David Villa scored three goals as Spain secured a 4-1 win against Russia in Innsbruck, Austria, at soccer's European Championship. Sweden beat defending champion Greece 2-0 in Salzburg.

The Valencia striker lifted Spain to its biggest win at the quadrennial tournament, which it won for an only time in 1964. Roman Pavlyuchenko's 87th-minute reply for Russia was its first goal in all four meetings with Spain, before Cesc Fabregas added a fourth goal for the winners.

"David Villa is a born goalscorer and he's in form — it's as simple as that," Spain coach Luis Aragones told the tournament's Web site. "We like to counterattack and when we control the ball with such purpose then we'll score goals and make life difficult for any team."

The Spanish have often underperformed in major tournaments, advancing beyond the quarterfinals at the European Championship only once in the past 10 editions. They started as second- favorite behind record three-time champion Germany for this year's event in Austria and Switzerland.

There are four groups of four teams, with the top two from each advancing to the quarterfinals. The final will be played on June 29.

Greece, aiming to become the first team to win successive European titles, started with a loss in today's other Group D opener. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Petter Hansson scored for Sweden.

In Innsbruck, Spain took the lead today after 20 minutes. Fernando Torres ran toward goal and managed to retain possession when the ball came off defender Denis Kolodin. The Liverpool striker set up Villa to tap into an empty net instead of having a shot himself.

Russia almost tied the game three minutes later when Spain's defense failed to clear a low cross from Diniyar Bilyaletdinov. Konstantin Zyrianov struck a shot against the post, which rebounded clear.

Torres clipped the ball just wide at the other end as Spain broke quickly, while Villa forced Akinfeev into a save at his near post soon after.

Villa doubled Spain's advantage in the final minute of the first half. Andres Iniesta split Russia's defense with a pass and Villa ran onto it before sliding the ball past the goalkeeper.

Russia, which failed to advance beyond the group stage on its two previous appearances as an independent state, had a spell of attacking pressure at the start of the second half. Vladimir Bystrov headed straight at goalkeeper Iker Casillas from a corner kick.

Akinfeev then held a 20-yard effort from Villa and punched clear a 20-yard volley by Marcos Senna. Villa completed his hat- trick after 75 minutes, slotting the ball into the bottom corner of the net. He ran to Torres, who was replaced by Fabregas in the 55th minute, to celebrate.

Pavlyuchenko headed in for Russia, but Fabregas then stooped to head his first international goal and reestablish Spain's three-goal advantage.

"I worry that people will see the result and, if they haven't watched the game, think it's all about a powerful Spain and a Russia team that created no chances," Russia coach Guus Hiddink told UEFA's Web site. "If we can at least learn to be more streetwise then there are positives to take out of our display."

Sweden, a semifinalist in 1992, started its campaign with a win inspired by Ibrahimovic's first international goal since October 2005. The Inter Milan striker turned, then fired a 20- yard shot into the top corner after 67 minutes.

In a game of few chances, he'd come closest in the first half with a header which looped onto the top of the net. Angelos Charisteas, who scored Greece's goal in the 2004 final, made his biggest contribution today by fouling Hansson after two minutes to receive a yellow card.

Hansson got Sweden's second goal, five minutes after Ibrahimovic scored. He bundled the ball in from a yard out after a Fredrik Ljungberg effort was saved by Antonis Nikopolidis.