Spanish fly

Not one for the purists. Or the armchair neutral. Or the fans, even.

A poor match was stifled by Italy's negativity and the two English-based players who featured had limited impact.

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres is having a typically frustrating tournament, his international form so far failing to mirror the heroics performed at club level.

El Nino was again hauled off before the hour after huffing and puffing but never coming close to blowing Italy's casa down.

He was replaced by Santi Cazorla, who was accompanied onto the pitch by Arsenal's Fabregas.

Fabregas's contribution was more positive, his driving runs and clever passing making Spain at least look more likely to score.

And he had the final say when he coolly slotted home Spain's fourth and final penalty to send La Furia Roja into the semis.

No current Italy player is based in England, although Roma's Simone Perrotta - who was as disappointing as his team-mates - is English by birth, Christian Panucci briefly "played" for Chelsea and Gianluca Zambrotta has, um, Welsh cousins. Or something.

It was a bad day for Premier League fans as four of its players were involved in Netherlands' 3-1 defeat to the emerging force of Russia.

The quartet of Edwin van der Sar, Andre Ooijer, Dirk Kuyt and Robin van Persie were stunned by the movement, skill and determination of the nation that pipped England to qualification for the tournament.

Manchester United shot-stopper Van der Sar was the only truly blameless party in a subdued Dutch performance, and indeed the giant 'keeper prevented Russia coach Guus Hiddink from tallying a cricket score against his home country.

The first Russia goal was a close-range finish from Roman Pavlyuchenko, the second a cheeky flick from an impossible angle by Dmitry Torbinskiy after a clever far-post lob from Andrei Arshavin, and the third saw the outstanding Arshavin fire a low rocket through his legs after the Dutch defence mistakenly stepped up for offside from a throw-in.

Liverpool forward Kuyt, meanwhile, was poor. He barely touched the ball and was taken off at half-time.

Replacement Van Persie fared little better, although the Arsenal striker won a couple of free-kicks for his side.

Blackburn stopper Ooijer worked tirelessly at the back, but his defensive colleagues struggled as a collective, particularly when faced with the Russians' superior fitness in extra-time.

Oddly for a Euro 2008 match, not one of the Russia squad is based in the UK, although expect a bidding war for cash-rich Zenit St Petersburg playmaker Arshavin after his spectacular impact in the two games played since he returned from a ban.

Phew, where to start? Joy and heartbreak for two Premier League players - and an English-born winger - as Turkey beat Croatia.

In the first Euro 2008 match to go to extra time and penalties, the unfancied Turks triumphed over the entertaining Croats in a heart-stopping finale.

One of Turkey's more impressive performers in a hard-fought performance, Middlesbrough forward Tuncay Sanli was used in a workmanlike role on the left of striker Nihat.

Along with former Sheffield United winger Colin Kazim-Richards, he worked the flanks and did his fair share of defending.

Tuncay also went close with a drive from the edge of the box but did not feature in the penalty drama after Semih Senturk dramatically equalised in the 122nd minute.

Portsmouth midfielder Niko Kranjcar was relatively quiet, while future Tottenham playmaker Luka Modric pulled the strings and drew the plaudits for Croatia.

Modric created Ivan Klasnic's 119th-minute goal after a superb performance behind the striker which saw him create clear-cut opportunities for Kranjcar, Ivica Olic - three times - and Mladen Petric.

But Tottenham's record signing sent the first penalty of the shootout well wide as his side crashed out of the tournament despite creating the best chances in the match.

Germany triumphed in the first Euro 2008 quarter-final, and there were conflicting fortunes for the Premier League players involved.

Chelsea's Michael Ballack scored what proved to be the winning goal when he headed home Bastian Schweinsteiger's left-wing free-kick with half an hour to play, and he turned in a captain's performance despite the absence of his usual midfield partner in crime, Torsten Frings, through injury.

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann may have been beaten twice, but he stood no chance with either goal and otherwise displayed an impressive command of his penalty area, particularly as Portugal upped their attacking efforts in the game's closing stages.

New Chelsea signing Jose Bosingwa was arguably Portugal's best player, flying forward from right-back on regular occasions and teeing up Joao Moutinho for an early chance that the Sporting Lisbon midfielder really should have scored.

Bosingwa's tireless running caused German left-back Philipp Lahm more problems than any conventional right winger in the tournament so far, but his exploits on the right flank were in direct contrast to the efforts of new Chelsea clubmate Paulo Ferreira on the other.

Ferreira was caught out of position for Schweinsteiger's first goal, and although he was clearly pushed by Ballack prior to the third goal, he had nonetheless allowed himself to get caught underneath the ball.

Ricardo Carvalho, the senior member of the Portugal back four, was incapable of instilling order in the backline, but did produce some vital interceptions.

Manchester United winger Nani produced a lively showing when he was introduced as a second-half substitute, getting on the ball as often as possible and setting up Helder Postiga's late goal with a fine cross from the left.

But it was the performance of his clubmate Cristiano Ronaldo that was the biggest disappointment from a Portuguese perspective.

It was his shot that led to Nuno Gomes's goal towards the end of the first half, but as the game progressed his influence waned dramatically, and Real Madrid must be wondering whether the player they are trying to entice to the Bernabeu really can be called the best player in the world when he disappears from matches like this just when his side needs him most.