Football Focus Highlight

A comfortable win for Vicente Del Bosque's men seals their spot at World Cup 2010.
A late goal from Villarreal's Santi Cazorla and an injury time strike from Valencia forward Juan Mata gave Spain a comfortable 3-0 win over Estonia in Merida as La Furia Roja booked their place at next year's World Cup in South Africa.

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque made a number of changes to the side that hammered Belgium 5-0 on Saturday. Cesc Fabregas and Marcos Senna stepped into the midfield in place of Sergi Busquets and Xabi Alonso while Raul Albiol replaced Real Madrid team-mate Alvaro Arbeloa in the right-back slot. Carlos Marchena partnered Gerard Pique in the centre of the defence in place of Carles Puyol.

It was the Arsenal captain who put the home side in front just after the half hour mark. Following a neat interchange of passes with the in-form David Silva the Gunner cleverly clipped the ball past Sergei Pareiko in the visitors goal to make it 1-0.



Estonia did enjoy brief spells inside the Spain half during the first 45 but as the half wore on La Furia Roja stamped their authority on the game with Fernando Torres finding space on a number of occasions but the Liverpool Number 9 failed to find the finish his movement deserved.

Shortly before the interval Torres chested down for strike partner David Villa but he couldn't keep his shot down. Villa went closer moments later when his blistering drive from the edge of the box stung the fingers of Pareiko who was happy to concede a corner.

The second half began in similar vein to how the first half ended with El Guaje firing another attempt at goal but Pareiko was equal to it.

Torres had another less than average display for Spain made way for Fenerbahce striker Guiza ten minutes into the half as Del Bosque looked for a fresh impetus.

The hosts didn't have it all their own way however as Estonia took the game to Spain, seeking a goal that would upset the Spanish World Cup qualification celebrations and Tarmo Kink and Konstantin Vassilijev gave Iker Casillas something to think about midway through the half firing efforts from distance at the Spanish stopper.

Martin Vunk sent an effort inches wide of Casilla's post after 72 minutes as Estonia looked to make their possession tell.

The Spaniards knew they were in a game and duly responded, quickly set their passing game into motion. Their patience was rewarded with ten minutes remaining as second-half substitute Santi Cazorla skipped past Raio Piiroja to fire home, capping a fine passing move.

That was surely enough to secure victory and qualification but there was still time for Mata to make it 3-0. The substitute, who replaced Silva, found a yard of space inside the Estonia box to fire home from ten yards.

Three goals in a comfortable performance for Spain who qualify with two games to spare. Eight wins from eight in European Qualifying Group Five for the European Champions, although the scoreline tonight is a little flattering as the visitors put in a spirited display.

Paul Madden, Goal.com