Portugal loss spurs on Spain and Russia

Hosts Portugal’s surprise defeat to Greece in the opening match of the tournament gave both Spain and Russia a huge incentive to go for victory in the second Group A game at the Estadio Algarve.

Spain decided to go with the in-form Fernando Morientes to partner skipper Raul up front.

Russia, robbed of half of their best defence in the week before the tournament, had new skipper Alexei Smertin at the back, Chelsea’s on-loan Portsmouth midfielder, allowing a gap for another veteran in Alexander Mostovoi into midfield.

Spain: Casillas, Puyol, Marchena, Helguera, Bravo, Etxeberria, Albelda, Baraja, Vicente, Raul, Morientes. Subs: Canizares, Aranzubia, Capdevila, Torres, Luque, Gabri, Alonso, Cesar, Joaquin, Xavi, Valeron, Juanito.

Russia: Ovchinnikov, Evseev, Smertin, Sharonov, Sennikov, Gusev, Alenitchev, Aldonin, Mostovoi, Izmailov, Boulykin. Subs: Malafeev, Akinfeev, Radimov, Sychev, Kariaka, Semshov, Kerzhakov, Aniukov, Kirichenko, Bystrov, Loskov, Bugaev.

Referee: Urs Meier (Switzerland)