David Villa’s hat-trick was the highlight of Spain’s resounding 4-1 win over Russia in the Euro 2008 Group D opener in Innsbruck on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old, who has been linked with Premiership sides Chelsea and Tottenham, scored in the 20th, 44th and 75th minutes as Luis Aragones’ side decimated Guus Hiddink’s unit with their quality counter-attacking game.
Substitute Cesc Fabregas scored his first international goal in the stoppage time, with a stooping header from close range, cashing on the defensive error by the Russians.
Russia, who qualified for the finals at the expense of England, had started with promise, but could only manage a consolation goal through Roman Pavlyuchenko in the 86th minute.
Spain, who have won the European Championship once for their only major trophy so far and as such being tagged as perennial underachievers, have been rated as one of the favourites to win this edition of the continental showpiece event.
And they showed what they can do with the quality on the pitch in the form of Villa, Liverpool’s Fernando Torres and Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta; as they started with Arsenal playmaker Fabregas and Liverpool’s Xabi Alonso on bench.
Torres unselfishly set up Valencia striker Villa for the first goal after just 20 minutes for a simple close-range finish, after dispossessing Denis Kolodin from the left side of the box.
Guus Hiddink’s side were unlucky not to have equalised as the woodwork denied Konstantin Zyryanov with Spain keeper Iker Casillas nowhere near to stopping the low shot.
Spain broke on a quick counter attack, and Iniesta provided a through pass for Villa, who slotted the ball home between Russia keeper Igor Akinfeev to make it 2-0 going into the half time break.
Villa had another good chance to make contribution to their scoreline, but his low shot was saved by Akinfeev. The Valencia striker, although having Fabregas unmarked, went for the glory looking for his hat-trick.
The young Russian keeper dashed out from his line early to clear the danger as Fabregas was in pursuit in a one-on-one situation in the 65th minute. Soon after, Anyukov then made a crucial intervention to cut out a cross for the prowling Villa.
In a rare Russian foray in the second period, experienced defender Carles Puyol put in a superb challenge to thwart Pavlyuchenko.
Spain toyed with their rivals defence as they queued up to find the target, before Villa completed his hat-trick with a clinical finish from the left side of the box after catching the Russians off-guard in the 75th minute.
In the last quarter, Pavlyuchenko headed home from close following a corner to rekindle hope of a fightback from the Russians, but that was not to be achieved as Fabregas was in the right place to head into the back of the net after Akinfeev’s parry of Xavi shot fell to him on the left side of the box in the stoppage time to help Spain make a big statement with a 4-1 win in their opening game.
Teams
Spain: 1 Casillas (capt), 4 Marchena, 5 Puyol, 6 Iniesta (Santi Cazorla 63), 7 Villa, 8 Xavi Hernandez, 9 Torres (Fabregas 54), 11 Capdevila, 15 Sergio Ramos, 19 Senna, 21 Silva (Xabi Alonso 78).
Substitutes not used: 13 Palop, 23 Reina, 2 Albiol, 3 Fernando Navarro, 16 Sergio Garcia, 17 Guiza, 18 Arbeloa, 20 Juanito, 22 de la Red.
Russia: 1 Akinfeev, 8 Kolodin, 11 Semak (capt), 14 Shirokov, 15 Bilyaletdinov, 17 Zyryanov, 18 Zhirkov, 19 Pavlyuchenko, 20 Semshov (Torbinski 57), 21 Sychev (Bystrov 46) (Adamov 70), 22 Anyukov.
Substitutes not used: 12 Gabulov, 16 Malafeev, 2 Berezutski, 3 Yanbaev, 4 Ignashevich, 5 Berezutski, 9 Saenko, 13 Ivanov.
Referee: Konrad Plautz
The 26-year-old, who has been linked with Premiership sides Chelsea and Tottenham, scored in the 20th, 44th and 75th minutes as Luis Aragones’ side decimated Guus Hiddink’s unit with their quality counter-attacking game.
Substitute Cesc Fabregas scored his first international goal in the stoppage time, with a stooping header from close range, cashing on the defensive error by the Russians.
Russia, who qualified for the finals at the expense of England, had started with promise, but could only manage a consolation goal through Roman Pavlyuchenko in the 86th minute.
Spain, who have won the European Championship once for their only major trophy so far and as such being tagged as perennial underachievers, have been rated as one of the favourites to win this edition of the continental showpiece event.
And they showed what they can do with the quality on the pitch in the form of Villa, Liverpool’s Fernando Torres and Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta; as they started with Arsenal playmaker Fabregas and Liverpool’s Xabi Alonso on bench.
Torres unselfishly set up Valencia striker Villa for the first goal after just 20 minutes for a simple close-range finish, after dispossessing Denis Kolodin from the left side of the box.
Guus Hiddink’s side were unlucky not to have equalised as the woodwork denied Konstantin Zyryanov with Spain keeper Iker Casillas nowhere near to stopping the low shot.
Spain broke on a quick counter attack, and Iniesta provided a through pass for Villa, who slotted the ball home between Russia keeper Igor Akinfeev to make it 2-0 going into the half time break.
Villa had another good chance to make contribution to their scoreline, but his low shot was saved by Akinfeev. The Valencia striker, although having Fabregas unmarked, went for the glory looking for his hat-trick.
The young Russian keeper dashed out from his line early to clear the danger as Fabregas was in pursuit in a one-on-one situation in the 65th minute. Soon after, Anyukov then made a crucial intervention to cut out a cross for the prowling Villa.
In a rare Russian foray in the second period, experienced defender Carles Puyol put in a superb challenge to thwart Pavlyuchenko.
Spain toyed with their rivals defence as they queued up to find the target, before Villa completed his hat-trick with a clinical finish from the left side of the box after catching the Russians off-guard in the 75th minute.
In the last quarter, Pavlyuchenko headed home from close following a corner to rekindle hope of a fightback from the Russians, but that was not to be achieved as Fabregas was in the right place to head into the back of the net after Akinfeev’s parry of Xavi shot fell to him on the left side of the box in the stoppage time to help Spain make a big statement with a 4-1 win in their opening game.
Teams
Spain: 1 Casillas (capt), 4 Marchena, 5 Puyol, 6 Iniesta (Santi Cazorla 63), 7 Villa, 8 Xavi Hernandez, 9 Torres (Fabregas 54), 11 Capdevila, 15 Sergio Ramos, 19 Senna, 21 Silva (Xabi Alonso 78).
Substitutes not used: 13 Palop, 23 Reina, 2 Albiol, 3 Fernando Navarro, 16 Sergio Garcia, 17 Guiza, 18 Arbeloa, 20 Juanito, 22 de la Red.
Russia: 1 Akinfeev, 8 Kolodin, 11 Semak (capt), 14 Shirokov, 15 Bilyaletdinov, 17 Zyryanov, 18 Zhirkov, 19 Pavlyuchenko, 20 Semshov (Torbinski 57), 21 Sychev (Bystrov 46) (Adamov 70), 22 Anyukov.
Substitutes not used: 12 Gabulov, 16 Malafeev, 2 Berezutski, 3 Yanbaev, 4 Ignashevich, 5 Berezutski, 9 Saenko, 13 Ivanov.
Referee: Konrad Plautz
