Spain have booked a place in the Euro 2008 Final after shrugging off Russia 3-0 with a second half tour de force.

Spain started a stormy night in Vienna looking to join Germany in what would be their first European Championship Final in 24 years.

The fancied Spainards were favourites after squeezing past Italy on penalties, but they were expected to face a stern test against a Russia side who stunned Holland in the quarter-finals.

The Spanish side, who made no changes from their clash against the Azzurri, were forced to wear yellow against the red of Russia, much to the annoyance of their traditionalist Coach Luis Aragones.

Russia made one change with Vasili Berezutski filling in for suspended defensive sharp-shooter Denis Kolodin.

Aragones’ men enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges as the rain started to pour down and Sergio Ramos caused some problems running at the Russians.

Fernando Torres had the first shot of the game in the fifth minute when he hooked a shot on the turn from just inside the box, but his effort was blocked by Igor Akinfeev’s outstretched leg.

Akinfeev was again alert to make a diving parry from David Villa, but the Russians were getting into the game and in-demand forward Andrei Arshavin was brought down on a menacing run.

Roman Pavlyuchenko blasted the resulting free-kick just over the bar and the pace slowed.

Andres Iniesta had half a chance in the box, but he couldn’t connect and the danger was cleared.

Konstantin Zyrianov brought down David Silva outside the box with a cynical challenge, but he escaped a booking and Villa’s strike was easily gathered.

The ball broke to Pavlyuchenko on the edge of the area and his strike curled agonisingly wide.

Villa went to ground injured and left the field after 35 minutes to be replaced by Cesc Fabregas.

Pavlyuchenko had the ball taken off his feet from seven yards out and caused trouble with an ambitious diving header attempt from 10 yards.

The first half ended in a tense stalemate with neither side making a cohesive case for a place in the Final.

Xavi made it 1-0 to Spain five minutes after the break when he connected with a Iniesta cross from six yards.

Torres missed a golden chance to double the lead when he fired over from 12 yards out at a tight angle.

The Liverpool man went close from a Fabregas ball and drilled wide of the post before he was surprisingly replaced by Dani Guiza.

But the change proved to be inspired as just minutes later Fabregas flicked Ramos’ ball into the path of Guiza to place it past Akinfeev for 2-0.

The Russians looked deflated and Spain began to stroke the ball around with an arrogant swagger.

With eight minutes remaining any lingering doubts were extinguished when Fabregas’ inch-perfect ball found Silva in space in the box and he took a touch before placing it home for 3-0.

Iker Casillas made an excellent stop to deny Dmitri Sychev’s close-range header, while Akinfeev denied Guiza with his feet in the final minute of normal time.

A sodden Guus Hiddink can be proud of his side’s tournament, but it’s Spain who have a date in Vienna on Sunday evening.
Russia (probable): Akinfeev; Anyukov, Ignatsevich, V Berezutski, Zhirkov; Semak; Bilyaletdinov, Saenko (Sychev 57), Zyrianov; Arshavin; Pavlyuchenko

Spain (probable): Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Puyol, Marchena, Capdevila; Senna; Iniesta, Xavi (Xabi Alonso 68), Silva; Villa (Fabregas 35), Torres (Guiza 68)

Ref: De Bleeckere (Bel)

Ref From channel4.com