Spain Line-Up: Casillas (c), Ramos, Pique, Alba, Arbeloa, Xavi, Silva, Alonso (Martinez, 65'), Busquets, Iniesta (Cazorla, 79'), Torres (Fabregas, 73')
Ireland Line-Up: Given, O'Shea, St.Ledger, Ward, Dunne, Duff (McClean, 76'), Andrews, Whelan (Green, 80'), Keane (c), Cox (Walters, 45'), McGeady
Republic Ireland become the first team to exit Euro 2012 at the hands of a dominant Spain. Two goals from Fernando Torres was just half of the torment the World and Euro Champions inflicted onto the naive Ireland side.
The pain started after just four minutes when Torres took a touch into the box before smashing the ball home past Shay Given. If it wasn't for the Villa keeper, Ireland would have conceded a lot more as Given produced a handful of wonderful saves. He was arguably their best player despite conceding four.
Ireland did try to come back into it but with much less possession, they did extremely well to hold on until half-time with the score at just 1-0. But their bad starts came back to haunt them when a shot by Andres Iniesta was parried by Given into the feet of David Silva. The Manchester City mid-fielder twisted and turned before rolling the ball through a defender and into the bottom corner.
It would be 3-0 on 70-minutes when Torres was put through on goal. The Chelsea striker marauded forward before curling the ball around Given and into the corner. Torres then got his hero's applause by being substituted for Cesc Fabregas.
Ireland were caught sleeping from a corner when Fabregas received the ball in the box from a short corner. The Barcelona man took a touch to settle himself before blasting the ball home from an acute angle. Ireland only have pride to play for against Giovanni Trapattoni's home side, Italy.
If the Italians beat Ireland they'll progress through with the winners between Croatia and Spain. If the game was to end in a draw, there would be a three way tie at the top if Italy won. Italy would have to win by at least two goals to go through on goal difference at Croatia's expense.
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