Fourth time lucky

On target. Spain’s Cesc Fabregas beats the diving Gianluigi Buffon in the penalty shoot-out.-AP

Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas flung himself to his right to brilliantly palm away De Rossi’s effort and then kept out Di Natale’s weak shot. And Cesc Fabregas kept his cool to send Buffon the wrong way to give his team a 4-2 shoot-outwin against Italy. Cindy Garcia-Bennett reports.

Spain reached the semifinals of Euro 2008 after a penalty shoot-out victory over world champion Italy at the Ernst-Happel Stadium. Iker Casillas saved spot-kicks from Daniele De Rossi and Antonio Di Natale after a goalless 120 minutes before Cesc Fabregas slid the winning penalty past Gianluigi Buffon.

Cassillas, who had kept his side on level terms by effecting a fine save with his feet off a shot from Mauro Camoranesi, helped Spain end a string of three straight penalty shoot-out defeats in major tournaments — in the 1986 World Cup, Euro ’96 and the 2002 World Cup.

Luis Aragones’ men now take on surprise package Russia on June 26 in Vienna. Italy won the 2006 World Cup on penalties against France, but Buffon — the hero on that day — was overshadowed by the impressive Casillas this time. The Italy goalkeeper had kept his side in the competition in the group stages when he saved Adrian Mutu’s spot-kick against Romania and threatened to do so again when he denied Daniel Guiza with Spain’s fourth penalty.

But Casillas, who had already flung himself to his right to brilliantly palm away De Rossi’s effort and then kept out Di Natale’s weak shot, handed the advantage back to Spain. And Arsenal youngster Fabregas kept his cool to send Buffon the wrong way and give his side a 4-2 shoot-out win.

Having rested all but one of his regulars in the 2-1 triumph against Greece, Aragones lined up his strongest team, with tournament top-scorer David Villa playing alongside Fernando Torres in attack. The absence through suspension of Andrea Pirlo hindered the azzurri, which missed the probing passing of the AC Milan playmaker.

Spain dominated possession in the early stages and had the first chance in the eighth minute. David Silva played a one-two with Villa before his shot took a deflection off De Rossi and flew straight to the hands of Buffon.

Torres wasted a good chance to break the deadlock in the 17th minute when his cross was way off target with both Villa and Xavi waiting in the box. Italy had its first effort on goal in the 18th minute, Simone Perrotta latching on to Massimo Ambrosini’s cross, but his header was easily held by Casillas.

Midway through the first-half, Villa’s powerful free-kick towards the far post forced Buffon into action. And the Juventus star’s next save was even more impressive as he dived at full stretch to keep out Silva’s left-footed strike from the edge of the area on the half-hour mark. The misfiring Luca Toni should have broken the deadlock shortly after but his header from Antonio Cassano’s cross hit Carlos Marchena.

Spain then had penalty appeals waved away after Fabio Grosso looked to have brought down Silva, but the incident appeared to take place just outside the area in any case. Villa then set up Xavi who fired the last chance of an uninspiring opening half wide of the target.

Spain picked up from where it left after the break and Giorgio Chiellini had to make an important tackle on Silva inside the area as the Valencia midfielder looked to capitalise on a defensive error. Italy coach Roberto Donadoni made his first substitution before the hour mark, with Camoranesi replacing Perrotta in an attempt to give the azzurri a spark up front. Aragones countered with a double substitution of his own, Santi Cazorla and Fabregas coming on for Xavi and Andres Iniesta.

Italy came closest to scoring in the 62nd minute when confusion in the Spain area allowed Camoranesi a close-range strike which was athletically kept out by Casillas with his left foot. Marcos Senna warmed the hands of Buffon with a stinging free-kick with 11 minutes remaining. And the Villarreal midfielder almost embarrassed Buffon when the goalkeeper spilled a shot from distance, only for the ball to strike the right-hand post and roll back into his arms as he scrambled back towards his own goal-line.

Aragones made his last substitution with five minutes remaining in regular time with Guiza replacing Torres. Zambrotta made a vital clearance with Villa ready to hit the target from Fabregas’ brilliant cross, but there was no way of avoiding extra-time. Silva fired inches wide after Chiellini had blocked Fabregas’ powerful strike inside the area after the re-start. Italy kept up the pressure and twice had the chance to break the deadlock. Casillas made an acrobatic save from Di Natale’s close-range header, while Toni nodded the ball over the bar as the azzurri got closer. Buffon was forced to come off his line to clear Villa’s close-range effort, while Cazorla fired wide instead of playing in an unmarked Villa at the far post and penalties were required.

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