which was all too easily dragged out of position or simply left standing. Hiddink, grim-faced, knows his side can do better; despite a late consolation, they conceded soon afterwards.

First Half

Spain boss Luis Aragonés broke with tradition and gambled on a two-striker formation, Fernando Torres and David Villa leading the line. The four man midfield, though, was anything but orthodox, with the likes of Xavi and Iniesta switching position at will. Silva mainly worked out on the left, while Senna attempted to protect a back line comprising two attacking full-backs and two central stoppers under question.

Russia plumped for Pavlyuchenko up front while Bilyaletdinov and Sychev operated on the wings but, not to be outdone in the versatility stakes, their moved to a five-man midfield when the situation called for it. At the back Kolodin and Shirokov were to have a tough time of it.

It was a scrappy opening spell, Spain having just about the best of it in the early stages, although it was to take them a good ten minutes to really create chances.

Through balls seemed to be the order of the day as the half wore on, but a speculative effort from Silva was the first real chance.

Russia enjoyed a brief period of ascendancy, but that was over as quickly as it started. First Shirokov conceded a corner, and then sold the ball with a terrible pass aross the halfway line. There was Capdevila to play a delightful through pass to Torres, who managed to turn Kolodin before squaring it to David Villa. 'El Guaje' had a simple finish to make, and it was 1-0.

The age-old problem of complacency then set for Spain in as Zyrainov spurned a great chance. Sychev's cut-back cross from the right evaded both Senna and the oblivious Puyol before the midfielder his the far post with Casillas flailing.

Torres carved out a couple of chances but composure was to cost him, and it once again took Villa to find the back of the net. After defending a corner, Capdevila threaded the ball to Iniesta, whose delicious through ball found Villa at just the right time to fire through Akinfeev's legs.

The half came to an end, with Aragonés predictably in a finer mood than Hiddink.

Second Half

Russia were first to make a change, Bystrov coming on for the tired-looking Sychev at half time, although Spain followed suit soon afterwards by withdrawing Torres for Francesc Fàbregas. Torbinskiy replaced Semshov shortly later.

Despite Spain appearing to be in firm control, Russia had the first meaningful chance of the half. Bystrov headed Zyrianov's cross goalward, but it was right at Casillas.

David Villa was clearly angling for a hat-trick and came close to getting it soon afterwards. Russia were once again overextended at the back, the centre-backs looking notably stretched particularly in light of some attacking substitutions, and this was ideal foil for El Guaje to cut inside and drill the ball goalward, albeit with little by way of direction.

Xavi, who along with Iniesta seemed to be on the verge of his best form as he set up Silva for a near-miss, and Cesc was narrowly denied the chance to convert a Villa through ball after Akinfeev met it first.

On came Santi Cazorla for Iniesta as Spain made their second change, and soon came the third goal. It was Villa again, capitalising on a period of pressure. Cesc set him up to cut past Shirokov in delightful fashion and then surprise Akinfeev with a near-post finish.

Xabi Alonso replaced Silva as the game drew to a close, although Russia weren't done yet. Capdevila was asleep at the far post and Puyol was beaten to Shirokov's flick-on by Pavlyuchenko after a corner, the striker grabbing his side's first goal of the tournament.

But Spain needed their three-goal advantage as a matter of principle, and Cesc was to recover it. Villa set up Xavi for a volley, and although Akinfeev got to it, he was soon beaten by Cesc's diving header from the rebound.


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