Euro 2012

Qualifying group I

Liechtenstein 0 - Spain 4

Liechtenstein: Jehle; Oehri (Vogt 46'), Martin Stocklasa, Michael Stocklasa, Eberle (Rechsteiner 44'); Wieser (Büchel 82'), Polverino; Erne, Frick, Burgmeier; Hasler. 4-2-3-1.
Spain: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Piqué, Marchena, Capdevila; Xavi (Fábregas 46'), Busquets, Xabi Alonso; Iniesta (Pedro 65'), Fernando Torres (David Silva 57'), David Villa. 4-3-3.

Goals:
0-1. 18. Fernando Torres. Ran on to Iniesta pass and lobbed shot over Jehle.
0-2. 26. David Villa. Picked up Busquets pass and fired long shot in to roof of net.
0-3. 53. Fernando Torres. Drove shot inside near post from Fábregas assist.
0-4. 61. David Silva. Turned on Busquets pass and struck low shot past Jehle.

European and World champions Spain (how good does that sound?) got off to a comfortable start in their opening match of the new European campaign. Del Bosque put out his best possible line-up against the lowly Liechtenstein, only missing the injured Puyol from the starting XI who beat Holland in Johannesburg just a couple of months ago.

Fernando Torres signalled his return to form, lobbing Jehle to open the scoring with just over a quarter of an hour gone, and David Villa added the second with a long shot a few minutes later, his 43rd goal with "la selección" taking him to within one of all-time top scorer Raúl.

Only two or three good saves by Jehle from Torres and Villa prevented the scoreline from increasing before the break, but the hosts could have scored themselves had Casillas not come out of his area rapidly to clear from Frings early in the second half. Torres netted a third though after half time substitute Fábregas set him up, and another substitute Silva completed the scoring after picking up a pass from Busquets soon afterwards.

After that Pedro replaced Iniesta and fired a couple of shots just wide, and Villa shot against the crossbar with the goal at his mercy in the last minute. The Barcelona striker has plenty of time though to break Raúl's record, and he may even do so when Spain play Argentina in next Tuesday's friendly in Buenos Aires.