The Italy-Spain quarter-final - which proved to be a huge let-down in terms of entertainment - should be a stark warning as to how international football matches should not be built up with a whole load of hype. Teams with huge amounts of quality are just as likely to produce a stale, chess-like game rather than the entertaining goal-fest all neutrals are hoping for.

Despite these words of warning the second semi-final could well live up to the hype as two footballing teams near the peak of their powers meet in Vienna with a place in the Euro 2008 final on Sunday at stake. Whilst Spain and Russia will have to go some way to replicating the drama of the Turkey-Czech Republic game or the Portugal-Germany quarter-final, this could well be the game of the tournament if both teams turn up.

Guus Hiddink has described Russia’s tournament so far as a “miracle” and, following their opening day 4-1 defeat to Spain, it is difficult to disagree. Of course, that day the Russians were without Andrei Arshavin, arguably the player of the tournament up to this point, even though he has only played two games.

Russia should have learnt from the defeat to Spain - the Russian defence was woeful in dealing with David Villa and Fernando Torres - but Spain’s easy win should be tempered in the knowledge that Hiddink’s side hit the woodwork twice during the game.

Since the first game, Russia responded with a gritty win against Greece and then put in two class performances against Sweden and Holland. Led by Arshavin they have played some stunning football as exemplified by attacking defenders Aleksandr Aniukov and Denis Kolodin, although the former will be missing from the semi-final showdown.

Much will depend on two factors for Russia. Roman Pavlyuchenko was poor in the opening two games, but regained his form to score against both Sweden and Holland. The Spartak Moscow forward, who bagged a brace against England in qualifying, is key for the Russians. Due to the phenomenal amount of chances Russia create and his lone striker role, he can be the difference in a tightly-contested encounter.

And you have to wonder how much better would Russia have been up front if UEFA Cup top goalscorer Pavel Pogrebnyak had not succumbed to injury prior to the tournament.

The other main factor will be the performance of Arshavin and, in particular, his battle with Marcos Senna, another hugely impressive individual at Euro 2008. The Brazilian-born midfielder has the perfect playing style to negate the influence of Arshavin. Interestingly, these two players have already met this season with Arshavin’s Zenit overcoming Villareal on the way to winning the UEFA Cup.

Spain themselves will have to be in the right frame of mind against a hungry Russia side that, on average, is the youngest squad in the tournament. But Luis Aragones’s side have momentum as well. The win against Italy secured their first win over the Azzurri for 88 years and they have finally progressed past the quarter-final stage of a major international tournament.

Whilst Senna has positioned himself as a key player, the rest of the Spanish midfield will have to be on top of their game. Arguably so far, Andres Iniesta and Xavi have been below par and they will need to make an impact on this game. As will Valencia winger David Silva who, despite being a willing runner, appears a little short on end product.

With such strength in defence (particularly Iker Casillas in goal) and in attack, it is Spain’s midfield that will have to step up to the plate in Vienna. Although whether their “tiki-taka” playing style can make an impact against such a fit Russian team will be interesting to find out.

Perhaps the most intriguing element of this semi is that whichever team wins could well fancy their chances of setting up a dynasty for the coming years. Spain have enough young quality to make an impact in South Africa in 2010, but as a nation they need to convince themselves on the world stage.

And Russia, with the vast amounts of money in the country, an improving national league, some outrageously gifted young players and Guus Hiddink in charge, could also begin a new era for themselves in international football. A titanic struggle awaits.