Spain beats Liechtenstein 4-0 in Euro qualifier

Posted Saturday, September 04, 2010 by YAHOO Sport

VADUZ, Liechtenstein (AP)—World Cup champion Spain began the defense of its European Championship title with a comfortable 4-0 win over Liechtenstein in a qualifying match on Friday.

Spain looked hungry for goals from the start, and got them from Fernando Torres in the 18th and 54th minutes, David Villa to match Spain’s all-time scoring record in the 26th, and substitute David Silva in the 62nd.

Villa’s 44th international goal, in his 66th appearance, matched Raul Gonzalez’s total from 102 matches.

Villa missed setting the official record—though one of his career tally is disputed by some as an own goal—when his stoppage-time shot from five meters hit the bar when the goal was unguarded.

“I’ll get there, no? There’s no rush, what’s important is the team won,” Villa said.

Torres, whose goals tied him with Emilio Butragueno for fifth all-time with 26, looked sharp after missing much of the preseason with a thigh injury sustained in the World Cup final.

“I’m slowly finding my rhythm and games like tonight helps,” the Liverpool forward said.

Spain travels to face Argentina in a friendly match next Tuesday, and resumes Group I play at home to Lithuania on Oct. 8. Liechtenstein continues away to Scotland next Tuesday. The group also includes the Czech Republic.

The Spaniards’ European homecoming at the 6,300-capacity Rheinpark stadium in the tiny Alpine principality offered a stark contrast to its last two matches in different continents.

More than 84,000 spectators at Soccer City, Johannesburg, saw Spain beat the Netherlands in the World Cup final; and 100,000 packed Mexico’s Azteca stadium to see a 1-1 draw in a friendly last month.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque began with nine players who started the World Cup final. The two changes were the injured Carles Puyol being replaced by Carlos Marchena, and forward Pedro Rodriguez being dropped to the bench in favor of Torres, an extra-time substitute against the Dutch.

Liechtenstein coach Bidu Zaugg selected 17-year-old midfielder Sandro Wieser and 19-year-old defender Lucas Eberle in his lineup of assorted professionals and amateurs including students, a bricklayer and a car mechanic.

The 141st-ranked host relied on one of its pros in the third minute, as goalkeeper Peter Jehle turned away Andres Iniesta’s shot and then Villa’s header from the resulting corner.

Liechtenstein settled into its best spell and Wieser missed the target in the 15th from a free kick.

Three minutes later, Spain scored its first goal on a counter-attack, when Lucas Eberle gave the ball away and Iniesta broke to send a perfectly weighted pass for Torres to chip his shot over Jehle.

Villa doubled Spain’s lead in the 26th with a rising 20-meter (yard) shot that beat the ‘keeper for speed above his head.

Jehle, who plays for Vaduz in the Swiss second division, redeemed himself to deny Torres and Villa one-on-one, and used his legs to block a fierce Torres shot.

Spain captain Iker Casillas was mostly a spectator until gathering Franz Burgmeier’s 38th-minute shot from distance.

“My players said the Spanish played so well we could not get near enough to foul them,” Zaugg said. “It seemed we had two or three fewer players than they did.”

Casillas raced from his area in the 52th to tackle onrushing forward Mario Frick, then Philippe Erne shot wide from 45 meters (yards) as Casillas retreated.

Torres slammed the door on Liechtenstein in the 54th, firing low past Jehle at his near post. He made way for Silva, who scored within five minutes on a left-footed shot low to Jehle’s right.

Jehle saved well in the 68th, diving to push away a powerful rising shot from substitute Pedro, who went close twice in the closing minutes.

Lineups:

Liechtenstein: Peter Jehle, Yves Oehri (Franz-Josef Vogt, 46), Martin Stocklasa, Michael Stocklasa, Lucas Eberle (Martin Rechsteiner, 45), Philippe Erne, Michele Polverino, Sandro Wieser (Ronny Buechel, 83), Franz Burgmeier, David Hasler, Mario Frick.

Spain: Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Carlos Marchena, Joan Capdevila, Sergio Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Xavi Hernandez (Cesc Fabregas, 46), Andres Iniesta (Pedro Rodriguez, 65), David Villa, Fernando Torres (David Silva, 57).