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"The coach of the Spanish national team, Vicente Del Bosque, praised his players after a victorious European Championship quarterfinal match against France. The victory of the defending champions was determined by two goals from midfielder Xabi Alonso: the first scored with a header in the 19th minute, the second - just before the final whistle from an 11-meter penalty kick. "The truth is that we played well and controlled the game," Del Bosque said. "Goalkeeper Iker Casillas practically had nothing to do, which indicates that the defense performed excellently. "If the defenders continue to play successfully, we will take a big step towards the title, as we always create opportunities." The specialist added that Portugal will have more time to prepare for Wednesday's semifinal match. "Our preparation will be two days shorter, so we have to think about it," the coach stated. "This is a small advantage for our opponents. The team is already tired because the heat of the evening really weighed down the players."
