Quarterfinals: Day 4 Result

Man of the Match: Captain Iker Casillas makes the first of two penalty kick saves to vanquish the Italians and send Spain through to the semifinals.

Spain (4-2 pk's) 0-0 Italy
links to goals:
shootout

Goal Keeper Iker Casillas made three critical saves -- a hockey-style kick-save during regular play, and two saves in the shootout -- to propel Spain past Italy for the first time in 88 years and take an important step in shedding the Spaniard's dreaded underachiever label. The match was intense, if not dull, as the European juggernauts battled for 120 minutes to a cagey 0-0 stalemate. With the Azzurri content to play a classic catenaccio style defense, the Spaniards seemed the superior team in every way except the score sheet. The Italians appeared to be playing for the shootout from the beginning, effectively clogging up the passing lanes with nine men in the back while taking very few risks in going forward. Time and time again the Italians dove to the ground, feigning injury, to stop the clock or kill Spanish momentum, and they got away with at least three obvious fouls in the box, knocking Spanish attackers to the ground without consequence. The match had all the hallmarks of the negative, last-minute Italian wins of tournaments past, but then an amazing thing happened... two of their penalties were saved; first Daniele De Rossi's, and then Antionio Di Natale's. The latter was complete poetic justice as Di Natale's fake injury in extra time had killed a Spanish break and inspired loud whistles from the stands every time he subsequently touched the ball. While I try to stay objective in these posts, I must admit to complete relief in seeing the cynical, rule-bending Italians exit the tournament. Spain's match against the young guns of Russia promises to be a far more open, entertaining, and goal-scoring match. Arrivederci Italia!