 |
 |
 |
|
NEUSTIFT, Austria (AP) -Cesc Fabregas urged Spain to keep its "feet on the ground" ahead of the team's European Championship semifinal match against Russia.
Fabregas scored the winning penalty against Italy on Sunday to break the curse of the quarterfinals. The Arsenal player said Monday the 4-2 shootout win over the Italians set off "euphoric" celebrations in the dressing room, but warned all focus must now move to the rematch against the Russians on Thursday.
"If people think that Russia is the same rival we met in the group stage they are mistaken," Fabregas said. "We have to keep our feet on the ground."
Spain beat Guus Hiddink's squad 4-1 in its Group D opener, but Russia has rebounded strongly with consecutive wins over Greece, Sweden and the Netherlands.
Fabregas said Spain and Russia have a lot in common.
"They play attacking football. They are young. They want to win. They're a bit like our team," he said. "It's going to be a beautiful game. Let's see who wins."
Coach Luis Aragones has kept the 21-year-old midfielder out of Spain's starting lineup, opting instead for FC Barcelona's Xavi Hernandez as the midfield playmaker.
Fabregas, who came on as a second-half substitute, said being picked to take Spain's fifth penalty in Sunday's shootout showed that Aragones still believes in him.
"Despite everything he tapped me for the fifth penalty, which normally is the decisive one," Fabregas said. "That penalty meant a lot for me."
He waited for Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon to make a move before going for the right corner.
"I waited a little longer than usual to see if he would throw himself, and I was lucky that he did so I could switch sides," Fabregas said.
Goalkeeper Iker Casillas' saved two Italian penalties following a 0-0 draw and helped Spain reach the semifinals of a major tournament for the first time since 1984.
Aragones was full of praise for Casillas, but said the team didn't reach its full potential against Italy.
"Now we're facing a rival that is the physically strongest of the teams in the semifinals," Aragones said. "It will be complicated."
Fabregas also rejected suggestions that the tight match against Italy showed Spain has learned to win ugly.
"We were always dangerous in the counterattacks, especially in the second half," Fabregas said. "We don't like to play ugly, and I don't think we did. When it comes to penalties, it's a lottery. Anything can happen and we were there for it.
"We believed that we could do it and fortunately for us everything went well this time."
