Quarterfinals /Spain gives Italians the boot

Spain went through to the semifinals of Euro 2008 last night after a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over reigning world champion Italy.

Spain created more openings in a match that would decide which team faces Russia in Thursday's semifinals, but neither team performed at anything like its peak.

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Italy went closest in the 61st minute when substitute Mauro Camoranesi had a goalbound shot blocked by the legs of goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

With key midfielders Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso suspended, World Cup champion Italy seemed mostly content to try and stifle a Spain team that had shown some of the best attacking football in the group stages.

Spain's best opportunity came in the 81st when goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon spilled a fierce long-range shot by midfielder Marcos Senna. The ball squirmed out of his hands and rolled back to hit the post before landing softly back in his arms.

The first half had been so poor that both sets of fans jeered the teams off the field for the interval, with the most noise by the heavily outnumbered Italian fans coming when Antonio Cassano took a 40th-minute corner right in front of them.

Spain at least attempted some enterprising football and had 10 shots to Italy's two, but the Italians' defense was so secure that only a blocked effort by David Silva came from inside the area.

The move that led to that chance was arguably the brightest spot in a stultifying first half. David Villa set up Silva with a back-heeled return pass so audacious that even retired France great Zinedine Zidane, who was watching from the stands, nodded in approval.