A brief look at Spain's players ahead of their Euro 2008 semi-final against Russia in Vienna on Thursday.

1-Iker Casillas (Real Madrid). Goalkeeper. Born 20.5.81. Caps 80. Goals 0. Tournament appearances: 3. Goals conceded: 2. Yellow cards 0.

The undisputed first choice, Casillas is the Spain captain and one of the squad's truly world-class players. The hero of the quarter-final penalty shootout over Italy, he pulled off a great reflex save to deny substitute Mauro Camoranesi in the 61st minute and produced two superb saves to stop spot kicks from Daniele De Rossi and Antonio Di Natale.

23-Pepe Reina (Liverpool). Goalkeeper. Born 31.8.82. Caps 10. Goals 0. Tournament appearances: 1. Goals conceded: 1. Yellow cards 0

Second-choice keeper who was given a game in the dead rubber against Greece after failing to get a run out at the last World Cup. He could do little about the Greek goal but turned in an otherwise efficient performance. Does not inspire as much confidence as Casillas.

13-Andres Palop (Sevilla). Goalkeeper. Born 22.10.73 Caps 0. Goals 0. Tournament appearances: 0. Goals conceded: 0. Yellow cards 0

A solid and economical keeper he is a third-choice here and has yet to win a cap for Spain.

2-Raul Albiol (Valencia). Defender. Born 4.9.85. Caps 6. Goals 0. Tournament appearances: 2. Goals: 0. Yellow cards 0

Big, strong centre-back who came on when Carles Puyol got injured in the Sweden match. He looked a little nervous at the start but settled and produced a steady performance which was repeated when the reserves were given a run-out against Greece.

3-Fernando Navarro (Real Mallorca). Defender. 25.6.82. Caps 2. Goals 0. Tournament appearances: 1. Goals: 0. Yellow cards 0

A busy fullback who is here to provide cover for first choice Joan Capdevila on the left. Likes to push forward and gave a decent account of himself against Greece in the final group match. Has just agreed a move to Sevilla.

18-Alvaro Arbeloa (Liverpool). Defender. Born 17.1.83. Caps 3. Goals 0. Tournament appearances: 1. Goals: 0. Yellow cards 1

A versatile fullback who first got noticed when playing in the Real Madrid youth teams. Efficient, if unspectacular, he has yet to establish himself in the national side. Although he played against Greece, he is only here as a back-up option for Sergio Ramos.

5-Carles Puyol (Barcelona). Defender. Born 13.4.78. Caps 64. Goals 1. Tournament appearances: 3. Goals: 0. Yellow cards 0

The shaggy-haired defender is a highly influential figure in the centre of defence. Spain looked shaky when he went off injured against Sweden, conceding a goal just 10 minutes later. But he recovered from his foot injury and gave an accomplished and confident performance against Italy.

4-Carlos Marchena (Valencia). Defender. Born 31.7.79. Caps 45. Goals 2. Tournament appearances: 3. Goals: 0. Yellow cards 1

A favourite of coach Luis Aragones, Marchena is a determined defender and a good ball player, but does have a tendency to give away costly fouls in and around the area. He was outstanding against Italy and successfully snuffed out any aerial threat from Luca Toni.

20-Juanito (Real Betis) Defender. Born 23.7.76. Caps 24. Goals 2. Tournament appearances: 1. Goals: 0. Yellow cards 0

Strong, confident and good in the air, Juanito is a reliable option who has always performed well for the national side. He played against Greece but is otherwise having to content himself with a place on the bench.

15-Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid). Defender. Born 30.3.86. Caps 37. Goals 4. Tournament appearances: 3. Goals: 0. Yellow cards 0

Although he has shone for Real Madrid in the past two seasons, Ramos has been a disappointment for Spain at Euro 2008. He looked nervous against Russia, was caught out on the Zlatan Ibrahimovic goal in the Sweden match and looked vulnerable against Italy. Aragones has said he needs to learn be more astute about deciding when to attack and when to defend.

11-Joan Capdevila (Villarreal). Defender. Born 3.2.78. Caps 21. Goals 3. Tournament appearances: 3. Goals: 0. Yellow cards 0

The self-effacing Villarreal left back has had an impressive tournament so far. He started the moves that led to two of the goals in the opening 4-1 victory over Russia and the late winner against Sweden. Looks confident going forward and has looked pretty solid in defence.

14-Xabi Alonso (Liverpool). Midfielder. Born 25.11.81. Caps 45. Goals 1. Tournament appearances: 2. Goals: 0. Yellow cards 0

The creative, but gritty central midfielder has had to content himself with a bit-part role at Euro 2008 as cover for Marcos Senna. Came on and looked comfortable in the Russia match and was the best player in the 2-1 comeback victory over Greece. Rattled the woodwork with a thundering drive and went close with two other powerful shots.

8-Xavi (Barcelona) Midfielder. Born 25.1.80. Caps 61. Goals 7. Tournament appearances: 3. Goals: 0. Yellow cards 0

The talented Spanish midfield revolves around the Barcelona player whose patient ball skills and precise passes have the capacity to wear opponents down. His service to the forwards can be a little on the slow side, however, and although he almost never loses the ball he has a tendency to play too many lateral passes.

12-Santi Cazorla (Villarreal). Midfielder. Born 13.12.84. Caps 6. Goals 0. Tournament appearances: 4. Goals: 0. Yellow cards 1

Although only a late inclusion in the squad, the pint-sized Villarreal midfielder has risen to the occasion. His confident performances in training have persuaded Aragones to use him alongside Cesc Fabregas as a way of spicing up the midfield for the last half hour.

10-Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal). Midfielder. Born 4.5.87. Caps: 30. Goals: 1. Tournament appearances: 4. Goals: 1. Yellow cards 0

With Aragones opting to give Xavi the reins in midfield, Fabregas has had to settle for the role of second-half supersub at Euro 2008. Each time he has injected pace and urgency into the midfield and scored against Russia. Though he has yet to reproduce his Arsenal form, he showed supreme confidence by scoring the winning penalty in the shootout victory over Italy.

21-David Silva (Valencia). Midfielder. Born 8.1.86 Caps: 17. Goals: 2. Tournament appearances: 3. Goals: 0. Yellow cards 0

Highly-talented midfielder who can play on the left flank or slot in behind the strikers. He has been one of Spain's most incisive players at Euro 2008 and was unlucky not to get a goal against Italy with several well-struck shots whizzing past the post.

19-Marcos Senna (Villarreal). Midfielder. Born 17.7.76 Caps: 14. Goals: 0. Tournament appearances: 3. Goals: 0. Yellow cards 0

Dynamic Brazilian-born central midfielder who broke into the Spain squad before the last World Cup. Senna has done a fine job in the holding role behind the talented trio of ball-playing midfielders. An unstinting worker he never seems to tire and improves as the game goes on.

6-Andres Iniesta (Barcelona). Midfielder. Born 11.5.84 Caps 27. Goals: 4. Tournament appearances: 4. Goals: 0. Yellow cards 1

Started off very well against Russia and Sweden, but has faded a bit in the last two games and looks a little tired. Has great vision and remains calm under pressure. The sort of player that should thrive against a more attacking Russia side.

22-Ruben de la Red (Getafe). Midfielder. Born 5.6.85. Caps: 3. Goals: 1. Tournament appearances: 1. Goals: 1. Yellow cards 0

Another former Real Madrid youth team player who has had to leave the club to prove his worth, although he has yet to establish himself in the national side. Played against Greece and scored a fabulously-struck equaliser which set Spain on the road to victory.

9-Fernando Torres (Liverpool). Forward. Born 20.3.84. Caps: 52. Goals: 16. Tournament appearances: 3. Goals: 1. Yellow cards 0

Although he has been outshone by David Villa, Torres has done some vital work up front for Spain, teasing and tormenting opposition defences with his galloping runs around the area. Scored a fine goal against Sweden, but needs quicker service from the midfield if he is to replicate his Liverpool form for the national side.

7-David Villa (Valencia). Forward. Born 3.12.81. Caps: 34. Goals: 18. Tournament appearances: 3. Goals: 4. Yellow cards 1

The Valencia striker made a scintillating start with his hat-trick in the opening match against Russia and his classy last-gasp winner against Sweden. Villa is the top scorer in the tournament and has combined superbly with strike partner Fernando Torres. He was closed out by the Italians in the quarter-final, though, and Russia will be hoping to follow their example on Thursday.

17-Daniel Guiza (Real Mallorca). Forward. Born: 17.8.80. Caps: 6. Goals 1. Tournament appearances: 2. Goals: 1. Yellow cards 1

Top scorer in the Primera Liga this season with 27 goals but still only a second-string option behind Torres and Villa. Has looked over-anxious in training and, although he scored his first goal for Spain when he headed home the winner against Greece, he missed a penalty in the shoot-out against Italy.

16-Sergio Garcia (Real Zaragoza). Forward. Born 9.6.83. Caps 2. Goals 0. Tournament appearances: 1. Goals: 0. Yellow cards 0

The Zaragoza forward has been given just one run-out with the reserves against Greece. He is a lively figure who can play on the right side of attack or up front, but is unlikely to feature against Russia.

Reuters