Russia

By Mitch Phillips

VIENNA, June 26 (Reuters) - Spain reached the European Championship final for the first time in 24 years on Thursday when they turned on the style to overwhelm Russia 3-0 and set up a meeting with Germany in Sunday's final.

Three crisply-created second-half goals by Xavi, substitute Daniel Guiza and David Silva were a fair reward for Spain's gradual dominance in an enthralling game played in driving rain.

"We're in the final, it's what we all wanted but, of course, now we've got a team in front of us which is Germany and that's a very big challenge," said Spain coach Luis Aragones, who will step down after the final.

"The first half was difficult but our second half performance was extraordinary."

The only downside for Spain was a thigh injury for David Villa that almost certainly rules the four-goal striker out of the final but it might be a blessing in disguise because Cesc Fabregas, who replaced him after 35 minutes, was superb.

He outshone his opposite number 10 Andrei Arshavin, who was unable to reproduce the sparkling form of the last two games that sent Russia into the semi-finals full of confidence.

Russia began as if they expected to win, but Spain also knocked the ball around well and looked far sharper and progressive than in their goalless quarter-final against Italy.

Villa's injury forced Spain to adopt a five-man midfield and they gradually took command as Russia's fast-passing counter-attacks struggled for space.

ABSORBING MATCH

The breakthrough came five minutes into the second half when Xavi surged forward from midfield, fed Andres Iniesta on the left and then arrived in the area to meet his return cross with a well-taken volley.

Guiza replaced Fernando Torres up front after 69 minutes and took only four minutes to strike with another clever finish after being set up by a delicate Fabregas pass.

That goal took the wind out of the Russians and they visibly tired on the sodden pitch which had been battered by a second successive night of thunderstorms.

Fabregas, whose previous tournament appearances have usually been as a substitute for the last 30 minutes, revelled in his extended spell on the pitch and forced Igor Akinfeyev into a spectacular one-handed save with a 70th-minute shot.

But he was back to his usual provider role three minutes later, clipping in a low cross that demanded the emphatic finish Silva gave it.

The victory stretched Spain's unbeaten run to 21 matches and if they can take it to 22 it would secure only their second major title after their Euro success on home soil in 1964 having lost to France in their only other final appearance in 1984.

Germany, who reached the final on Wednesday by beating Turkey 3-2, will be aiming for their fourth continental triumph.

Russia, who lost their opening game 4-1 to Spain but improved quickly after that, played their part in an excellent game at the Ernst Happel stadium on Thursday.

However, with Arshavin well shackled and trying to do too much on his own, his midfield partners fighting a rising Spanish tide and striker Roman Pavlyuchenko starved of chances, they can have few complaints about the result.

"We lost against a very good opponent, Spain deserved to win," said their Dutch coach Guus Hiddink, who suffered World Cup semi-final defeats with Netherlands and South Korea.