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Torres: Stoppage-time penalty
We've reached Day 12 in our Euro 2008 joypad jamboree, and the Dutch are still celebrating after their heroic stoppage-time win over Romania in Group C. We now have six quarter-finalists so let's discover the final two. Here are the Group D results thus far:
Spain 2 Russia 1
Greece 2 Sweden 2
Sweden 2 Spain 2
Greece 0 Russia 0
Wednesday 18 June
Greece v Spain, Russia v Sweden
There's still everything to play for in Group D, with all four teams in with a chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals where France and Holland lie in wait.
First on the scoreboard are Sweden, who forge ahead in Innsbruck courtesy of a Christian Wilhelmsson screamer after 37 minutes. With goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev unsighted, Wilhelmsson strikes the ball through a crowded penalty area and into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Meanwhile, in Salzburg, Xabi Alonso is punished for giving the ball away just before half-time as Giorgos Karagounis finds Angelos Charisteas, who slams the ball home past Iker Casillas.
A phenomenal double save from Andreas Isaksson keeps Sweden ahead, which spells trouble for Spain - despite laying siege to the Greek goal, they are denied time after time by some heroic last-ditch defending.
There's only seconds left on the clock when Traianos Dellas tackles Fernando Torres in the box and although he appears to win the ball, the referee points to the spot. The Greeks are understandably furious, realising that if Torres scores their defence of the Henri Delauney trophy will come to an end. It's a tense moment, but Torres wins the battle of wills with Antonios Nikopolidis and snatches the draw for Spain.
Sweden hang on to beat Russia. As a result, Spain and Sweden finish level on points and can't be separated by the other criteria either - meaning a penalty shoot-out is necessary to decide who wins the group.
David Villa's miss gives the Swedes the early advantage but Henrik Larsson hits the bar with his effort and then Freddie Ljungberg's spot-kick is saved by Casillas. Finally, Andres Iniesta is able to seal a 3-2 shoot-out win for Spain.
Final scores: Greece 1 Spain 1, Russia 0 Sweden 1.
Penalty shoot-out decider: Spain 3 Sweden 2.
Group standings: Spain 5pts, Sweden 5pts, Greece 3pts, Russia 1pt.
Dramatic scenes then as Spain come out on top in Group D and advance to a quarter-final against Holland in Vienna, while Sweden are off to Basel to face France. Coming next - the knockout stages begin...
Comments
Farah Osam (Liverpool fan) says...
Spain is one of the country that wins euro 2008 spain have more professional players like fernando torres,david villa,xavi,fabregas,silva iniesta and more players so they have good goalkeeper os they will win euro 2008
Posted 18:04 18th June 2008
Danel Mosquera (Liverpool fan) says...
france deserve to win but im going for spain
Posted 21:37 17th June 2008
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