Torres at the double as Ireland crash out
FERNANDO Torres helped bury Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2012 campaign with two delicious goals as world champions Spain coasted to a 4-0 win in Gdansk yesterday. Spain recorded their biggest win at the European Championship finals with some ease as Ireland followed up their 3-1 loss to Croatia on Sunday by shipping four more goals against the world and European champions.
The defensive success that had helped Giovanni Trapattoni’s Ireland reach their first major tournament since the 2002 World Cup finals, collapsed all around them amid a series of wretched mistakes on a saturated night that was damp for the Irish players and supporters in more ways than one.
Spain were their usual menacing selves, but there is little doubt that Ireland contributed to their own downfall with a lack of organisation all too obvious at key moments.
Torres (4th and 70th), David Silva (49th) and Torres’ late replacement Cesc Fabregas (82nd) consigned Ireland to their heaviest defeat at a major tournament.
In truth, it could have been much, much worse for an Irish side who will probably reflect on their efforts at this tournament with a real sense of regret.
Spain are not yet through to the last eight despite drubbing the Irish. Spain will qualify for the quarter-finals if they beat Croatia on Monday with Ireland concluding their campaign against Italy on the same night before they fly home.