With a striker reinstituted into their
starting lineup, title-holders Spain cruised to their first victory
at Euro 2012 on Thursday, beating Ireland 4-0 on two goals by
Fernando Torres and eliminating the Irish from group C.
After Spain head coach Vicente del Bosque did not include an
attacker in his first XI of the opening draw against Italy, Torres
began the game up front and opened the game with a tally in the
fourth minute. David Silva doubled the Spanish lead after 49 minutes
and
Torres struck again in the 70th minute and substitute Cesc
Fabregas finished the scoring after 83 minutes in steady rain at
Arena Gdansk in Gdansk, Poland.
"We really wanted to get a victory and show everyone that we can
win," said Torres.
About his two goals, Torres added: "The whole team did the work.
The system worked. The passing was well. And two other goals were
scored, so it wasn't just me."
The reigning world and European champions, who had 66 per cent
ball possession in the game, now have four points in group C, even
with Croatia while Italy have two points and Ireland were bounced
from the tournament with two losses.
"They are a great team. We were just a shadow of what we can do,"
said Ireland midfielder Keith Andrews.
"We gave everything we could but it's hard against them because
you cannot afford any lapses. We still have one more game. We're
playing for ourselves and the great fans who came here."
The final group matches are Monday as Spain face Croatia and Italy
tackle Ireland.
Del Bosque spent the past few days being asked why he didn't
include a striker against Italy and fending off speculation about who
would start if there was an attacker in the first XI.
Torres took the honors and re-paid his coach's trust straight
away in making it 1-0 after just four minutes. Irish defender Richard
Dunne separated Silva from the ball at the edge of the area but the
Chelsea striker latched onto it, raced clear into space and blasted
past Irish keeper Shay Given from the right side.
Torres nearly doubled his tally four minutes later but his shot
following a pass from the right side went just right.
The Iberians were just toying with the Irish, with back heels and
all. But del Bosque's men could not convert their chances.
Xabi Alonso's long distance blast went over the bar in the 26th
minute and Alvaro Arbeloa's attempt was fended away by Given in the
44th minute.
The Spanish did not wait long to regain control after the break
and Silva made it 2-0 in the 49th minute. Andres Iniesta's shot was
blocked right to Silva, who waited to find the hole with three
defenders in front of him and scored between the legs of Dunne.
The advantage should have been 3-0 in the 55th minute but Given
made a fantastic save on Xavi Hernandez's blast from about 11 yards
out.
Ireland pushed forward after the hour mark looking to perhaps get
a goal back. But they were left vulnerable to the counter and Torres
made it 3-0 in the 70th minute after running onto a release from
Silva and beating Given one-on-one.
Spanish keeper Iker Casillas was called upon to make a save in the
75th minute, fending away an attempt by Robbie Keane.
And after coming on Torres in the 74th minute, Fabregas joined the
scorer sheet in the 83rd minute, hammering home a blast from the
right side following a corner kick.
