Spain hope to sparkle on the yellow fields

SEMI-FINAL SPAIN v RUSSIA:SPAIN HAVE put their 4-1 win over Russia in the group stage out of their minds and expect a far tougher challenge from Guus Hiddink's side in their semi-final clash tomorrow night.

"That opening 4-1 defeat was a big blow to them, but they were the better side in each of their next three games," midfielder Xavi said yesterday. "They have grown in confidence so much that they are practically favourites to win the competition now."

The Barcelona player - who is the key link in the Spanish midfield - admitted the scoreline against Russia was misleading. "In that first game against them we had a little bit of luck on the second goal to go 2-0 up and that allowed us to play on the counter-attack," he said.

"We certainly haven't become over-confident. There is no danger of that with this team nor with this coach. We got lucky in the penalties against Italy, but in this game you have to make your own luck."

Although Russia playmaker Andrei Arshavin has received the plaudits for his outstanding performances since returning from a two-match ban, Xavi said Spain would have to be on their guard against the whole side.

"There has been a lot of talk about Arshavin, but I think Russia is a very powerful team in general. They've got a lot of players that aren't known that well in Europe, but are very good, like (Roman) Pavlyuchenko and (Yuri) Zhirkov.

"We watched them play the Netherlands and I think they beat them in large part because they were so strong and fit in extra-time. Having said that, we were in good shape too in extra-time against Italy."

The midfielder said the whole team were relieved to have broken the quarter-final hoodoo with their victory over Italy, ending a 24-year wait for a semi-final place at a major tournament, but stressed that they were not content to stop at the last four.

"I'm very happy because we have taken a step towards making history, but we haven't done it yet. We've got a tough nut to crack in Russia, but the team is ready in all senses and we want to win the tournament.

"We want to keep faith with our playing style. This game will be very different, but the key will be if we can keep control of the ball."

Spain are not worried about wearing yellow shirts tomorrow night, despite it being considered an unlucky colour in the country.

Spain are nominally the "away" team for the match in Vienna and are obliged to wear their second strip, which has been switched from traditional white to golden yellow. The change for the match is necessary to avoid a colour clash because Russia, like Spain, wear red shirts.

"As far as I'm concerned it's fine, I'm used to playing in yellow," said midfielder Marcos Senna whose club Villarreal play in an all-yellow strip.

Xavi said he was also unconcerned about the colour change. "If I remember correctly we played in yellow when we beat France (in a friendly in February) so I hope it brings us luck again."

Spain coach Luis Aragones has an aversion to the colour. He could not abide Atletico Madrid's yellow away strip when coach of the Primera Liga side and refused to accept yellow flowers when Spain arrived at Dortmund for the 2006 World Cup.

The traditional Spanish superstition surrounding the colour is thought to have arisen because French playwright Molière was said to have worn yellow when he collapsed on stage performing Le Malade Imaginairein 1673. He later died at his home.