EURO 2012 GROUP I QUALIFIER | SPAIN 3 LITHUANIA 1

The current FIFA World Champions SPAIN defeated LITHUANIA 3-1 in their Group I match tonight which was played in the Spanish city of Salamanca. The SPANISH FOOTBALL TEAM went in without important midfielders  Xavi who is injured & Xabi Alonso who was a last minute withdrawal due to the flu. However, both were well substituted by Andres Iniesta doing the habitual work of his Club team-mate Xavi & Villareal player Cazorla who put in a great match tonight.

Spain Lithuania during the national anthems

The visitors went into this match with a ultra conservative & defensive set up that had one thing in mind; to counter-attack when possible & try their luck. This strategy frustrated Spain most of the first half as they continuously ran straight into the Lithuanian wall. The frustration grew as Spain hit the post twice & David Villa missed a sitter that many still now cannot explain. The 1ºst half finished with more questions than answers that needed replies urgently as how to break apart the opposition defence & score.

Fernando Llorente scores one of his two goals

The Lithuanian "can" was finally opened early in the 2ºhalf with some effective wing & cross play from Ramos that found FERNANDO LLORENTE in the 47th min to head home the opener & bring a sigh of relief. But this seemed to "relax" Spain while Lithuania kept to their pre-match script, which paid off in the 54th min when DARVYDAS SEMAS equalized after scrappy Spanish defensive play. Shock raced through the stadium & nerves on the Spanish bench that needed some cool heads on the field to straighten things back on course. Again, the Spanish dominance, ball control & winger-cross play gave fruits when FERNANDO LLORENTE again scored a header from a Cazorla cross in the 57th min to put Spain ahead again & in front.

Andres Iniesta in action 

Spain learnt the earlier lesson & maintained the pressure looking tofianlly shut the game with another goal so as to avoid possible surprises later in the game. The third goal came in the 79th min when DAVID SILVA headed a magnificent goal into the top corner that sealed things for the night & the victory.


To conclude a few things; the injury to Ramos that we will have to see to what extent, the great game from Cazorla & Iniesta worth a mention & the debut of Valencia CF forward ADURIZ who came on late in the 2ºhalf for an unlucky Villa who just could not get a goal all night.

Spain now travels to Scotland for the Tuesday night match at Glasgow. Tweet

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