A mouth-watering Vienna final awaits totesport punters following Spain’s classy semi-final win over Russia.

Joachim Low’s Germany are the masters at delivering big performances when it really matters and with players like Michael Ballack, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski they are obviously a threat to anyone.

But Luis Aragones’s men are really coming of age at Euro 2008 and they were particularly impressive in the Russia semi.

Liverpool’s Fernando Torres and Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas were a constant menace and Real Madrid right back Sergio Ramos surely produced one of the most tireless displays ever witnessed.

A 3-0 win was a fair score-line given Spain’s display and they have now stuck seven goals past Gus Hiddink’s quality side over two matches.

Although it could be argued that the Russians never really got out of second gear. And what happened to their star playmaker Andrei Arshavin?

For sure, Germany are more formidable opponents than Russia. But have they got the defensive capabilities to handle the sublime Fabregas and the rampaging Torres?

Low will be concerned that his side have conceded a collective six goals to Turkey, Portugal and Croatia. Spain are better than those three sides.

Conversely, Aragones will be mindful that Germany are probably the best side his team have faced yet.

Despite the loss of Davis Villa through injury and the label of being perennial tournament bottlers the Iberians can put all that behind them and cover themselves in glory on Sunday.

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If the Spanish were good enough to beat Russia 4-1 in the group stages surely the punting logic is to go back to the well and drink again with Luis Aragones’s in-form side?

A quarter-final win against Italy is enough to send the confidence and morale of any side soaring so it is easy to see why totesport make the Spanish such strong favourites for Thursday’s Vienna showdown.

But anyone who witnessed the display of Gus Hiddink’s Russians in defeating Holland will know that the Spanish are no certainties to win this game. Physically, technically and tactically the Eastern Europeans were superior to Holland in every department.

Hiddink’s side have come on leaps and bounds since their opening defeat to Spain with victories against Sweden, Greece and then the Dutch.

The key has been the return of Andrei Arshavin. Suspended for Russia’s opening two games versus Spain and Greece he is fast becoming the player of the tournament. Surely it can’t be a coincidence that Hiddink’s men are now starting to look the real deal with Arshavin in the side.

And in Hiddink they have arguably the best coach at the finals. The Dutch maestro took Netherlands to the 1998 World Cup semi-finals and then South Korea to the 2002 World Cup semis. Don’t be surprised if he leads his latest charges to the final of Euro 2008.

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Having emerged successfully from the “Group of Death” Italy can see off the so far sizzling Spaniards in what has all the makings of a classic quarter-final encounter.

The Azzurri were written off as no-hopers following their 3-0 drubbing against Holland and a lacklustre 1-1 draw with the Romanians. But Roberto Donadoni´s men showed all their survival instincts to come fighting back with a 2-0 win over inept France to cement their spot in the quarters.

Luis Aragones´s Spain are in tip-top form with wins against Russia, Sweden and Greece but there still remain huge question marks over their “bottle” for the knockout stages of tournaments.

Will their reputation as tournament chokers prevail and have they already peaked with those impressive group wins?

Indeed, there could be similar comparisons with the 2006 World Cup when Italy started poorly and improved throughout whereas the Spanish started like a Ferrari only to burn out.

Examine Italy´s silverware cupboard with that of Spain´s and you get a clue as to which side will handle the occasion best.

totesport.com install Italy as underdogs for this match which seems reasonable considering Spain´s brilliant group efforts. But the World Champion Italians are packed with tournament winning pedigree and that could well swing the punting pendulum in their favour.

Not so pretty on the eye, but they have the tools to get the job done in Vienna.

Don´t be surprised if Italy have to go to extra-time and penalties to book their place in the semis but they should do it. Totesport have plenty of markets around that eventuality.

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