VIENNA, Austria — When a team has gone so long without a big win, it doesn’t care how that victory comes.
For Spain, it came in the form of a penalty-kicks shootout over World Cup champion Italy, 4-2 after a lackluster 0-0 draw through 120 minutes Sunday in the European Championship quarterfinals.
“We finally had the luck that we have been missing,” goalkeeper Iker Casillas said after saving two penalty kicks. “We deserved this.”
Casillas was brilliant in the shootout, guessing right on all four kicks, and stopping Daniele De Rossi and Antonio Di Natale.
Cesc Fabregas scored the decisive penalty kick, setting up a semifinal against Russia on Thursday night in Vienna. Spain, the only group winner to make the semifinals, beat the Russians 4-1 in their group opener.
It was the first victory for Spain over Italy in a major competition in 88 years — since the 1920 Olympics.
Photo: Big Brown lost shoe
NEW YORK — The photograph of a dislodged shoe on Big Brown’s right hind hoof in the June 21 issue of The Blood-Horse magazine might explain the colt’s stunning meltdown June 7 in the Belmont Stakes. An extreme close-up shows the hoof about 200 yards into the 1 1/2-mile race, in which the Triple Crown hopeful was eased and finished last.
IEAH Stables co-president Michael Iavarone said Sunday he found copies of two photos by freelancer Russ Milton in his e-mail late Saturday night.
“The picture shocked me,” Iavarone said. “When the shoe spread, a nail could have been pinching him. Or he could have been stepping on a hot nail, which would have been worse. I’m guessing the nail went back in but not in the same spot. Or it could have been a loose shoe, which would be like trying to run with a wobbly cleat.”
• Jose Lezcano tied a Monmouth Park record by riding six winners, including Coli Bear in the $70,000 Blue Sparkler Stakes in Oceanport, N.J. Lezcano tied the mark first set by Walter Blum in 1961, then equaled in 1984 by Chris Antley, in 1987 by Julie Krone and by Joe Bravo in 1994, 2002, 2005 and 2006.
• Harry Aleo, a horse owner whose colt Lost in the Fog was the 2005 Eclipse Award sprint winner, died of cancer. He was 88.
Footnotes.
Tennessee Titans defensive end Jevon Kearse has been arrested and charged with driving under the influence after a traffic stop near the Vanderbilt University campus.
• Roman Kreuziger held off Andreas Kloeden to win the Tour de Suisse for the biggest victory of his career. The Czech cyclist held a 49-second lead over Kloeden going into the final stage, and was never threatened during the 104-mile ride from Altdorf to the Swiss capital.
• Defender Gonzalo Martinez scored in the 55th minute and host D.C. United held on to beat the San Jose Earthquakes 2-1.
• The Minnesota Lynx acquired former No. 1 overall WNBA draft pick LaToya Thomas from the Detroit Shock in exchange for Shay Murphy, giving the Lynx three former top picks.
Denver Post wire services
