Spain cruised to a 2-1 win over Uruguay in their opening match of the Confederations Cup tonight.
The reigning World and European champions dominated the game from the kickoff and took a two-goal lead into the break.
A fortuitous opener from Pedro was followed by an excellent team move, before they took the sting out of the game in the second half.
Luis Saurez made things uncomfortable in the final minutes, with a superb free-kick, but in the end Spain ran out deserved winners.
See how the action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text commentary below.
Good evening, and welcome to the stand out tie from Group B in the Confederations Cup.
The reigning Copa America champions Uruguay, face the unenviable task of stopping the best team in the world, Spain. The Spanish have won the last two European Championships, as well as the World Cup in 2010, and will be looking to show that they mean business ahead of next year's World Cup.
I'm looking forward to the game tonight. It really is an intriguing contest, with Uruguay's excellent attack against the obvious talents of the Spanish.
The odds, as you might expect, are stacked in Spain's favour though. The Spanish are unbeaten in their last 22 games, and have never lost to Uruguay. They've also scored 31 goals in their last 12 games.
Uruguay have some firepower of their own though, as we all know. Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has scored 10 goals in his last 13 international games, and could be partnered in attack by the £50-rated Edison Cavani.
TEAM NEWS...
SPAIN: Casillas; Arbeloa, Ramos, Pique, Alba; Iniesta, Busquets, Xavi; Fabregas, Soldado, Pedro
URUGUAY: Muslera; Pereira, Lugano, Godin, Caceres; Perez, Gargano, Rodriguez, Ramirez; Suarez, Cavani
A couple of interesting selections within the Spain side. Casillas gettting the nod over Victor Valdes in goal, is perhaps not so surprising, but Fabregas and Soldado starting as part of a front three in place of David Villa and David Silva is. You might expect Fabregas to play a deeper role in midfield, with Iniesta on the wing, but I think the latter is better in the middle so don't be surprised to see the former Arsenal man in a false nine role, with a 'real' nine alongside him in Soldado.
Soldado is the form striker for Spain, and scored against Ireland after replacing Villa last week, so he has definitely earned his place tonight.
Uruguay also start with their form striker, two of them in fact. Cavani, who scored the winner against Venezuela in Uruguay's last match, starts alongside Suarez up front. In midfield, they've also got some talented players, such as Southampton's Gaston Ramirez and Cristian Rodriguez of Ateltico Madrid.
The Uruguayan attack will hope that they can get enough of the ball to hurt Spain. The Spanish will inevitably dominate possession, but if the likes of Suarez and Cavani can get the ball in advanced areas then they can really threaten Spain.
You could argue that Uruguay's attack is actually stronger than Spain's, it's just the problem of getting the ball to them. The criticism levelled at Spain recently is that, for all their possession, they don't score many goals. I imagine that they will suggest that if you have 65% of possession and over 20 shots on goal, then you deserve to win.
Another point is the weather. Chasing the ball for long periods in the searing heat and humidity in Recife, could take it's toll on Uruguay.
As the national anthems are played and the players go through their handshakes, I'll make a quick prediction. I think Spain will have too much for Uruguay, and fancy them to put a few of their chances away this evening, so I will go for 3-1 to Spain.
Uruguay kick off...
Spain dominating possession early on, around the halfway line with Xavi and Busquets, and Fabregas dropping deep, but so far are unable to break into the final third.
Suarez cuts out Fabregas' pass in midfield but gives the ball back to Spain as he tries to play it wide. Arbeloa plays it to Xavi, who sprays the ball left towards Alba. Iniesta picks it up and spins away from Gargano, before playing it back to Pique.
CHANCE! Spain increase the pace as Xavi finds Alba free on the left. The full-back whips a curling ball towards the back post, but both Pedro and Soldado are inches away from making contact!
Iniesta plays a one-two with Alba before skipping past Gargano. Godin cuts his through ball out, but Spain regain possession, and earn a free-kick when Lugano fouls Fabregas midway into the Uruguay half.
Uruguay are really struggling to keep the ball in these early stages. Every now and again they cut a Spain through ball out, but instantly gift possession back to their opponents, who then build from the back in their slow, controlling manner.
POST! Excellent move from Spain, as Pedro plays the ball towards the edge of the box, where Iniesta lets it run through his legs to Fabregas, who opens up his body and shoots, but sees his effort bounce wide off the inside of the post!
Spain are working very hard in the Uruguay half to press the ball, and as a result the South Americans can't get out of their half.
Pedro shows quick feet in midfield to break away from Suarez and then Rodriguez before Perez blocks him off, earning Spain a free-kick. They play it short and work the ball to Fabregas on the edge of the box, but Uruguay's defence holds firm.
CHANCE! Spain quicken the pace just at the right moment again. Busquets finds Iniesta on the edge of the box, who flicks the ball to Soldado before collecting the return and firing the ball at goal. Muslera blocks the ball and collects it at the second attempt.
Another good move involving Fabregas and Iniesta sees Alba find space on the left, but Soldado is again just too far away to make contact with the ball in the six-yard box.
GOAL! Spain 1-0 Uruguay (Pedro)
Xavi's corner is headed away by Uruguay, but only as far as the edge of the box, where Pedro volleys the ball towards goal and sees it take a big deflection off Lugano and into the net.
Uruguay make a rare foray into the Spain half, with Suarez who is brought down by Arbeloa on the left. The Liverpool man takes the free-kick and Lugano heads wide at the back post, but the referee gives a corner, which Spain clear.
Fabregas breaks from midfield and plays a one-two with Soldado, but is brought down on the edge of the box by Lugano. Xavi takes the free-kick and fires it just over the bar.
YELLOW CARD! Cavani is shown a yellow card after swinging an arm while challenge Ramos for a header. The replay shows that it is perhaps a little bit harsh.
CHANCE! Uruguay create their first chance from a free-kick. Suarez chips the ball towards goal, where Cavani gets behind the defence and flicks it on, but Casillas is in the right position and catches easily.
GOAL! Spain 2-0 Uruguay (Soldado)
What a goal from Spain! Iniesta dispossesses Suarez in his own half and breaks forward before spinning away from Gargano and playing it right to Pedro. The winger plays the ball back inside to Fabregas, who shapes to shoot but instead plays a clever pass to Soldado on the edge of the box, who takes one touch and fires the ball past Muslera.
Spain are happy to take the sting out of the game at the moment, keeping the ball in their defence and midfield, but Uruguay win possession and break with Suarez, who is brought down by Pique.
YELLOW CARD! Pique earns a yellow card for a foul on Suarez just inside the Spain half.
SAVE! Xavi's corner drops straight to Pique in the middle of the box, but somehow the goalkeeper blocks the ball, before catching the second delivery.
YELLOW CARD! Lugano gets a booking for another swinging arm, this time in the direction of Soldado on the left of the box. Again, the replay shows that there was not much in it.
Spain work a good short corner routine and Iniesta eventually curls the ball towards the back post, where Ramos can only head wide.
HALF-TIME: Spain 2-0 Uruguay
An excellent half from the Spanish. They completely controlled the game and when they got into the final third, they quickened the tempo and made it almost impossible for Uruguay.
I expected more from Uruguay, but in all honesty it has been a master class from Spain. Suarez and Ramirez might have done better on the couple of rare occasions that they found space in the Spain half, but it was very difficult for them with no support.
Spain's first goal had more than a little bit of fortune about it, but the second was magnificent. Iniesta started it inside his own half, and Fabregas provided the subtlety in the final third before a good finish from Soldado.
Spain could easily be three or four up, and you would expect them to get more chances in the second half, as Uruguay commit more men forward.
If Spain do get another goal early in this half, I would expect them to make a few changes and rest some players. Not that their bench is any weaker than the starting eleven. David Villa, David Silva, Juan Mata, Santi Cazorla have all played well in recent friendlies and will be looking to force their way back into the side.
The players are back out on the pitch ahead of the second half.
Spain get us underway...
SUBSTITUTION: Uruguay make a half time change, with Ramirez going off to be replaced by Alvaro Gonzalez.
CHANCE! Iniesta fires the ball to the edge of the box, where Xavi turns and flicks it wide to Pedro who squares it across goal but once again, Soldado is inches away from turning it in at the back post.
Spain work the ball well from left to right but Arbeloa loses the ball, which allows Uruguay to break with Cavani, who skips away from Busquets but is brought down by the Barcelona man.
Xavi finds Soldado who lays the ball off for Fabregas, but his shot is easily saved by Muslera. Spain have dropped the tempo but are still creating chances and Uruguay can't escape their half.
CHANCE! Superb skill from Iniesta on the edge of the Uruguay box as he turns Lugano before dragging the ball away from Pereira and spinning into the box, but his left-footed shot goes just wide!
Spain keep the ball for over two minutes, with Xavi and Busquets controlling the game. Uruguay can't get close to the red shirts at the moment.
SUBSTITUTION: Uruguay make their second change, brining on Nicolas Lodeiro for Gargano.
CHANCE! Another fantastic move from Spain as Iniesta comes in off the left and finds Fabregas, who flicks the ball wide to Alba. The full-back squares the ball for Iniesta, who's shot is blocked and Pedro fires the rebound wide.
SUBSTITUTION: Spain make their first change as Cazorla replaces Fabregas.
Spain work the ball well down the left again as Alba steps over the ball before receiving Cazorla's pass and pulling it back towards Xavi, but the midfielder can't quite get their in time and Uruguay clear.
SUBSTITUTION: Uruguay make their final change and bring on Diego Forlan for Perez. They've got a very attacking team on the field now.
YELLOW CARD! Arbeloa is booked for a late challenge on Lodeiro.
Looked like a two-footed lunge from Ramos on Lodeiro, but the referee awards just a free-kick, much to the displeasure of Uruguay's players.
SUBSTITUTION: Spain bring on Javi Martinez, in place of Xavi.
Spain aren't committing too many men forward at the moment, but still manage a good move involving Iniesta and Cazorla. Eventually Martinez plays the ball to Alba, but his cross goes out for a goal kick.
SUBSTITUTION: Juan Mata comes on for Pedro, for Spain.
Uruguay's heads have dropped now. They've been chasing shadows for most of this game but have run out of legs. Spain playing the ball through midfield and in-between their defenders without much pressure.
GOAL! Spain 2-1 Uruguay (Suarez)
Fantastic goal from Suarez! The Uruguay number nine is brought down five yards outside the box by Ramos, before picking himself up and curling the ball into the top corner!
Uruguay pushing men forward now, without much success, as the fourth official signals four minutes of added time.
Soldado robs the ball from Gonzalez and runs free before being brought down on the edge of the box by the Uruguay man, but somehow the referee gives nothing!
FULL-TIME: Spain 2-1 Uruguay
So, Spain win their opening game in style. The margin was only one goal in the end, but for 80 minutes, the Spanish were in complete control.
They didn't really go for the killer goals in the second half, and almost paid for it when Suarez scored an excellent free-kick in the final moments.
Uruguay have undoubted talent in their attacking line, and hard workers throughout the team. In Suarez, they've got someone who will get goals from nothing.
They won't play Spain again until the final, if both get that far, so they are still favourites to get through the group in second place.
Thanks for joining me late into the night, and I hope you enjoyed the game.
Written by
Daniel Cross
Daniel Cross
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