After playing 120 minutes without a goal Spain and Italy were sent to penalty kicks to determine the final spot in the Euro 2008 semifinals and in the end it was Spain punching their ticket to advance. Spain became the first country seeded number one to advance past their quarterfinals match.
Both sides struggled mightily on the finishing end through regulation and into extra time as Spain fired off 27 shots (10 on goal) and Italy managed 12 shots (6 on goal) with no scores. In the end the match was determined on penalty kicks with Spain edging Italy 4-2. Forced into penalty kicks Both sides were even at one after David Villa scored for Spain and Fabio Grosso equalized for Italy but after Santi Cazorla scored Daniele De Rossi’s shot was stopped and Spain had a 2-1 advantage.
Marcos Senna made it 3-1 for Spain before Mauro German Camoranesi brought Italy to within 3-2. Daniel Guiza then missed for Spain and Italy had a chance to even the score but Antonio Di Natale was stopped and then Cesc Fábregas put the match away for Spain with a goal.
Spain will now face Russia on Thursday at 2:45 pm ET for a chance to play for the 2008 Euro championship.

Score:

SPAIN 0 – 0 ITALY (Penalties: Spain 4 – 2 Italy)

Two unlikely results have shaken the line-up of UEFA Euro 2008 as the tournament reaches the semi-finals. Russia scored two goals in extra time to defeat a shocked Netherlands 1-3 on Saturday night (21 June) and Turkey managed to steal the game from a seemingly stronger Croatia on Friday (19 June).

Pavlyuchenko scored after 56 minutes to put Russia ahead of Holland; the way it remained until the dying seconds when Ruud van Nistelrooy ostensibly ended hopes of a giant-killing, scoring in the 86th minute.
Russia fought hard in extra time, and during the second half Torbinski evaded a ragged Holland defence to cheekily slot in a cross passing the face of goal. Russia put the boot in four minutes later, scoring another by way of Andrei Arshavin.

Turkey, fresh from their strong fightback in the group stages against the Czech Republic, held Croatia to a 0-0 scoreline well into extra time. Klasnic scored for the Croats mere minutes before the match was to go to penalties, and then Semih immediately levelled the scoreline seconds before a Croatia win. The Turks then proceeded to thrash them 3-1 on penalties.

Scores:

TURKEY 1 – 1 Croatia (Penalties: Turkey 3 – 1 Croatia)

RUSSIA 3 – 1 NETHERLANDS

Germany beat Portugal 3 – 2 last night in their Euro 2008 quarterfinal encounter. Bastian Schweinsteiger scored
Germany’s first goal in the 22nd minute followed by Miroslav Klose’s header in the back of the net from a Schweinsteiger free kick in the 27th minute. Portugal never gave up though and made the scoreline 2 – 1 in the 40th minute, compliments of Nino Gomes. Michael Ballack restored Germany’s two goal lead in the 61st minute, having scored goals in consecutive games now. Portugal made sure of a nail biting finish when they reduced the deficit to one goal in the 87th minute.

Germany will now play Croatia or Turkey on Wednesday.