On a rainy night in Vienna, Spain excelled after a goalless first half as strikes from Xavi, David Silva and substitute Daniel Guiza saw off a Russian side that struggled to recapture the form of their quarter-final defeat of Holland.

Germany are their opponents in the final after they scraped past Turkey in Wednesday's other semi-final and veteran tactician Aragones is already looking forward to pitting his wits against Joachim Low.

"It was difficult, especially the first half. I think it was an extraordinary second half," he concluded.

"That's what we wanted, to be in the final. But there's an adversary called Germany, that is going to be interesting."