Spain beats France 2-0 - without strikers

Spain took another step toward becoming the first country to successfully defend a European Championship title, proving once again in a 2-0 victory over France on Saturday that football's not all about strikers.

Another disappointing performance from France's misfiring Karim Benzema seemed to lend further weight to Spanish coach Vicente del Bosque's Barcelona-like philosophy.

On Wednesday his team will play Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in an enticing, all-Iberian semifinal encounter.

Spain's opener came from the unlikely source of defensive midfielder Xabi Alonso who ghosted into a goal-scoring position to score a 19th minute opener with a powerful downward header. He then put the game beyond doubt with a late penalty. With Benzema struggling to make any impact and ballooning the few chances he had high over the bar, France had just one shot on target; striker-less Spain had five.

The message to Portugal and others: We can score from anywhere.

''We were in control most of the time,'' del Bosque said: ''I don't think this is an unfair result because they didn't have a chance.''

On Sunday, either England or Italy will claim the last remaining semifinal berth, two teams who will have exceeded expectations if they make it to the last four. The winner will play Germany.

England captain Steven Gerrard on Saturday called upon his teammates to ''seize the day,'' saying it was time to prove the doubters wrong by reaching the semifinals of a major tournament for the first time in 16 years.

His coach, Roy Hodgson, appears to have galvanized the England camp and confidence is growing. But the coach warned against over-confidence, saying it could be a ''very long night for us'' if Italy takes control.

Gerrard and fellow midfielder Scott Parker - both in their early 30s - are aware this could be their last major tournament. They may come up against Mario Balotelli who, at age 21, said Sunday he feels like Peter Pan, the fictional flying boy who never grows up.

''I am a bit of a Peter Pan, because I'm free,'' the unpredictable and fiery striker said.

He met the media on Saturday for the first time at the European Championship and revealed how much ''fun'' it's going to be facing three of his Manchester City teammates in the quarterfinals - England goalkeeper Joe Hart, center back Joleon Lescott and midfielder James Milner.

English left back Ashley Cole, hoping he can collect his 100th cap by making the final, invoked a famous English symbol to sum up his team's approach - one that perhaps will be necessary given the team's relative lack of flair.

''We're like 11 bulldogs who will never give up, who will always work for each other and basically die on the pitch for each other.''