David Villa bagged the first hat-trick of EURO 2008 as Spain thrashed Russia 4-1 at Innsbruck to live up to their billing as favourites.

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Team News:-

Spain: Casillas; Ramos, Puyol, Marchena, Capdevila; Senna; Iniesta, Xavi, Silva; Villa, Torres.

Russia: Akinfeyev; Anyukov, Kolodin, Shirokov, Zhirkov; Semak, Zyryanov, Semshov, Bilyaletdinov, Sychev; Pavlyuchenko.

Fernando Torres, winning his 50th cap, cuts in from the left and fires a shot just wide of Igor Akinfeyev’s right-hand post. Shortly after, Sergio Ramos picks out David Villa and he crashes a left-foot shot over when he might have done better.

Credits to ابو السيم

Some lovely passing leads to an opening… for Russia. These boys can play, make no mistake. After some decent inter-play a cross from the right is directed a few yards wide by Igor Semshov. Great stuff.

Credits to AlexDelPiero

More unselfish striking play at this Euros, remarkable. Fernando Torres steals the ball from Denis Kolodin and and he races through on goal he looks certain to score, but instead of shooting the Liverpool man moves it sideways for David Villa to roll into an empty net.

Credits to AlexDelPiero

Time seems to stand still in the Spain box as the ball is crossed in from the Russia right, Konstantin Zyryanov eventually slamming a shot against the foot of the post with Iker Casillas nowhere, before Spain counter and Fernando Torres clips a shot wide when he might have done better.

Credits to AlexDelPiero

Xavi plays a gorgeous pass into the path of David Villa, but he can only get there first by hauling down his marker and he doesn’t get the chance to finish off the move.

Credits to AlexDelPiero

They might as well rename this tournament the European Counter-attacking Championship. Russia have a corner, Spain clear it, Joan Capdevila finds Andres Iniesta, he holds off one challenge before playing a truly magical pass to beat the offside trap and find David Villa, who slots coolly between the legs of Igor Akinfeyev to double Spain’s advantage.

Credits to Dexter

First hat-trick of the tournament as David Villa completes his treble. With Russia’s defence out of position Cesc Fabregas pings a pass over to the left for Villa, he twists and turns his way into the penalty area, causing Roman Shirokov all sorts of problems, before slotting into the corner of the net. A very nice hat-trick indeed.

Credits to Hijjawi

Consolation for the Russians as a corner is flicked on at the near post and Roman Pavlyuchenko, who has really deserved some reward for his display, stoops to nod in at the far stick.

Credits to Hijjawi

David Villa turns provider as he lobs a brilliant ball into the path of Xavi, running on to the ball and hitting a fierce volley from 15 yards that Igor Akinfeyev does well to parry up into the air, with Cesc Fabregas heading the rebound home.

Credits to Hijjawi