Luis Aragonés warned before the start of UEFA EURO 2008™ that Spain lacked just two things if they wanted to become champions – how to manage a game and that elusive stroke of luck. There is no greater test of managing a knockout match in modern football than outplaying world champions Italy and then winning on penalties. Here in Austria/Switzerland, Spain have both matured and have helped themselves to slices of good fortune – semi-final opponents Russia hit the post while dominating the teams' first group game, then Iker Casillas outdid Giuanluigi Buffon in the Vienna shoot-out on Sunday.

Route to the last four
The Group D opener against Russia involved Spain surviving a torrid first 20 minutes before prevailing by 4-1 with David Villa scoring three goals and providing a fourth. Four days later Spain briefly led Sweden thanks to a training-ground free-kick and a muscular Fernando Torres finish but Zlatan Ibrahimović equalised before Villa came to the rescue in the last seconds. La Roja had won Group D and Aragonés successfully rested ten of his starting XI against Greece, as his side claimed a 2-1 comeback victory earned by Rubén de la Red and Daniel Güiza. The quarter-final against Italy was goalless and although Gianluigi Buffon saved from Güiza in the penalty decider, Casillas had already denied Daniele De Rossi and then blocked Antonio Di Natale's effort. It was the cue for Cesc Fàbregas to step up and send his side through: 4-2.

Semi-final record
When Spain play Russia in Thursday's Vienna semi-final it will be only their third such test at this level in 48 years of trying, though they have a perfect record. Having beaten Hungary in 1964, they went on to win the final against the Soviet Union courtesy of a goal by Marcelino. They waited another 20 years to return to the last four, needing penalties to get past Denmark before losing to hosts France. The only time they reached the FIFA World Cup semi-finals, that stage of the competition was played, uniquely, as a round-robin group in Brazil in 1950 – Spain finished fourth.

• 1964 Hungary W 2-1 aet
• 1984 Denmark W 1-1 aet, 5-4 on pens

Key moment
Unquestionably Casillas saving from De Rossi and Di Natale in the quarter-final shoot-out on 22 June, the very day on which Spain had fallen on penalties to Belgium in the 1986 FIFA World Cup, to England at EURO '96™ and to Korea Republic in the 2002 World Cup.

Key player
Overall, Villa. Against Italy very little came off for him but his prodigious work-rate matched his prodigious scoring from the earlier games and his modern combination of goals, assists, free-kicks, penalties, headers and leading of the line means he remain's Spain's most threatening player. His hat-trick against Russia is the only one of the finals so far and his four-goal tally is the highest.

Injuries and suspensions
Currently, none of either. Carles Puyol and Santi Cazorla have overcome foot injuries and David Silva recovered after twisting his ankle.

Tactics
Against Russia, Sweden and Italy, both the 4-1-3-2 shape and the personnel were identical. Against Greece the coach used Xabi Alonso and De la Red together in the centre of midfield, with two wingers and with Fàbregas just off striker Güiza for a 4-4-1-1. Andrés Iniesta sometimes switches wings, from right to left, without Silva crossing to the right.

Shoot-out record
Three wins from six. As mentioned, all the defeats came in 22 June quarter-finals, against Belgium, England and Korea Republic. The last of those followed a last-16 penalties triumph over the Republic of Ireland, which was Spain's first such victory since the 1984 semi-final against Denmark. The Italy win thus improved their UEFA European Championship shoot-out record to 2-1. Ominously, Puyol, Carlos Marchena, Joan Capdevila and Xavi Hernández were in the Spain team that lost the 2000 Olympic final 5-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw with Cameroon in Sydney.

Quotes
• "I've seen him have better games." Villa's father after the striker ran the show against Russia, having a hand in all four goals.

• "It was the first time I've taken a competitive penalty since I was 15." Fàbregas admits that his last spot-kick victim, before putting one past Buffon, was a schoolboy.

• "I've known the King since he was just a prince – I even asked if he could sort out a wage pay." Aragonés on a royal presence in the dressing room after the defeat of Italy.