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Spain will take on Russia in Thursday's semi-final after they knocked out the world champions in a shoot-out.
Iker Casillas was the penalty shoot-out hero as Spain held their collective nerve to throw out the record book and claim a UEFA EURO 2008™ semi-final against Russia.
Record
Before tonight Spain had lost three quarter-final penalty shoot-outs on 22 June but they stopped the rot at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion, prevailing 4-2 on spot-kicks after 120 minutes had failed to produce a goal. Although Gianluigi Buffon saved from Daniel Güiza, Casillas denied Daniele De Rossi and Antonio Di Natale, allowing Cesc Fàbregas to step up and send his side through. In truth, Luis Aragonés's team had enjoyed the better of the play on a humid night in Vienna, Marcos Senna coming closest when he was denied by the post in the closing stages of normal time. They continued to press in the additional half-hour, David Silva and Santi Cazorla both firing narrowly wide before Casillas's heroics saw them through to a rematch with a Russia side they defeated 4-1 in the group stage.
If the quarter-finals are anything to go by, we should be in for quite a ride later this week when Germany play Turkey and Russia face Spain in the UEFA EURO 2008™ semi-finals.

Surprises
Few would have backed Turkey and Russia to reach the last four after both kicked off with opening-day defeats, but in a tournament of surprises they could now be confident of going all the way. Fatih Terim's Turkey may be depleted by injuries and suspensions but they have proved their resilience with remarkable victories in their last three matches. They will be eager to overturn the odds against Germany also, in Basel on Wednesday.

Rematch
Spain have already beaten Russia once in these finals, although coach Luis Aragonés will know not to expect another 4-1 success when the teams meet again in Vienna on Thursday. Russia have won three straight games to get there and the imperious way in which they brushed the Netherlands aside on Saturday suggests Guus Hiddink's side will not be going into the rematch with an inferiority complex. Who do you think is going through and why?