Match Analysis: Spain 4-0 Luxembourg

Doubles from Santi Cazorla and Paco Alcacer secured Spain’s place at Euro 2016 in a 4-0 win over Luxembourg in Logrono. A great curled effort from Bensi nearly sends the visitors wild but the ball just veers wide of the post.

Next up for the current European champions is a home tie vs Luxembourg, and City’s little wizard opened the scoring in the reverse tie in October 2014 as Spain comfortably won 4-0. It was a similar story in the early stages of the second half, but it was always the type of game where Luxembourg needed to score the next goal if they were to stand a chance of securing a positive result.

Santi Cazorla: The Arsenal midfielder has not always been an automatic starter for his country, but he made an important point here.

Pique’s teammates and Del Bosque appeared dismayed that their calls for the centre-back to be supported had fallen on deaf ears for the second consecutive home fixture.

Substitute Paco Alcacer, who replaced Morata, bagged a second-half brace and Cazorla added a late fourth to wrap up the victory.

A more serious looking injury interrupted Spain’s flow once more when Morata had to be stretchered off after being accidentally stood on by a Luxembourg defender. A four-goal separation might be a touch harsh, but Spain certainly deserved to emerge victorious.

Cazorla scored just before halftime after Pedro Rodriguez’s shot was parried by Luxembourg goalkeeper Jonathan Joubert.

Alcacer scored his second goal, and Spain’s third, from close range in the 80th minute after fine work from fullback Jordi Alba and Cazorla rifled the ball home from the edge of the penalty area five minutes from time to complete the rout.

Despite doubts over their credentials, particularly after their disappointing exit at the 2014 World Cup, Spain will be desperate to return to their previous level of domination and defend their European title next summer.

Spain attempted 17 shots in the first half, the most in a competitive game first half since 2008. Weak goalkeeping from Joubert allowed Alba to acrobatically scoop the ball across the face of goal right on the bye-line, giving Alcacer a simple tap-in.