Spain to knock out France 2 -0

[barca]

• Spain 2-0 France, Euro 2012

Alonso brace sends Spain into last four


Xabi Alonso's double sent Spain into the semi-finals of Euro 2012 after a 2-0 victory over France kept the reigning champions on course to defend their crown.
Alonso's rare headed goal put Spain in control after 19 minutes and the former Liverpool midfielder wrapped up the victory with a last-minute penalty. France were distinctly off colour all night and barely tested Spain, who will put their European crown on the line against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in Donetsk on Wednesday night.
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque reverted to his strikerless starting formation, replacing Fernando Torres with Cesc Fabregas in his only change from the win against Croatia. France made four changes and started with two right-backs in Anthony Reveillere and Mathieu Debuchy, although neither could prevent Jordi Alba supplying Alonso with a telling cross.
Spain set out their stall early, with Xavi and Andres Iniesta combining magnificently in midfield and they almost succeeded in picking out Fabregas. France were struggling to keep possession, which is not a problem Spain's midfield artists suffer from too often and certainly not on Saturday.
The French formation was affording Alvaro Arbeloa and David Silva plenty of space in which to attack down the Spanish right - but the opening after 19 minutes came down their left flank. Iniesta burst forward and while left-back Alba got the better of Debuchy, Alonso had escaped the attentions of Florent Malouda wide on the right. When Debuchy stood up his cross at the far post, Alonso came racing in unmarked to beat Hugo Lloris with a downward header directed back across goal. Silva twisted his way into the box, ran at Manchester City team-mate Gael Clichy and almost picked out Fabregas when he cut the ball back.

[pakistan7867]

they need a striker in their team, fabregas cant play as a striker. Del Bosque should have picked soldado from valencia instead of negredo. cant wait for the semi final spain vs portugal.
VAMOOS PORTUGAAAAL

[Ayazzkhan]

yes, i watched

[mh.saghir]

congrats @barca bhai...

[barca]

they need a striker in their team, fabregas cant play as a striker. Del Bosque should have picked soldado from valencia instead of negredo. cant wait for the semi final spain vs portugal.
VAMOOS PORTUGAAAAL

main nay to suna hai italy aur uk main say jo jeetay ga is ke saath semi hai ? ya purtgal k saath ?

[pakistan7867]

spain vs portugal
Germany vs Italy/England

[nomishah]

Congrats @barca .

[barca]

spain vs portugal
Germany vs Italy/England

is ka matlab englande to phir baahir hi smjho italy say agr jeet bhi gia to germany ka kia karay ga ?

[pakistan7867]

is ka matlab englande to phir baahir hi smjho italy say agr jeet bhi gia to germany ka kia karay ga ?

kal hi haar jaye to acha hai, germany ne iss ka jo haal kia tha 2010 ke world cup mein woh abhi inhen nahi bhoola. mere khayal mein germany aur spain ka final hoga, agar aisa hua toh mein spain ko support karon ga

[UKPakistani]

is ka matlab englande to phir baahir hi smjho italy say agr jeet bhi gia to germany ka kia karay ga ?

Portugal V Italy Final !!!!

Spain to lose to Port,
Italy to beat England,

then beat W Germany and

lose Final to Portugal

[pakistan7867]

@UKPakistani
jis tarah hum saare soch rahe the ke champions league ka final real madrid aur barcelona ke darmiaan hoga aur phir chelsea ne barca ko hara diya aur bayern ne real ko.

[barca]

Portugal V Italy Final !!!!

Spain to lose to Port,
Italy to beat England,

then beat W Germany and

lose Final to Portugal

ہضم نہیں ہوئی ؟

[UKPakistani]

If you look at the history of these European Championships,the little guys do well

I remember Greece won it not long ago and Denmark before that

Why not Portugal.

@UKPakistani
jis tarah hum saare soch rahe the ke champions league ka final real madrid aur barcelona ke darmiaan hoga aur phir chelsea ne barca ko hara diya aur bayern ne real ko.

[Farooq Khan]

@barca congrats we hope germany meet spain in final so long

[pakistan7867]

we can not start comparing greece and denmark with portugal, portugal is a big football nation with europes best player in ronaldo.

[UKPakistani]

we can not start comparing greece and denmark with portugal, portugal is a big football nation with europes best player in ronaldo.

They are big in what sense bhai.

As a team I rate them behind Germany Spain Italy France and maybe England, that makes them about 5th best.

Ronaldo willI believe win this for them,he is that good and having the best season of his life. So yes they are good but not up there in terms of consistency

They have never won anything as a national team and have always been overshadowed by Spain,who nick all their best players

PS
Ronaldo is the Best European Player yes,

but he is NOT the best player playing in Europe

[pakistan7867]

I agree with you that they are not as superior as germany and spain, but if they win euro 2012 it wont be as big a surprise as greece or denmark winning the euros. greece is the most boring team in the history of the game.
messi and ronaldo are both great players, I would have them both in my team

[UKPakistani]

I agree with you that they are not as superior as germany and spain, but if they win euro 2012 it wont be as big a surprise as greece or denmark winning the euros. greece is the most boring team in the history of the game.
messi and ronaldo are both great players, I would have them both in my team

me too, Messi is up in my top 5 or 6 of ALL all time

I started watching football in 1970,

Chelsea V Leeds FA Cup Final

hooked since

[aamirksa]

ہضم نہیں ہوئی ؟

بیکار میچ تھا ، اس سے اچھا ہوتا میں اونٹوں کی فوٹبال دیکھتا

[D'Invincible]

bih match coming up, spanish vs portuguese, I think Spain will have upper hand