Reigning champions Spain avoided the ignominy of finishing their
World Cup campaign bottom of Group B with victory over Australia in
Curitiba.
Goals from David Villa, Fernando Torres and Juan Mata
prevented La Roja from suffering a third successive loss for the first
time since 1991.
Villa scored the opener when he flicked in Juanfran's cross, before Chelsea's Torres fired in the second.
Mata slid in the third from fellow substitute Cesc Fabregas's lofted pass.
Match analysis
"I'm glad it stayed at 3-0 because it could have been four, five or six and that would not have reflected just how well Australia played in this tournament."
The result means Spain finish
third in the table with three points after one win and two defeats,
while Australia finish bottom.
During the opening 30 minutes, Vicente del Bosque's
Spain played like a side bewildered by the events of their opening two
games.
Their play was characterised by misplaced passes, uncertainty in defence and a lack of bite in the final third.
But the reliable Villa, whose inclusion was one of seven changes, eased those concerns with a familiar flicked finish nine minutes before the break to cap a move that was typical of Spain in their glory years of 2008, 2010 and 2012.
Andres Iniesta threaded a pass down the right to overlapping full-back Juanfran. The Atletico Madrid played squared to Villa, whose clever finish outfoxed keeper Mat Ryan.
It was the 32-year-old's ninth goal in World Cups and his 59th in total in what will be his 97th and final game for Spain. Villa was later substituted, head bowed, and was consoled by his team-mates on the bench.
Match facts
- Torres scored with his first shot on target of the World Cup; having played 123 minutes.
- Australia's Matthew Spiranovic completed all 23 of his passes in the first half against Spain
- Villa has scored seven of Spain´s last 11 goals at the World Cup
The European side improved
tenfold after the break as Australia - with eight of their starting XI
aged 26 and under - tired as they attempted to break up Spain's
trademark tiki-taka exchanges.
After increasing the pressure, Del Bosque's men
eventually doubled their lead in the 69th minute when Iniesta's ball
split the defence and found Torres, who sidefooted in. That was the
Chelsea forward's first World Cup goal since 2006.
The final goal of Spain's campaign came eight minutes from the end. This time it was Fabregas who was the provider.
The Barcelona midfielder, who had a falling out with Del Bosque during the build-up to the match, played a lovely lofted ball to Manchester United's Mata at the far post. The midfielder, making his first appearance of the tournament, barely looked up before poking the ball under the body of Ryan.
Manchester City's David Silva, who was also a substitute, went close with a drilled shot in stoppage time as his side bid farewell to a disastrous Brazil 2014 campaign with a flourish.
Spain fans were in good spirits despite their side's predicament
Villa (far right) is consoled by his team-mates after coming off
Torres had very few chances in Monday's match in Curitiba
Mata scored having experienced only 36 minutes of World Cup action
Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)
Australia
- 01 Ryan
- 19 McGowan
- 03 Davidson
- 17 McKay
- 22 Wilkinson
- 06 Spiranovic Booked
- 07 Leckie
- 15 Jedinak Booked
- 09 Taggart (Halloran - 45' )
- 13 Bozanic (Bresciano - 72' )
- 11 Oar (Troisi - 61' )
Substitutes
- 05 Milligan
- 08 Wright
- 10 Halloran
- 12 Langerak
- 14 Troisi
- 16 Holland
- 18 Galekovic
- 20 Vidosic
- 21 Luongo
- 23 Bresciano
Spain
- 23 Reina
- 05 Juanfran
- 18 Alba
- 14 Alonso (Silva - 83' )
- 02 Albiol
- 15 Ramos Booked
- 17 Koke
- 06 Iniesta
- 09 Torres
- 20 Cazorla (Fábregas - 68' )
- 07 Villa (Mata - 57' )
Substitutes
- 01 Casillas
- 03 Piqué
- 04 Javi Martínez
- 08 Xavi
- 10 Fábregas
- 11 Pedro
- 12 de Gea
- 13 Mata
- 16 Busquets
- 19 Diego Costa
- 21 Silva
- 22 Azpilicueta
Ref: Nawaf Shukralla
Att: 39,375
Live Text Commentary
Full time
90:00 +1:30 Booking
90:00 +0:59 Foul by Mile Jedinak (Australia).
90:00 +0:09 Attempt blocked. Juan Mata (Spain) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Francesc Fábregas.
88:12 Attempt missed. David Silva (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Juan Mata with a cross.
87:38 Booking
87:34 Foul by Matthew Spiranovic (Australia).
86:55 Attempt missed. Matthew Spiranovic (Australia) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right following a corner.
86:39 Corner, Australia. Conceded by Sergio Ramos.
85:40 Hand ball by Mark Bresciano (Australia).
85:09 Delay over. They are ready to continue.
84:19 Delay in match Matthew Spiranovic (Australia) because of an injury.
82:20 Substitution
78:45 James Troisi (Australia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Full Time Match ends, Australia 0, Spain 3.
90:00 +2:59 Full time
Full Time Second Half ends, Australia 0, Spain 3.
90:00 +2:10 Attempt missed. Sergio Ramos (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right from a direct free kick. 90:00 +1:30 Booking
Booking Mile Jedinak (Australia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90:00 +0:59 David Silva (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 90:00 +0:59 Foul by Mile Jedinak (Australia).
90:00 +0:09 Attempt blocked. Juan Mata (Spain) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Francesc Fábregas.
88:12 Attempt missed. David Silva (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Juan Mata with a cross.
87:38 Booking
Booking Matthew Spiranovic (Australia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
87:34 David Silva (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 87:34 Foul by Matthew Spiranovic (Australia).
86:55 Attempt missed. Matthew Spiranovic (Australia) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right following a corner.
86:39 Corner, Australia. Conceded by Sergio Ramos.
85:40 Hand ball by Mark Bresciano (Australia).
85:09 Delay over. They are ready to continue.
84:19 Delay in match Matthew Spiranovic (Australia) because of an injury.
82:20 Substitution
Substitution Substitution, Spain. David Silva replaces Xabi Alonso.
81:37 Goal scored
Goal!
Goal! Australia 0, Spain 3. Juan Mata (Spain) left footed shot from
the right side of the six yard box to the centre of the goal. Assisted
by Francesc Fábregas with a through ball.
78:45 Foul by Xabi Alonso (Spain). 78:45 James Troisi (Australia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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