Spain v Ukraine

Really, how much can you say about a game as lopsided as this one? I'm not a huge fan of Spain or Spanish players (other than Cesc Fabregas and Jose Antonio Reyes) so I don't know much about them other than they're famous for never playing up to their level of talent, and that they knocked Ireland out of the last World Cup. What me, hold a grudge?

The Ukrainians didn't play anywhere near the level their qualifying campaign suggested they would, and the two Ukraine players I could have told you about before the game started, Sergei Rebrov and Andrii Shevchenko, really were invisible for most of the game. Shevchenko didn't get proper service and found himself offside quite a bit as a result. When he did get a decent chance, in the closing minutes of the game, he was on his own behind the defense but held up so long in getting settled for a shot he let the Spaniards catch up and block his shot. Rebrov had what should have been a great chance he put over the bar. He used to be really good when he played for Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League, then he went to Tottenham Hotspur for a few years and his career just died. Really a shaky game all-around, and the Ukraine did play half the game with 10 men, because of what is definitely the most memorable thing to come out of this game.

Early in the second half, Spanish striker Fernando Torres was running towards goal chased by defender Vladislav Vashchuk, with just the keeper in front of them. Vashchuk got past him, with some bumping and a brief tug on his shorts, but Torres was completely clear of Vashchuk when he took his shot, poorly, right to the keeper. He swung himself so off-balance taking the shot that his foot came down on Vashchuk's heel and he lost his footing and fell. Then on the ground he whined and waved his arms in disbelief (I would hope at how horrible that shot was) and got the most questionable penalty I think I've ever seen. David Villa converted it for Spain, to put the Ukraine up 3-0 at that point, but Vashchuk was sent off. A complete travesty, even though it really didn't significantly change the outcome of the game.

The Ukraine may be alright though, since second place in this group is arguably a better draw than first. The second round match-up for either position could be Switzerland or France, but the second place finisher goes to the other half of the draw from Brazil, now the likely quarterfinal opponent for Spain. Beating out Tunisia and Saudi Arabia for second should be well within the Ukraine's ability. The Ukraine also has the same Thundercats style going as Serbia & Montenegro, I wonder who's designing those, Puma?

Spain 4-0 Ukraine
'13 Xavi Alonso
'17 David Villa
'48 David Villa (pen)
'81 Torres