Spain hold their nerve as Italians pay the penalty

It is the first time Spain have reached the last four since they got to the European Championship final in 1984.

The victory was also their first over Italy at a major tournament outside the Olympic Games.

"Penalties are always a lottery and it was about time we won one, we deserve it," said Casillas. "It was important because our team haven't made it beyond the quarters for so long."

"It was an extremely hard game and we suffered a lot but losing on penalties again would have been terrible. Now the fans can enjoy this because we've got to the semi-finals at last."

The game had ended goalless after extra time following 120 minutes in which both defences were too well-organised to break down despite the determined efforts of both strike forces.

"It was a very evenly balanced game," said Spain coach Luis Aragones. "Italy are always a difficult side to break down and very dangerous on the break."

Roberto Donadoni, the coach of world champions Italy, added: "I think the players should leave here with their heads held high. They gave everything they had. we've simply got to live with this. Tomorrow is the start of a new era.

Spain are the only one of the Euro 2008 group winners to make it to the semi-finals after Portugal, Croatia and Netherlands were knocked out of the tournament.

Sunday's match at the Ernst Happel stadium was cagey, with Spain frustrated by an Italy side who had rediscovered their defensive solidity after a shaky start to the tournament.

The first time Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was really tested came when David Villa hit a free kick after 25 minutes, while David Silva drove two shots wide late in the half.

Spain continued to have the better of the game after the break but although they managed to get past the Italian fullbacks they were unable to threaten the goal.

Coach Luis Aragones threw Fabregas and Santi Cazorla into the mix to try and shake things up in midfield.

But it was Italy substitute Mauro Camoranesi who almost opened the scoring moments later, his fierce close-range shot brilliantly saved by Casillas with his feet.

Midfielder Marcos Senna then almost snatched it for Spain nine minutes from time when Buffon fumbled a powerful long-range drive on to the post but he managed to gather the ball.

However, neither team could break the deadlock and it became the third quarter-final to go to extra time.

Silva went close again with another crisp drive and Italy striker Antonio Di Natale forced a finger-tip save from Casillas soon after but it would take penalties to separate the teams.

Casillas saved Italy's second penalty from Daniele De Rossi but Buffon then kept out Spain's fourth penalty by Daniel Guiza.

Casillas put the Spanish back in the driving seat by saving from Antonio Di Natale before Fabregas slotted home coolly from the spot to take his side through to the semi-finals.

The win allowed Spain to break a losing streak of shootout defeats on June 22. They lost to Belgium in the 1986 World Cup, England at Euro 96, and co-hosts South Korea in the 2002 World Cup, each time in the quarter-finals on that date.

Spain: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Marchena, Puyol, Capdevila, Iniesta (Santi Cazorla 59), Senna, Xavi (Fabregas 59), Silva, Villa, Torres (Guiza 85). Booked: Iniesta, Villa, Santi Cazorla.

Italy: Buffon, Zambrotta, Panucci, Chiellini, Grosso, Aquilani (Del Piero 108), De Rossi, Ambrosini, Perrotta (Camoranesi 58), Toni, Cassano (Di Natale 75). Subs Not Used: Amelia, Gamberini, Borriello, Quagliarella, Materazzi, De Sanctis. Booked: Ambrosini.

Taken from the Scotsman