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14.06.2012 at 15:00 Arena Gdansk, Gdansk Attendance:
Spain 4 - 0 Republic of Ireland
Referee: European Cup Finals / PROG-match

Goalscorers
Torres 4 Mins,
Silva 49 Mins,
Torres 70 Mins.
None.
Opening squads
Casillas;
Arbeloa,
Pigue,
Ramos,
Alba;
Busquets,
Alonso,
Silva,
Xavi,
Iniesta,
Torres.
Shay Given
Sean St Ledger
John O'Shea
Stephen Ward
Richard Dunne
Glen Whelan
Keith Andrews
Simon Cox
Aidan Mc Geady
Damien Duff
Robbie Keane
Substitutes
Víctor Valdés (GK)
Pepe Reina (GK)
Raúl Albiol
Javi Martínez
Juanfran
Pedro Rodríguez
Cesc Fàbregas
Álvaro Negredo
Juan Mata
Fernando Llorente
Santi Cazorla
Jesús Navas
David Forde
Keiren Westwood
Darren O'Dea
Paul Green
Stephen Kelly
Paul Mc Shane
Darron Gibson
Steve Hunt
Shane Long
James Mc Clean
Jon Walters
Kevin Doyle
Substitutions
Javi Martinez for Alonso 65 mins,
Cesc Fabregas for Torres 74 mins,
Santi Cazarola for Iniesta 80 mins,
Jon Walters -> Simon Cox (46)
James Mc Clean -> Damien Duff (76)
Paul Green -> Glen Whelan (80)
Yellow cards
Alonso 54 mins,
Martinez 76 Mins,
Robbie Keane (36)
Glen Whelan (45)
Red cards
None None.
Other statistics
0 Shots 0
0 Shots on goal 0
0 Offsides 0
0 Corner kicks 0
0 Free kicks 0
0 Penalties 0
Match report


Pictures from the match
Click on Pictures from match to see Team Photo


Spain 4 – 0 Republic of Ireland
Torres 4, 70
Silva 49
Fabregas 83

Spain, the reigning European and World champions, showed their undoubted class by inflicting a heavy defeat on Ireland in the EURO 2012 tie in Gdansk.



Spain ensured that skill was the ultimate arbiter as they coped with ease with all of the energy, determination and spirit that Ireland could muster on a night when the world order as it affects Ireland was illustrated with stark reality.



Ireland surrendered a goal within four minutes of the start of the game to leave themselves at a huge disadvantage, just as they had done in their previous game against Croatia. And, in a remarkable re-run of that first match, Ireland lost a second goal just four minutes after the interval.



These goals effectively put the result beyond doubt but, in truth, this was never a contest. While Ireland showed all of their traditional qualities and were still running hard at the end of 90 minutes, they were always involved in a damage limitation exercise. Spain were just too good and worked so hard that Ireland were held as if in a vice.



The first goal came when Richard Dunne slid into the tackle to knock the ball away from David Silva's feet as the Spaniard was about to shoot from 15 yards. Dunne moved quickly to regain his feet but, before he could do so, Torres snapped up the loose ball, stepped around Stephen Ward and first the ball high into the net.



The second goal came after goalkeeper Shay Given had done well to parry a powerful shot from Torres in the 49th minute. Silva snatched up the rebound and twice faked to shoot to wrong-foot defenders before slipping the ball calmly beyond Given from 16 yards.



Torres ran clear of the defence after Aiden McGeady had been caught in possession in the 70th minute. He held his nerve as Given advanced and drilled the ball under him as he reached the edge of the penalty area.



Ireland were caught disastrously off-guard for the fourth goal after 83 minutes. Given had again made a good save as he turned a shot from Cazorla around the upright. Substitute Fabregas delayed his run into the penalty area and was unmarked when he ran on to the accurate delivery from the corner and he fired the ball home.



Teams:



Spain: Casillas; Arbeloa, Pigue, Ramos, Alba; Busquets, Alonso, Silva, Xavi, Iniesta, Torres.

Substitutes: Martinez for Alonso 65, Fabregas for Torres 74,



Republic of Ireland: Shay Given (Aston Villa); John O'Shea (Sunderland), Richard Dunne (Aston Villa), Sean St Ledger (Leicester City), Stephen Ward (Wolves); Damien Duff (Fulham), Keith Andrews (West Brom), Glenn Whelan (Stoke City), Aiden McGeady (Spartak Moscow); Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy), Simon Cox (West Brom).

Subs: Jon Walters (Stoke City) for Cox 46, James McClean (Sunderland) for Duff 76, Paul Green (Unattached) for Whelan 80.
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