1 in the group stage of Euro 2008 but it should be a very different game when they meet again in Thursday's semifinal after the latter's fortunes were transformed by the return of Andrei Arshavin. Spain won the first clash on June 10 thanks to enterprising attacking, loose Russian defending and a hat trick by David Villa but it is the loser which now has momentum on its side. With each match, Spain's build-up has become slower and its attacks less dangerous. It barely threatened in its goalless quarterfinal with Italy which it won on penalties. However, Russia has gone the other way by tightening up at the back and surfing a wave of attacking improvement that culminated in its fully-deserved and highly entertaining 3-1 victory over Netherlands in their quarterfinal. Suddenly, Innsbruck seems a long time ago. “If we think Russia will be the same as the opening match we will be very mistaken,” warned Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas. Russia's progress has much to do with the efforts of playmaker Arshavin, who was suspended for the first two games, and striker Roman Pavlyuchenko, who has rediscovered the form that played such a key part in his country making the Finals. Arshavin was outstanding in the 2-0 group win over Sweden and again versus the Dutch, where his direct running, great ball control and visionary passing tore holes in both defenses. Three-goal Pavlyuchenko has regained his appetite for the fray and the lightweight Spanish center backs will have to be on top of their game to keep a hold on him. Free-running and sharp-passing midfielders Konstantin Zyryanov and Igor Semshov, together with virtual wing-backs Alexander Anyukov and Yuri Zhirkov, add more threat. “The way we play, with technical skill and flair, it's always joyful to see that,” said Russia's inspirational Dutch coach Guus Hiddink. Hiddink's main worry is the absence of suspended center back Denis Kolodin, who helped reorganize the defense into a unit that has conceded only one further goal after the Spain defeat. – Reuters __
