Spain beat France in a competitive game for the first time to book a UEFA EURO 2012 semi-final against neighbours Portugal on Wednesday. Les Bleus may have been the last team to eliminate Spain from a major tournament – in the 2006 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals – but that mantle must now be removed as Vicente del Bosque's men are in the right path to retain their title.

Xabi Alonso celebrated his 100th cap with a goal in either half. The midfielder, one of five Spain starters also involved from the off in that Hanover defeat six years ago, showed no battle scars and duly made the difference with an emphatic first-half header and a late spot kick.

Short, sharp and purposeful on the ball, La Roja looked capable of unpicking the French lock whenever they pleased. A reinforced France right – Anthony Réveillère and Mathieu Debuchy – looked an unlikely weak spot, but Andrés Iniesta has always seen things others do not. Réveillère had drifted inside from full-back and Iniesta threaded the ball through to Jordi Alba, who shrugged off Debuchy and crossed for Alonso to head down and across Hugo Lloris.

Though the goalscorer, considering the occasion, was a worthy centurion of this particular red army, his midfield cohorts were no less influential. France, by contrast, were compact as demanded but blunt and lacking in numbers getting forward. Yohan Cabaye's first-half free-kick was Iker Casillas's only notable save.

His France counterpart, Lloris, meanwhile, should have been tested when Gerard Piqué headed over having been found in space from a corner. Debuchy made the same mistake from an almost identical position 15 minutes into the second period after Franck Ribéry had wriggled free on the left and crossed precisely.

'Faux' centre-forward Cesc Fàbregas came off and traditional No9 Fernando Torres came on, but the pattern continued. Spain did not have the two-thirds possession the cerebral Blanc had predicted, but they used it with characteristic wisdom. As if to prove the point, a typically intricate move led to the added-time penalty, dispatched consummately by Alonso, which iced the cake. Spain, though, look to have plenty more in the tank – Paulo Bento's side have been warned.


- Match stats:

Spain: Casillas, Arbeloa, Ramos, Piqué, Jordi Alba, Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Xavi, Silva (Pedro 64’), Iniesta (Cazorla 84’), Fábregas (Torres 66’).

France: Lloris; Reveillere, Rami, Koscielny, Clichy; M'Vila (Giraud 78’), Cabaye, Debuchy (Menz 63’), Malouda (Nasri 64’); Ribery y Benzema

Bookings: Sergio Ramos 30’, Cabaye 41’, Menez 75’,

Goals:

1-0 (19’) Xabi Alonso.
2-0 (91’) Xabi Alonso.



- Match report by uefa.com