Arsene Wenger has admitted that he was probably more nervous than the player himself when Cesc Fabregas stepped up to take the crucial penalty against Italy.
Despite the obvious tension, the young Spain and Arsenal star buried the penalty with aplomb, and Wenger is convinced that the hyper-talented 21-year-old will have matured even more as a player because of it.
”I prayed that Cesc would score,” Wenger confessed to Setanta Sports.
“It was a great responsibility for him, all the more because he is not a specialist penalty taker.
”It was a great moment of joy for me when he scored and it was important for him.
”He will grow in confidence as a result and both Spain and Arsenal will reap the benefit.
”He showed real guts to take it as players who miss in these situations are haunted for a long time.”
Fabregas and Spain must now face a Russia side who are high on confidence after downing favourites Holland 3-1 in extra time.
