Group H: Spain 3 Tunisia 1 La Furia Roja are unrecognisable. For over an hour here last night Spain quaked as if gripped by the ghosts of previous under-achievement on this stage, trailing to the minnows of Tunisia with their status as contenders threatening to revert back to that of also-rans with each missed opportunity. Yet, by the end, the world had witnessed a new-found Spanish strength which could yet sweep all before them.
Gone is the brittleness of the recent past. Last night, just as it seemed as if this match was slipping away to undo all the optimism of their blistering opening to this tournament, Spain rallied late to confirm qualification for the knockout round. It was their substitutes which turned this contest. Joaquín and Cesc Fábregas, spitting a low shot from the edge of the area which Ali Boumnijel could only palm out, had combined for Raúl to poke the favourites level.
That lanced the tension and, in the whirlwind that ensued, Tunisia were duly swept away. Fábregas had forced the goalkeeper to block smartly with his feet when, just five minutes after the goal, the Arsenal midfielder sent Fernando Torres galloping into African territory. El Niño rounded Boumnijel and calmly slipped his team ahead.
Torres, dragged back by Alaeddine Yahia, added a penalty in the dying moments to complete what ended as a riotous win. Spain are unbeaten in 24 matches stretching back two years. They are clearly to be avoided.
Spain had bewitched before the interval, but they also retired behind. Tunisia, with a quintet strung across midfield, conceded territory and possession but found joy slipping diagonal passes from the right flank behind the Spanish centre-halves.
Just eight minutes in García miscontrolled as he charged back towards his own goal and contrived only to send Ziad Jaziri through beyond Spain's back-line. The lone striker slalomed into the area and squared accurately for Joahar Mnari first to volley at goal and, when that shot was blocked by Iker Casillas, calmly side-foot the rebound down and over the prone goalkeeper to thrust his side ahead.
The opportunity punctured incessant Spanish pressure, though the advantage was not entirely ill-deserved. Tunisia may have conceded a succession of chances but they defended resolutely with Hatem Trabelsi excelling, with the desperation increasingly Spanish. The favourites were infuriated as Garcia twice headed wide from Xavi's dead-balls and Sergio Ramos and Alonso were also denied as half-time approached.
But the introduction of Raul and Fabregas and finally Joaquin finallly turned the tables for Spain.
SUBSTITUTIONS
SPAIN: Fabregas for Senna (45 mins), Raul for Luis Garcia (45 mins), Joaquin for Villa (56 mins). Subs not used: Albelda, Antonio Lopez, Canizares, Iniesta, Juanito, Marchena, Reina, Reyes. Booked: Puyol, Fabregas.
TUNISIA: Ayari for Yahia (56 mins), Ghodhbane for Bouazizi (56 mins), Gmandia for Chedli (79 mins). Subs not used: Ben Saada, Chikhaoui, Essediri, Jemmali, Kasraoui, Melliti, Nefzi, Saidi, Santos. Booked: Ayari, Trabelsi, Jaidi, Gmamdia, Jaziri, Mnari.
Referee: Carlos Eugenio Simon (Brazil).
