Russia 0 Spain 3

Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas sent his nation into ecstasy again after another stunning entrance as a supersub.

Against Italy in the Euro 2008 quarter-final the midfielder scored the decisive penalty in the shootout.

And last night in the semi-final he was the inspiration — creating Spain’s second and third goals.

Not surprisingly, there is a huge clamour for him to start the final against Germany back here in Vienna on Sunday.

He could not have done any more to state his case.

Spain were leading thanks to Xavi’s instinctive 50th-minute finish when Fabregas clipped a magnificent pass into the box for fellow sub Daniel Guiza. He chested it down and lofted the ball past Russian keeper Igor Akinfeev.

Fabregas then created the chance for David Silva to complete the rout on 82 minutes.

The Russians — and their talismanic star Andrei Arshavin — did not turn up and, for manager Guus Hiddink, it was yet another semi-final heartbreak.

Hiddink was boss of the Dutch side that lost in the last four at the World Cup in 1998 and the South Koreans, who were one step away from the final in 2002.

Nobody in the Spanish camp had expected an easy night just because they beat Russia 4-1 in the group game.

The way Hiddink’s men had demolished the Dutch was a warning of just what they were capable of.

But the overall aggregate from their two games out here is now Spain 7 Russia 1.

Spain are the only unbeaten team in the tournament and have not lost in 21 matches. It is a form guide to give anyone confidence.

Historically, though, they have never fulfilled their potential — although they did win this competition back in 1964 and lost in the final to France in 1984.

Spain may not be the reigning champions yet. But they are champions in the rain.

The thunder cracked, the lightning flashed and the heavens opened in Vienna.

But Luis Aragones’ side coped admirably as the ball zipped around the surface.

It should have been a nightmare for goalkeepers but both were on top form early on. Akinfeev saved with his left foot to keep out a shot from Liverpool’s Fernando Torres ,then dived to his right to deny David Villa from 25 yards.

Iker Casillas, the penalty-save hero from the shootout victory over Italy, leapt into action at the other end.

He made an astonishing fingertip stop to thwart Roman Pavlyuchenko’s curling shot.

But bad news followed for Spain when they lost hitman Villa just after the half-hour. He had injured himself earlier taking a long free-kick and will miss Sunday’s final.

Surprisingly, Fabregas came on as his replacement rather than a forward but the move worked to perfection.

Spain were dominating and took the lead through the brilliant reactions of Xavi.

It was he who created the move when he burst down the middle and fed Andres Iniesta on the left.

Iniesta tried a shot with his right foot but Xavi stuck out his leg to divert the ball past Akinfeev. Arshavin could not get into the game. Maybe he has been over-hyped.

At the other end, Torres was trying his hardest but was subbed by boss Aragones, not for the first time. He did not look best pleased about it.

But his replacement Guiza capitalised on Fabregas’ skill to put Spain in control and then Silva converted the third from the Arsenal star’s pass.

Aragones said: “I’m proud and inside I feel very happy.

“I knew how well Fabregas could perform. He’s a great guy.” Asked if he would start the final, Aragones said: “Give me a breather, please! let me have a couple of days.”

Hiddink admitted it was a match too far for his side and said: “We couldn’t manage to keep up. They made us tired.”

SUN RATINGS

RUSSIA: Akinfeev 5, Anyukov 5, Berezutski 5, Ignashevich 4, Zhirkov 4, Semak 6, Zyryanov 6, Semshov 5 (Bilyaletdinov 5), Saenko 6 (Sychev 5), Arshavin 3, Pavlyuchenko 5.

SPAIN: Casillas 7, Sergio Ramos 7, Marchena 7, Puyol 7, Capdevila 7, Iniesta 8, Xavi 7 (Xabi Alonso 7), Senna 7, Silva 7, Villa 6 (Fabregas 9), Torres 7 (Guiza 7).

Cesc Fabregas is 8/1 with SunBET to score the first goal in Sunday's Euro 2008 final.