Spain conquers shoot-out phobia, Italy

Spain overcame a dreadful history and a phobia. Its dread of shoot-outs was conquered and so, too, was Italy, opponent it had not beaten in competitive football for 88 years.

The decisive penalty was taken by the substitute Cesc Fábregas, who displayed all the calm so associated with Arsenal as he slipped the ball past the left-hand of Gigi Buffon.

Previously, Daneiele de Rossi and Alessandro Di Natale had failed for Italy, while Daniel Guiza, of Italy, also had his effort saved.

The main purpose of this match was to remind us of how spoiled we have been at Euro 2008. Here was the sedative for those still in a state of excitement following Russia’s defeat of Holland on Saturday.

When it seemed that extra-time might be avoided it was because of a blunder. Buffon spilled a long-range effort by Marcos Senna after 81 minutes and watched the ball trickle against the post.

No one can plan for such events and Spain, in particular, was so disappointed with its bluntness that Fernando Torres was replaced. Italy ought to have all the calm that rightly belongs to footballers who conquered the world two years ago and Spain, by the same token, should have developed confidence on the basis of recent form. Both, instead, seemed burdened by the importance of the occasion during the first half.

In Spain’s case that anxiety manifested itself in passing that was pedantic even by its standards. Italy, for its part, was wholly un-ambitious. The interval was in sight before it suddenly dawned on the participants that something bold and decisive had to be attempted.

Aragonés’s team was close to going in front here eight minutes from the break. Torres cut in from the left and, when his effort was blocked, David Silva, from the other side of the area, flashed a drive narrowly wide of the far post.

Slightly earlier, all the same, Italy had indicated that it did not need long periods of possession to build menace. Antonia Cassano, free of Sergio Ramos, crossed precisely for Luca Toni, but the striker’s header bounced off his marker Carlos Marchena.

Around that time Italy mustered a modicum of adventure. Some kind of progress was essential.

It has not been secure in defence or sharp-witted in attack and both aspects of the side’s play were potentially hindered further here by the suspensions of Rino Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo.

The action did improve after the break. Having been eliminated in shoot-outs on this very date in the quarterfinals of two World Cups and a European Championship, Spain could not have been counting on luck. There was more forcefulness and, when a Christian Panucci clearance cannoned off Daniele de Rossi, the impressive Giorgio Chiellini made an excellent challenge on Silva.

After 56 minutes the Juventus defender had to react sharply to challenge Torres after the striker had got past Panucci. Substitutions ensued with Aragonés dissatisfied enough to remove Andres Iniesta after an hour.

An Italian alteration, three minutes before, nearly had greater impact. Mauro Camoranesi, on for Simone Perrotta, fastened on to a loose ball after Luca Toni had thrown his weight around and demanded that Casillas make a good save. Spain had the greater enterprise yet did not bring enough focus to its work.

Despite the eventual drama of the penalty shoot-out, the tournament had not been afflicted with a game of this sort since the opening set of fixtures in which Romania and France held one another to a turgid 0-0 draw.