"Villa, steamroll Spain 4-1 Russia"

David Villa showed that opponents of Spain in the European Championship have much more to worry that only Fernando Torres.

The Valencia striker scored a hat trick Tuesday to lead Spain 4-1 on Russia, becoming the first player to get three goals in a European Championship game since Patrick Kluivert Sergio Conceicao Portugal and the Netherlands, both the feat accomplished in the 2000 edition.

"I'm happy for all three points instead of the three goals," Villa said.

Torres fed the streaking Villa in a right-footed goal in the 20 th minute.Villa later Andres Iniesta slipped the slick passing under goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev for his second in the 44 th, and then completed his memorable Group D game after dribbling around Roman Shirokov in the 74 to slot past Akinfeev with his right foot.

"Three goals, a hat trick with the national team - is well begun," the 26-year-old told Villa. "We are facing a good start. But there are still two games ahead."

Cesc Fabregas added a quarter of an hour at the expense of Spain give a further boost confidence in a tournament in which he is linked to your favorites.

"Everyone knows about the importance of this. Let's build on this momentum and enhance in the future," said coach Luis Aragones, who has led Spain in a seven-game winning run as part of a party 17 unbeaten streak.

Russia Roman Pavlyuchenko scored the lone goal with a header in the 86 as Russia lost its opening game to Spain for the second European Championship.

Russia had its chances in a rainy, high-tempo first half with Igor Semshov great shot after being played in the area Aleksandr Anyukuv in the 17 th and Konstantin Zyryanov close to reaching the post after the Spanish defence is not clear six minutes later.

"(Considering) how much possession we had ... we were caught out by our own mistakes," said Russia coach Guus Hiddink, whose success streak in major tournaments is in danger of reaching its end. "I hope we can move quickly now because we still have two matches ahead."

Villa showed no effects of the right thigh injury picked up a week ago which had as its objective international tally to 17 from 32 games - two more than Torres, who has played 50 times.

"When I think of Villa, is a name that makes me think of scoring," Spain coach Luis Aragones said. "The Spanish team is fortunate to have players who can Equals. It could be today or tomorrow Villa Torres."

But without left Joan Capdevila, the first two goals would not have been possible.

The Villarreal defender Torres found on the left with space. In a one-on-one situation with the defender Denis Kolodin, the Liverpool striker worked around the Dynamo Moscow defender to feed a target for Villa beat calmly.

Capdevila led to the break in the second goal, also seeking Iniesta with a cross-field pass. Iniesta left flat-footed Yuri Zhirkov agile as the player of FC Barcelona moved around him to feed Villa, who had slipped between two defenders and just in front of Akinfeev for another crisp finish with his right foot.

Villa paid tribute to Torres after scoring the third goal with another impressive move, running to the bank to embrace his companion, who had come out of Fabregas in the 54.

"The game was very important and he is a key player for us so I wanted to devote a third party for him," Villa said Torres, who scored 33 goals in 47 games in all competitions for Liverpool last season .

Russia faces defending champion Greece and Sweden to avoid the drop after the group stage for the fourth time. Hiddink has never ceased to carry out their teams in the group stage earlier in four major championships.

Hiddink likened the defeat of Russia to "naivety" and lack of luck.

"The first objective that we are playing well ... and then we do silly mistakes and we are caught in the counterattack," said the Dutchman. "The second goal - only one minute before going into half time - then it's a lack of experience" for not running the clock.

Spain's opener which had allowed to find their rhythm after a bruising start. The Russians were looking to slow the rapid Spain passing physical contact with the game and who worked in 10 minutes, apart from a couple of misses Torres and Villa closely.

But after Iniesta escaped the crowd of white shirts leaf Villa a perfect ball to beat the offside trap and net secondly, the task was too much.

"Against a team defensive Spanish is almost done," said Hiddink.

The Russians had a couple of opportunities early in the second substitute Vladimir Bystrov and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov.

However, Spain was the best performance in Russia, despite the advantage of possession and David Silva was unlucky not to get on the scoreboard after seeing blocked two possibilities, one saved and fly on another goal before coming off Xabi Alonso in the 77 th.

Fabregas scored his first goal in 27 appearances after the departure Xavi's volley blocked. Spain is the biggest victory in the tournament since a 4-3 victory over Yugoslavia in 2000.

"We are a group that is, every day, improving with the aim of seeing if we can get all the way until the end," said Aragones. "For now I'm happy."

Hiddink had to juggle with its line of playmakers Pavel Pogrebnyak with Andrei Arshavin missing. The striker has the responsibility fell on Pavlyuchenko, who also shot wide in the 81 th before taking advantage of defending Spain nervy finish with his header.