Spain vs. Republic of Ireland: As It Happened
By on June 14, 2012
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Euro 2012—Group D, PGE Arena, Gdansk
Spain vs. Republic of Ireland (full time)
Goals: Torres (ESP) 4', David Silva (ESP) 49', Torres (ESP) 70', Fabregas (ESP) 83'
Lineups
Spain: Iker Casillas (capt.); Jordi Alba, Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Alvaro Arbeloa; Xabi Alonso (Javi Martinez 65'), Sergio Busquets, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta (Santi Cazorla 80'), David Silva; Fernando Torres (Cesc Fabregas 74').
Republic of Ireland: Shay Given; John O'Shea, Sean St. Ledger, Richard Dunne, Stephen Ward; Damien Duff (James McClean 76'), Keith Andrews, Glenn Whelan (Paul Green 80'), Aiden McGeady; Simon Cox (Jonathan Walters 46'), Robbie Keane (capt.).
Jasper Juinen/Getty Images
Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
FULL TIME—SPAIN 4, IRELAND 0
The teams play out an uninspired three minutes of stoppage time.
That's it for Ireland. They will be eliminated, no matter what happens in their final game against Italy.
Spain now move on to play Croatia in a top-of-table Group C showdown.
Who will win? I'm thinking Spain will.
90'—SPAIN 4, IRELAND 0
Heading into stoppage time.
Total domination…
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Regarding the song you're hearing from the fans:
Ireland are down 4-0 but I still hear the Fields of Athenry! Much respect to these fans!
— Tim Fontenault (@Tim_Fontenault) June 14, 2012
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History lesson.
4 - The 4-0 would be the highest ever win of a Spanish Team at an Euro. By the way it would be the biggest loss for Ireland. Highlight
— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) June 14, 2012
Alex Grimm/Getty Images
85'—SPAIN 4, IRELAND 0
This game was over a long time ago.
Sean St. Ledger got a yellow card a couple moments ago for a nasty, nasty challenge.
Michael Steele/Getty Images
MORE ON THE GOAL
It's a short corner for Spain. Cesc Fabregas runs near post, collects a pass along the ground, sidesteps a defender and blasts a piledriver past Given.
Awful effort from the Irish defense there.
82'—GOAL! SPAIN!
Cesc Fabregas!
80'—SUB
Paul Green replaces Glenn Whelan for Ireland.
78'—SPAIN 3, IRELAND 0
Free kick to Spain.
Xavi blasts it over the bar.
Christopher Lee/Getty Images
76'—IRELAND SUB
James McClean enters the match to a big, big ovation. He's supposed to be the future for Ireland, but it's looking like the manager left him on the bench too long.
Damien Duff makes way for him.
76'—BOOKING
Spain's Javi Martinez earns a yellow card for a tackle.
Anyone still awake?
Alex Grimm/Getty Images
75'—IRELAND CHANCE!
Robbie Keane gets loose on the left side and hits a good, low shot to the back post.
Iker Casillas saves.
73'—SPAIN SUB
And now Fernando Torres leaves the match to a huge ovation.
Cesc Fabregas replaces him with a big smile.
Great game for El Niño.
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Instant reaction to Torres' second goal.
Happy that Torres is scoring again, but did we not already know that he's ok against average Premier League defences?
— Rory Smith (@RorySmithTimes) June 14, 2012
And…
Yep, Fernando Torres stole Cristiano Ronaldo's lifeforce.
— dirtytackle (@BrooksDT) June 14, 2012
70'—GOAL! SPAIN!
Fernando Torres breaks away behind the Irish defense and beats Shay Given one-on-one.
That's all for this one. Ireland will be out.
Alex Grimm/Getty Images
67'—SPAIN 2, IRELAND 0
Corner for Ireland.
The ref calls a foul against Ireland. Free kick to Spain.
65'—SPAIN SUB
Javi Martinez replaces Xabi Alonso.
Xabi Alonso really wasn't needed anymore. He's a great defensive midfielder, but Spain's midfield isn't being threatened at all by Ireland.
Martinez is a similar player. He's just getting some easy experience.
64'—SPAIN 2, IRELAND 0
Almost a chance for Ireland!
Aiden McGeady feeds Keith Andrews in space in the Spain box.
Andrews gets it all wrong, though, and the chance goes begging.
61'—SPAIN 2, IRELAND 0
Aiden McGeady hits a long, high cross from the left.
It looks pretty but curls into the hands of Spain keeper Iker Casillas.
Jasper Juinen/Getty Images
58'—OFFSIDE!
Fernando Torres escapes behind the Irish defense, but he's ruled offside.
The replays are inconclusive. I think the linesman missed that one.
55'—SAVE!
Shay Given saves at full stretch with one hand!
Outstanding work by the Ireland keeper, who's had a rough tournament.
55'—SPAIN 2, IRELAND 0
I'm being told by numerous people that if this result holds, a 2-2 draw between Spain and Croatia in the final group match would eliminate Italy—no matter what they do against Ireland.
I'm not sure how that works, but I'll believe it.
Alex Grimm/Getty Images
53'—SPAIN 2, IRELAND 0
So, now it's 2-0 and the Irish are really in trouble. They need two goals or their tournament is over.
Anyone think they have a chance?
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Instant reaction to David Silva's goal:
Ireland have conceded in the first four minutes of every half in Euro 2012.
— Richard Jolly (@RichJolly) June 14, 2012
And…
Xavi would've passed that backwards. #Euro2012
— Graham Ruthven (@grahamruthven) June 14, 2012
And…
Actually, you know what? Given brought that on himself with a terrible punch. He's really been awful this tournament.
— Matthew Doyle (@MLS_Analyst) June 14, 2012
MORE ON THE GOAL
Iniesta tests Given with a long shot, and Given punches it away.
The ball is then worked back in to David Silva, who squares up his body and literally passes the ball along the ground into the corner of the net from about eight yards out.
Too easy.
And the Irish give away another goal in the opening minutes of another half.
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