Villa stays grounded after high-flying hat trick

INNSBRUCK: David Villa said he was happier about Spain's emphatic 4-1 win over Russia in their opening Group D match on Tuesday than becoming the first player at Euro 2008 to score a hat trick.

"I'm very pleased about the way things went, but especially for the three points we've now got under our belts," the 26-year-old striker told reporters.

"We all said it was vital to start with a win and we did just that. I'm also happy for the goals but that's the job I have to do."

Villa struck his first after 20 minutes, steering into the open net after strike partner Fernando Torres drew the 'keeper and slipped the ball into his path.

He grabbed his second on the stroke of halftime when he darted on to a neat through-ball by Andres Iniesta and completed his hat trick with another cool finish 15 minutes from time.

"It is difficult for the team to win and for a player to score three goals, but that's what happened," he said. "It isn't a dream and I'm very happy about it."

But the Valencia striker, who has now scored 17 goals in 42 international appearances, was anxious to dispel any euphoria following the win.

"Now we have to keep on working because we've still got a long way to go," he said. "We have done no more than just take one step forward.

"We could still be knocked out in the first stage despite this result ... Until we are assured of going through then we won't be thinking of anything else.

"I hope the best is yet to come."

Spain continues its group campaign against Sweden on Saturday and finishes against holder Greece on June 18.

Stupid errors

Russia was guilty of making stupid mistakes in its 4-1 loss to by Spain, coach Guus Hiddink said.

"If you see the second goal, if you see the fourth goal, some school teams don't make those errors," the Dutchman told reporters.

"It's not the members of the defense, it's a matter of the whole team, knowing when the fire starts and knowing when to be firemen. To be honest I was rather angry at halftime because of this naive behavior."

Hiddink said Russia made "stupid errors", pointing to the fact it conceded a second goal just before halftime.

"We were rather naive in various situations," he said. "We had a lesson in being punished by the counter-attack (for the second goal)."

Hiddink said Russia had to improve in its next matches against Greece in Salzburg on Saturday and against Sweden in Innsbruck four days later.

"At the end of the game in the locker room I said this is a tournament of three games," said the Dutchman.

"We have to learn within hours not to be naive. If we can manage to learn fast we have chances in the other two games."

Agencies

(China Daily 06/12/2008 page22)