Football: Fabregas sends Spain into Euro 2012 final

Spain became only the second team to reach the final of three successive major tournaments by defeating Portugal 4-2 on penalties in Donetsk tonight after their UEFA EURO 2012 semi-final ended goalless after extra time.

It was Cesc Fàbregas who scored the winning penalty after Bruno Alves missed for Portugal in a dramatic penalty shoot-out in which Cristiano Ronaldo did not even get the chance to step up after being chosen to take the last spot-kick.

It was the second match in a row that our Getty team of photographers were involved in a shoot-out after covering a similar match in Kyiv between England and Italy. This time we were in different positions on the pitch but having been through the drama of penalties in the previous match we knew what to expect and what each of our jobs were.

It was decided that the two photographers who were already in place either side of the goal at the penalty kick end would stay in place while the others would move into better positions down the side of the pitch. Martin Rose was one the photographers behind the penalty kick end and he knew that when it came down to the deciding penalty that his focus was to turn on the players waiting in the centre circle of the winning team as they celebrate.

The other photographer, Laurence Griffiths, was to concentrate on the penalty taker as from his position the angle was much better to Martin's. From past experience we know that the players are likely to run down the pitch to the winning goalscorer and this can lead to some crazy celebration shots.

As you can see from the picture below, this is exactly what happened as soon as Fàbregas's shot went in off the post to make it 4-2. Martin was in the perfect position to capture the Spain team as they mobbed their hero of the moment.
Alex is an award-winning photographer who came to Getty Images in 1997. He has covered the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Champions League final, and his work has been published in many of the world's leading publications. Alex is based in Manchester, England, and UEFA EURO 2012 will be his third UEFA European Championship with Getty Images.

Croatia hold Italy to boost quarters hopes

POZNAN, Poland: Croatia held Italy to a 1-1 draw in their Euro 2012 Group C clash at the Municipal Stadium here on Thursday to boost their hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

Italy totally dominated the first period and went in at the break a goal to the good through a sumptuous Andrea Pirlo free-kick.

But a defensive error allowed Mario Mandzukic to equalise in the final 20 minutes and keep Croatia at the top of the group on four points.

Italy will now need to beat Ireland in their final group game and hope that the result in Croatia’s game against Spain is kind to them if they are to progress.

The first half was one-way traffic and the Azzurri deserved more than the single goal they registered.

Having been such a disappointment against Spain, Mario Balotelli seemed more awake here and shot wide after a neat turn on three minutes, making the most of limited space in the box.

Claudio Marchisio rifled a shot over the bar while a Balotelli shot from the edge of the area was punched clear by goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa.

Croatia were struggling to create aything of note but Nikica Jelavic was a shoelace away from turning in Darijo Srna’s cross at the near post.

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli had asked his team to get in behind the defence and Antonio Cassano did exactly that to meet Leonardo Bonucci’s flick over the top but he screwed his effort wide.

Pletikosa came to his side’s rescue on 37 minutes as he made a double save from Marchisio, who latched onto Cassano’s pass, turned a sliding Srna but then couldn’t find the finish to beat the goalkeeper, who spread himself ice hockey style to deny the Juventus midfielder.

Italy got the goal their dominance deserved two minutes later as Pirlo curled an exquisite free-kick over the wall and inside the post, 

although it seemed a generous award in the first place

from English referee Howard Webb.

Cassano almost added a second before the break with a flicked header from Pirlo’s corner that went just over.

Right on the stroke of half-time Croatia broke but Gianluigi Buffon comfortably stopped Mandzukic’s shot.

Croatia started a bit brighter in the second period and Modric got a shot away that Buffon again gathered comfortably before sending another over the bar.



Balotelli had a crack from distance that sailed over but then out of the blue, Croatia equalised.

Ivan Strinic sent over a cross from deep and Italy centre-back Giorgio Chiellini mistimed his jump allowing Mandzukic to bring the ball down and fire home off the near post from six yards.

Substitute Riccardo Montolivo had a shot from distance for Italy that Pletikosa dealt with.

Champions Spain thrash Ireland to top group

GDANSK: Defending champions Spain are on course for the Euro 2012 quarter-finals after their 4-0 thrashing of Ireland on Thursday put them top of Group C with the Irish bowing out.

For all their endeavour in defence, Ireland struggled constantly to cope with the torrent of Spanish attacks as Chelsea's Fernando Torres proved he is back to his best with two clinically-taken goals.

Having decided the Euro 2008 final with the winning goal against Germany, Torres netted either side of Manchester City's David Silva second-half strike before his replacement Cesc Fabregas added the fourth seven minutes from time.

With 66 percent ball possession, 26 shots on goal, 20 of which were on target, Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given had a busy night as Spain dominated while Ireland managed just six shots on goal in total.

The win puts Spain top of the group on goal difference and level on four points with second-placed Croatia, who Vicente del Bosque's world champions face here at Arena Gdansk again on Monday.

Having suffered their second defeat after losing 3-1 to Croatia on Sunday, Giovanni Trapattoni's Ireland will exit after the group stages.

Italy, who drew 1-1 with Croatia earlier, have two points in third and can still progress if they beat Ireland in Poznan, Poland, the same day, but the Azzurri are reliant on either Spain or Croatia winning in Gdansk.

Spain had complained to UEFA about the dry condition of the Gdansk pitch during Sunday's 1-1 draw with Italy as Fabregas labeled it "a disaster", but heavy rain during Thursday's match made the issue null and void.

Having used a 4-3-3 formation against Italy without a recognised striker, Spain coach Vicente del Bosque elected to start Torres at the expense of Barcelona's Fabregas.

The Chelsea star rewarded the faith with the opening goal after just four minutes.

With Spain on the attack, Ireland defender Richard Dunne tackled Silva on the edge of the area, but Torres pounced on the loose ball and drilled his shot past Given from a tight angle.

Buoyed by the legions of green-clad fans, who clearly outnumbered the Spanish fans at Arena Gdansk and sang until the end, Ireland battled forward, but any rare first-half forages into the Spain half were quickly snuffed out.

A heavy tackle on Andres Iniesta earned Ireland captain Robbie Keane the game's first booking on 36 minutes and Glenn Whelan followed just before the break for a foul on Silva as it finished 1-0 at the break.

Trapatonni brought on Stoke City's Jon Walters for Simon Cox up front at half-time, but there was no stemming the tide of Spanish attacks.

A long-range shot from Iniesta was parried by Given, but fell into Silva's path, who jinked his way around defenders to roll his shot calmly past Given four minutes after the break.

After Given pulled off more heroics to deny Xavi Hernandez's corner shot, Ireland lifted their tempo with a series of attacks as Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas was pressed into service.

The threatened third goal came when Silva released Torres, who raced away from Dunne and slotted home his shot on 70 minutes to give Given no chance before the Spaniard made way for Fabregas four minutes later.

10 players who can be difference makers at Euro 2012

For as much attention as the World Cup gets, it's the Euro Cup that most close observers of the game relish watching. Fewer countries means fewer pretenders, a group of death that actually assures a major contending country won't survive the group stage and a crop of players that can truly be considered the best in the world all make this easily the best soccer tournament on the planet.

These aren't the top 10 players at Euro 2012 but rather 10 players who can make a difference for their country in the opening round at this tournament.

Ashley Young - England

With Wayne Rooney suspended for the first two games of the Euro group stage, stemming from a needless reactionary foul back in October, much of the Three Lions' offensive expectations will fall to the shoulders of this Manchester United man. Young, by no means, is considered a prolific scorer but compared to his projected striking partner, Liverpool's Andy Carroll, the Englishman is practically Bobby Charlton. Young is going to need to find a way in behind the defences of France and Sweden and as a naturally positioned attacking winger; he is equipped to do that. If his coach, Roy Hodgson, allows him to run at defenders, he just may create enough chances to get England through until Rooney's return.

Bastian Schweinsteiger - Germany

Battered and (ego) bruised from a grueling Champions League campaign with Bayern Munich, this centre-midfielder will be looking to recapture some of the magic he showed at the World Cup in 2010. Credited as the man who shut down Argentina's Lionel Messi in the World Cup quarter-finals, Germany will once again be looking to his leadership in the middle of the park to power Germany's engine past the group of death. The myth that Germans don't miss penalties may have been shattered but there is no mystique around what led Germany to a perfect record during Euro qualifying - Schweinsteiger will have to be at his best to contain the attacking prowess presented by Portugal and the Netherlands.

Mario Gomez - Germany

A man who has become synonymous with glorious misses in massive games isn't exactly the man you want to be channeling your offensive hopes. But for Gomez, who is coming off a pair of spectacular flubs in the Champions League final and an equally awkward miss that nearly sent the Germans out in Euro 2008, he will find himself front and centre for the DFB-Eleven in a coming out party of sorts. In years past, Gomez has played second fiddle to the Miroslave Klose - the only player to ever score four or more goals in three consecutive World Cups - but at 33-years-old Klose is on the downside of his spectacular career and Gomez is now being tapped as his great successor. It won't be an easy go for Gomez who will have to contend with the likes of Portugal's Pepe in the opening round but if he's ever going to step out of the Klose's shadow, now is the time.

Robin van Persie  - Netherlands

A country in transition and one that is no longer the team that came within an inch of winning the World Cup 2010, the biggest question for the Dutch leading into this Euro Cup is whether van Persie will be able to continue his English Premiership run of form on the international stage. The EPL's Golden Boot winner, who is just hitting the prime of his career, will be heavily relied upon to be the finishing touch in a side that is more aging vets than young cadets. Van Persie can drop deep to receive the ball but he has found most of his success being the main striker in Arsenal's 4-3-3 system. If the likes of Wesley Sneijder aren't on form in the midfield and van Persie is forced to play a more withdrawn role, it will greatly impact the Dutchman's ability to get his chances on net.

Mario Balotelli - Italy

'Why always me?' Yes, Mario why always you? Known for his calm touch on the ball, as much for his theatrics off it, Balotelli has epitomized the problem child persona that defines so many young stars in the world football today. So much of a distraction has he proven to be, that there were wide expectations from the Italian media this young phenom would be left out entirely from the national side - one that, due to injuries, could roundly use his finishing services. But with his inclusion, the Italians have opted to walk the daggers edge and are hoping that the fireworks he sets off are on the field and not in their proverbial home.

Peter Cech - Czech Republic

Where Peter Cech leads, the Czech Republic follows. Always in the conversation as one of the world's top goalkeepers, Cech will be called on to steady an unproven backline. The Czechs have lucked out in the opening round - drawing Greece and Poland, a pair of clubs who are just as likely to park the bus as any - but that won't make it any easier for the man credited with leading Chelsea to its recent Champions League title. If he can command his box and organize his back four into something or an organized defence, the Czechs could find themselves spirited off to the second round.

Pepe - Portugal

If football was played off in the wilds of this world, Pepe would be akin to the game's natural predator. He stalks strikers around the pitch looking to land a tackle that punishes. He is never one to be afraid to leave a foot in, or some studs up, on a tackle. And while "strikers fear him" is a phrase too often used to define a physical defender's play, in this case, having been credited with shortening several promising careers, it might actually be true.  He will make a meal of Germany's Mario Gomez or the Netherland's Robin van Persie if given the opportunity.

Samir Nasri - France

He made no bones about being left out of the French World Cup side in 2010, calling it a "slap in the face." But after a pair of successful league campaigns, Nasri is now being looked upon to lead France into the next generation of football. He hasn't shied away from that role either, calling out his more experienced teammates this past week after some less than stellar performances during their tune up games. Nasri will need to find some cohesion in attack with Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema if France hopes get to past a group that looks to be wide open.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic - Sweden

Without underplaying Sweden's chances too much - there is Zlatan Ibranhimovic and then there is everybody else on Sweden. Far and away the best player on the squad - perhaps, ever - Sweden's fate is largely linked to whatever magic the AC Milan striker can produce. It won't be easy for the slender Swede as the sole focus of their attack but if they can get the ball to his feet, with time to turn, he may be able to duplicate the success they had when they put down Croatia 3-1 in a friendly earlier this year.

Andrey Arshavin - Russia

In two years, Russia's captain and the man known as the Little Russian has gone from the next big thing in world football, to something of an afterthought. There have been those who have even suggested that the former Arsenal man could actually impede Russian's progress from the group stage if he's in the lineup. Since he made bank as Arsenal's most expensive purchase ever, most of that criticism has stemmed from a nonchalant attitude towards his football and one that has led him into more nightclubs than starting roles on the pitch. Russia's hopes aren't pinned on this once sensation but it wouldn't hurt them either if he found a renewed interest in his game or showed some of that scoring prowess from his early days at Arsenal.

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