Fans delighted by dazzling Spanish Villa
Updated: 2008-06-11 10:01
VIENNA - Spain striker David Villa suggested that his country could put a 44-year record of under-achievement on the big soccer stage finally behind them when he lit up day four of Euro 2008 on Tuesday.
 Spain's David Villa, left, celebrates with fellow team member Santi Cazorlaz, right, after scoring during the group D match between Spain and Russia in Innsbruck, Austria, Tuesday, June 10, 2008, at the Euro 2008 European Soccer Championships in Austria and Switzerland. [Agencies] |
Villa, ideally partnered by Fernando Torres, grabbed the first hat-trick of the June 7-29 tournament in dispatching Russia 4-1 in Group D in Innsbruck. Cesc Fabregas scored the other Spanish goal.
This was not the first time that Spain have started a big tournament well - they also kicked off the World Cup two years ago with a thumping win before petering out - but the signs of a team who mean serious business were unmistakable.
Spain's one and only success in a big event came in the 1964 European Championship.
In Tuesday's later match, 36-year-old Henrik Larsson, voted Sweden's best ever player, made his international return as the Swedes took on surprise 2004 European champions Greece in Salzburg.
The teams were the last of the 16 finals qualifiers to play in the tournament hosted jointly by Austria and Switzerland.
It was the third time the evergreen Larsson had returned from self-imposed retirement.
This time it took him just under two years before the lure of one last crack at a major tournament -- and the promptings of a young son who thought his papa was fit for a final hurrah -- tempted him back.
Villa will do well to match the longevity of Larsson who first graced the big stage 14 years ago at the 1994 World Cup but the young Spaniard certainly lit up Innsbruck's Tivoli Neu stadium with a glittering display of ruthless finishing.
Torres failed to score but looked the part too in helping Villa and Spain cheer their delighted supporters in the rain.
Included in their number was the Spanish royal family.
Meanwhile, Turkey supporters were nervously hoping that captain Emre Belozoglu has not been struck by what could be a skipper's curse emerging at Euro 2008.
Belozoglu has been ruled out of Wednesday's Group A match against Switzerland after tearing a hamstring muscle.
Both Switzerland and Italy have now lost their captains Alex Frei and Fabio Cannavaro for the duration of the tournament to injuries.
France's influential skipper Patrick Vieira also missed his country's first match, a dull goalless draw with Romania on Monday, through injury but is hoping to return for their next match against the Dutch on Friday.
The Netherlands were still celebrating their landmark victory over world champions Italy the morning after Monday's stunning 3-0 win but the debate over their controversial opening goal by Ruud van Nistelrooy was raging on too.
The Dutch striker looked clearly offside to many observers but UEFA said on Tuesday that an Italian defender, lying prostrate off the field, was still playing an "active" role and ensured the goal was legal.
That interpretation surprised many and prompted widespread debate and comment from many of the players and managers 24 hours on.
Portugal's coach Luiz Felipe Scolari had no idea why the goal should have been disallowed -- "but then no-one listens to me" -- while his Czech opposite number Karel Brueckner took the opposite view.
For many of the locals, though, it was business as usual.
As supporters headed home from Berne after Monday's Dutch/Italian thriller, the Swiss proved their tidy-up operation functions as efficiently as their watches.
Twenty tons of rubbish generated by the 100,000 Dutch and Italian fans were spirited away over night, to leave the city emerging spotless.
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