Fernando Torres down but not out as Spain beat Italians

Jun 23 2008

SPAIN reached the semi-finals of Euro 2008 after a penalty shoot-out victory over world champions Italy at the Ernst-Happel Stadium – but Fernando Torres suffered another frustrating night.

For the second time in three appearances at Euro 2008, the Liverpool forward was hauled off by coach Luis Aragones, forcing him to miss the entire extra-time period following a 0-0 draw.

In the shoot-out, Iker Casillas saved spot- kicks from Daniele De Rossi and Antonio Di Natale before Cesc Fabregas slid the winning penalty past Gianluigi Buffon.

Torres, however, did admit his enjoyment of the whole experience of being involved in Spain’s first run to a major semi-final since 1984.

Spain will now play Russia in Vienna on Thursday.

"I’m enjoying this victory," said Torres.

"I think we all must look back at the harder moments to realise how important this is.

"This is the most beautiful time I’ve ever experienced with the Spanish team.

"The shoot-out? I was confident in Iker. What’s more, we rehearsed shoot-outs yesterday in training and it seems to have worked."

Casillas, who had kept his side on level terms with a fine save with his feet from Mauro Camoranesi, helped Spain end a string of three straight penalty shoot-out defeats on June 22 in major tournaments – in the 1986 World Cup, Euro 96 and the 2002 World Cup.

Aragones’s men are the only team in the last four to have won all of their games in the tournament and now take on surprise package Russia on Thursday in Vienna.

Italy won the 2006 World Cup on penalties against France but Buffon – the hero that day – was overshadowed by the impressive Casillas this time.

The Italy keeper 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 He had already flung himself to his right to palm away De Rossi’s effort, then kept out Di Natale’s weak effort to hand 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 their 2-1 triumph against Greece, Aragones had lined up his strongest team, with tournament top scorer David Villa playing alongside Torres in attack.

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