Guus Hiddink's Russia finally found their form on Wednesday, beating Sweden 2-0 in Innsbruck to set up a last-eight date with the rampaging Dutch. On the other side of Group D a new-look Spain beat the already-eliminated Greeks 2-1 as La Furia Roja top the section with a perfect three wins from three games and move on to meet Italy in the quarter-finals.
The matches
Greece 1-2 Spain
Goals: Angelos Charisteas 42 (Greece), Ruben de la Red 60, Daniel Guiza 88 (Spain)
A virtual Spanish reserve squad lined up against Greece already assured of a quarter-final place as winners of Group D. Angelos Charisteas - hero of Greece's unlikely 2004 title run - struck with his head in the 42nd minute, celebrating the goal with aging keeper Antonis Nikopolidis who was playing in his last international. Spain were in no mood for generous romanticism, though, and Ruben de la Red spoiled the Greek party with a stunning first-ever international goal on the hour mark. He linked up well with Mallorca's Daniel Guiza, who then went on to seal the win with a header in the dying seconds
Russia 2-0 Sweden
Goals: Roman Pavlyuchenko 24, Andrei Arshavin 50 (Russia)
bolstered by the return of Zenit St. Petersburg's outstanding Andrei Arshavin from a two-game suspension, the Russians were in superb form for the first time at these finals. A brilliant bit of interplay and one-touch passing brought the opener in the 24th minute when Roman Pavyluchenko poked home from close range for his second goal of the finals. Arshavin did the honours to kill off the match early in the second half when he finished off a classic counter-attack to spark wild celebrations in the stands.
source: http://www.fifa.com
