Spain staying grounded as Portugal loom large

Nobody in Madrid was getting too carried away after Xabi Alonso’s double strike saw Spain beat France 2-0 in Donetsk.

Alonso’s 19th minute header put La Roja in control, but they did not seal a semi-final spot until the Real Madrid midfielder converted an injury-time penalty.

Writing in Madrid sports daily AS, Juanma Trueba said that a fearful France had been easy prey, but Spain had for some reason not wanted to go for the kill.