The Euro 2008 has reached the semi final stage after the exciting and thrilling quarter finals
In the first quarter final outing Germany beat Portugal by 2-3 then Turkey stunned Croatia by 3-1 in penalty shootout. The second quarter final game team Russia beat Holland 3-1 in extra time and Spain beat 2006 FIFA World Cup champion Italy in penalties by 4-2.
Russia and Spain are two teams leading in the shooting rankings with Spain hitting the target most times, 28, and Russia missing it the most, 44.
Russia has scored in every game of the Euro 2008 so far while Spain could not break down the Italian defense in their last game. Their clean sheet against Italy was Spain’s first while Russia kept two in the Group Stage.
Russia has never been involved in a penalty shoot-out in a major tournament while Spain finally won a penalty shoot out on the 22nd of June: after losing against Belgium in 1986, England in 1996 and South Korea in 2002 in this very same day, “La Roja” have qualified for the semi-final of a major tournament for the first time since 1984.
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Spain have met Russia only four times since the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1990 which Spain won two games by 1-0 and drew one 0-0 before playing them in the opening Group D game and winning 4-1.
In 1964 the Spanish triumphed in their homeland in the final against USSR, 2-1 – their only major title success to date. Roman Pavlyuchenko’s goal in the opening Group D game was the first Russia had scored against Spain in four games.
Russia have kept only three clean sheets in their last eight international games, but conceded just one goal in the last three. In their last nine competitive games, Russia have only failed to score once, at Wembley against England.
Roman Pavlyuchenko has scored five goals in the last seven competitive games. He is also Russia’s top scorer at Euro 2008 with three goals.
The opening 4-1 win versus Russia was Spain’s biggest at a European Championship. They had never previously won a match at this tournament by more than one goal. Spain increased their unbeaten streak to 19 matches with the 0-0 draw against the Italians.
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