Has graduation day finally arrived for Fabregas?

“At Arsenal there is only one channel between the defence and attack and that is me, so I’m involved in practically all the attacks, but here there are more variations, more ways of attacking.

“It’s is up to me to adapt but after over two years with the national team I think I’ve done pretty well. Good players have to be able to adapt.”

He was as good as his word. He was named among the substitutes for Spain’s opening 4-1 win against Russia but came off the bench to set up his side’s third goal and then weighed in with the fourth himself, his first for the national team.

Against Italy in the quarter-finals, Luis Aragones gave him the responsibility of taking the often decisive fifth spot-kick in the shoot-out even though he had not taken one in a match since he was 15. Fabregas responded by sending Gianluigi Buffon the wrong way to put Spain through to the semis for the first time in 24 years.

In the semi-final against Russia he changed the course of the match when he came on in place of the injured David Villa and gave Spain the edge with his driving play in midfield. His presence gave Xavi more freedom to get forward and he set up two of his side’s three goals with brilliant assists.

Fabregas has remained a relatively peripheral figure for Spain. That could all change after his performances here.