Injuries mar Spain's celebrations as they qualify with rout of Luxembourg
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ByEurosport
Updated 09/10/2015 at 21:29 GMT
European Championship qualifier Group C, Estadio Municipal Las Gaunas – Spain 4 (Cazorla 42, 85, Alcacer 67, 80) Luxembourg 0
Spain's Jordi Alba (L) and Paco Alcacer celebrate a goal during their Euro 2016 Group C qualification soccer match against Luxembourg in Logrono, Spain October 9, 2015
Image credit: Reuters
Spain sealed their place in the European Championships next summer with a 4-0 win over Luxembourg but lost David Silva and Alvaro Morata to injury in the process.
Santi Cazorla’s goal three minutes before the half-time whistle cushioned the blow for Spain in what was a frustrating first-half for Vincente del Bosque’s side as Silva and Morata were forced off.
Substitute Paco Alcacer, who replaced Morata, bagged a second-half brace and Cazorla added a late fourth to wrap up the victory.
While the injuries are bad news for Spain, Silva’s absence will be particularly damaging for Manchester City who have now lost two players over the international break after Argentina international Sergio Aguero pulled a hamstring in his country’s 2-0 defeat to Ecuador on Thursday.
Spain’s injury list may be growing but at least they have confirmed their place in France, sealing top place in Group C, and they will now have an opportunity to win their third consecutive European Championships.
The defending champions were far from their best but they didn’t need to be as they breezed past a team which has only recorded a single victory during this campaign.
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Spain's midfielder Santi Cazorla (2L) celebrates with teammates during the Euro 2016 qualifying football match Spain vs Luxembourg at Las Gaunas stadium in Logrono on October 9, 2015
Image credit: AFP
KEY MOMENTS
5’ – INJURY! Silva is caught with a nasty tackle from behind and somehow his opponent gets away without a yellow card. Man City fans, look away, he's down and looks hurt.
10’ - MISS! Alba's low cross finds its way to Cazorla at the back post but the Arsenal star stumbles his way onto the ball and blasts it well over the crossbar. What was he doing - who knows.
21’ - CROSSBAR! Cazorla is denied by the woodwork after a breathtaking attack involving a number of players. Spain at their fluent best there but still can't find a breakthrough.
31’ – ANOTHER INJURY! Morata has left the pitch on a stretcher, holding his face. First Silva suffers an injury, now Morata...
39’ – LUXEMBOURG CHANCE! A great curled effort from Bensi almost sends the visitors wild but the ball just veers wide of the post.
42’ - GOAL - Spain 1-0 Luxembourg! The hosts finally break Luxembourg's resistance through Cazorla. Juanfran delivers the ball into the penalty area, Pedro's shot is saved but Cazorla finds himself in the right place to tuck in the rebound.
67’ - GOAL - Spain 2-0 Luxembourg! The hosts double their advantage - finally. Substitute Alcacer latches onto a through-ball from Fabregas before slipping the ball past the goalkeeper. Simple.
74’ - OH DEAR! Alcacer is played through behind the defence but, with just the goalkeeper to beat, he gets his shot all wrong and blazes it over the bar.
80’ - GOAL - Spain 3-0 Luxembourg! Alcacer won't score an easier goal in his career - Alba beats the onrushing goalkeeper to the ball before squaring a pass to the substitute who simply taps it home.
85’ - GOAL - Spain 4-0 Luxembourg! The hosts have their fourth and Cazorla has his second. It's the best goal of the evening as the Arsenal man takes a touch before delivering the ball into the bottom corner from outside of the penalty area.
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Spain's Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Juanfran Torres celebrate a goal during their Euro 2016 Group C qualification soccer match against Luxembourg in Logrono, Spain October 9, 2015
Image credit: Reuters
KEY STATS
Spain attempted 17 shots in the first half, the most in a competitive game first half since 2008.
Santi Cazorla scored his second goal in competitive game for Spain, from a total of 11.
Spain will play their twelfth successive International tournament (World Cups and European Championships).
The last competitive game with two Spanish players scoring a brace was against Liechtenstein (Villa and Negredo).
TALKING POINT
Comfortable Spain but real tests to come – A 4-0 win over minnows Luxembourg flattered the defending European champions and they will need to be much, much improved if they are to claim a third successive Euro title in the summer. Vicente del Bosque’s side haven’t been convincing in qualifying – they did lose out to Slovakia after all – and they will need to find some new ideas in France.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Santi Cazorla (Spain) – Broke the deadlock and was the only player in a Spain shirt who looked motivated throughout. Did enough to impress Vicente del Bosque and should play an integral role for his side in the summer.
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Spain's Paco Alcacer (L) and Santi Cazorla celebrate a goal during their Euro 2016 Group C qualification soccer match against Luxembourg in Logrono, Spain October 9, 2015
Image credit: Reuters
PLAYER RATINGS
SPAIN: Casillas 6; Juanfran 7, Pique 7, Bartra 6, Alba 7; Busquets 7, Fabregas 7, Cazorla 8; Pedro 6, Morata 5, Silva 5. Subs: Alcacer 7, Nolito 5, Mata 7.
Luxembourg: Joubert 5; Chanot 6, Delgado 5, Malget 6, Jans 5; Gerson 6, Martins 5, Payal 5, Mutsch 5; Bensi 7, Joachim 5. Subs: Turpel 5, Da Mota 5, Deville 5.
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