Australia: Ryan; McGowan, Wilkinson, Spiranovic, Davidson; McKay, Jedinak; Leckie, Bozanic (Bresciano 72’), Oar (Troisi 61’); Taggart (Halloran 46’). 4-2-3-1.
Spain: Reina; Juanfran, Sergio Ramos, Raúl Albiol, Jordi Alba; Koke, Xabi Alonso (David Silva 83’), Iniesta; Cazorla (Fàbregas 68’), Fernando Torres, David Villa (Mata 57’). 4-3-3.
Goals:
0-1. 36. Villa. Back-heel flick past Ryan after Juanfran crossed in from right.
0-2. 69. Torres. Picked up Iniesta through ball and struck shot wide of keeper.
0-3. 82. Mata. Controlled Fàbregas centre and steered shot under Ryan’s legs.
Spain recovered a little bit of dignity in their last match in this summer’s World Cup, a 0-3 victory over Australia at least sending them home with points on the board. Neither team had anything at stake after losing their first two games, and Del Bosque used the occasion to give a run out to the rest of his squad, with Reina, Juanfran, Albiol, Villa and later on Mata all getting their first minutes in the competition. Despite the changes though they dominated the first half, Villa volleying wide and Alba bringing a good save out of Ryan before Villa got on the end of Juanfran’s cross to open the scoring, his 59 th and probably last goal for “la selección”. With twenty minutes to go Torres scored a second after Iniesta put him through, and Mata wrapped things up with a third, steering an angled shot under the legs of the keeper after controlling a centre from Fàbregas. An unexpectedly premature end to Spain’s participation in the tournament though, and they now have to go home to get some much needed rest, and decide where they go from here.