Euro 2008: Cesc Fabregas has come of age at Arsenal

There was a hush when Cesc Fabregas strode out of the ranks of Spanish players grouped on the halfway line and marched towards the penalty spot.

Was he old enough to shoulder such a formidable responsibility?

Was his temperament sound enough? Did he have enough experience?

English football fans, who have come to admire him for the elegance and energy of his displays for Arsenal, held their breath for him as he placed the ball on the spot at the Ernst Happel Stadion.

It was the most nerve-racking penalty English fans of the game have had to endure since John Terry stepped up for that fateful kick in Moscow.

Fabregas answered all the questions by sliding the ball coolly into the corner of the net, sending Gianluigi Buffon the wrong way, and firing Spain into the semi-finals of Euro 2008.

It would be wrong to say that a boy became a man in that moment because Fabregas has already negotiated enough rites of passage to confirm his maturity.

Nevertheless, the fact it was he who took the most important penalty in Spanish football history and ended his country's 88-year wait to beat Italy, said a lot about the journey he has undertaken since he arrived at Arsenal in September 2003.

In the aftermath of Spain's victory, Fabregas acknowledged the importance of everything he has learned in English football and of the support he has been receiving from England fans during the tournament.

"I must say the people in England have been really great to me even if they are Manchester United, Liverpool or Chelsea fans," said Fabregas.

"The Premier League boys in this Spain squad know there are lots of fans back in England who are supporting us and it is wonderful.

"It's wonderful to know fans of clubs in England other than Arsenal would want me to score my penalty against Italy because I have grown up a lot in my time there. When I arrived in England I was just a boy and I feel like a man now. All the way through that time, English fans have shown a lot of respect for me and that is fantastic."

Fabregas has been unable to force his way into the starting line-up of a Spain side that now has high hopes of beating Russia in Thursday's semi-final and going on to win the tournament.

But every time Fabregas has been brought off the bench, he has made an immediate impact on the team and given their performance new momentum.

It was the same against the Italians. As soon as coach Luis Aragones withdrew Xavi and replaced him with Fabregas, there was an added verve about Spain's play.

Their victory over a cynical, conservative, cautious Italy was a triumph for the spirit of Euro 2008 and a relief for the romantics who saw Spain against Italy as a clash of football cultures.

Finally football came through and took care of itself," said Fabregas.

"It made sure that the best team won and there was justice. It was wonderful to come on and actually get a chance in the game. "I feel important to the team. I feel like I am the 12th player, which is OK, and I will continue to try and do the best that I can.

"We have to believe we can win now but we still have to take one step at a time and that has been our approach all along.

"The job is to now beat Russia and get to the final. Once we get there, anything can happen but we have to make sure we go step by step."

Fabregas revealed later that he had not taken a penalty for six years before he hit the fifth and decisive kick on Sunday night.

"It's the first one I ever shot," he said. "Since I was 15 I don't think I have ever taken a penalty in a game before. It is incredible. The goal looked very small.

"I know that taking the fifth one was the winning one, but if my team-mates had not scored before and Iker Casillas had not made the saves that he did, then it would have meant nothing. I would not be standing here talking as a winner if they had not done that."