Associated Press
June 11, 2008
David Villa was a master of understatement after making the biggest statement of the European Championship on the field.
Villa scored three times yesterday in Spain's resounding 4-1 victory over Russia at Innsbruck, Austria, a win that confirmed the Spaniards as a team to beat at the European Championship.
"Three goals, a hat trick with the national team - it's started well," said Villa, who scored the tournament's first hat trick since Patrick Kluivert of the Netherlands in 2000. "We're off to a good start. But there are still two games to go."
If Spain plays anywhere near as efficiently in its next matches, it could go unchallenged in Group D.
After completing his hat trick in a steady rain, Villa saw teammate Cesc Fabregas also score. Russia's goal came from Roman Pavlyuchenko long after things were decided.
Fernando Torres fed the streaking Villa for a right-footed shot in the 20th minute. The striker slid Andres Iniesta's slick pass under goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev for his second in the 44th. Villa completed his memorable game after dribbling around Roman Shirokov in the 74th to shoot past Akinfeev with his right foot.
"When I think of Villa, it's a name that makes me think of scoring," coach Luis Aragones said. "The Spanish team has the luck of having players that can score. It could be Villa today or Torres tomorrow."
Torres had been replaced by the time Villa completed his big game. So Villa ran over to the bench to pay tribute to Torres.
"He had a very important game and he is a key player to us, so I wanted to dedicate that third one to him," Villa said.
Sweden 2, Greece 0
In Salzburg, Austria, Zlatan Ibrahimovic found his long-lost scoring touch and defending champion Greece fell victim to it, losing to Sweden.
PHOTO GALLERY: Sweden Vs. Greece
Ibrahimovic had no international goals since October 2005 before connecting with a powerful right-footed shot in the 67th minute for his 19th goal for Sweden. Petter Hansson scored five minutes later off a scramble.
Set up by forward partner Henrik Larsson on a give-and-go, Ibrahimovic's shot eluded Greece goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis, who threw himself to the right and got a finger on the ball before it sailed into his upper right corner of the goal.
Central defender Hansson had a rebound of a shot from Fredrik Ljungberg deflect off his body and into the net.
