Spain 2 Republic of Ireland 0: In the forgettable realm of friendly internationals, this was a memorable night at Yankee Stadium. A crowd of 39,368 turned up at the home of the Bronx Bombers to see Ireland erase many of grim memories of their chastening lesson from the Spanish last summer.
They still lost the game but as Giovanni Trapattoni predicted, it was no humiliation. Instead, it was a respectable defeat from an illustrious football machine operating on cruise control.
But the Irish left the field nursing a sense of tough justice: a terrific closing 10-minute period produced a terrific breakaway strike by James McClean and a disallowed goal from the resultant corner. Stephen Kelly's strong header rattled the Spanish crossbar and although Seán St Ledger bundled the ball home, Simon Cox had touched the ball onto him from an offside position.
The Irish grumbled, the Spanish played on and three minutes later finished the game with a goal of sumptuous beauty. Santi Cazorla rolled a ball through the Irish defence and Juan Mata finished with a gently placed goal. Just like that, it was 2-0. But it was no night of disgrace.
“The better team won, they are the champions of the world. They controlled the game for 45 minutes but we had a good balance and a good personality,” Trapattoni said afterwards.
“We know the Spanish players, they are superior technically and they usually have more possession, but football is particularly strange because we have Sammon and the goal was a goal. But that said, we have to recognise that Spain deserved to win. We were playing the best.”
Patience has been the fundamental virtue of Vicente del Bosque's team and this match had entered a lull period on the hour mark when they broke the deadlock, with substitute Roberto Soldado volleying past David Forde. There was half a fear that Spain might go to town after that but it was Ireland who pressed home in the closing period.
“Two goals from bench – depth bodes well,” was the sparse praise from the Spanish manager.
“It’s not about starters or reserves – these are all stars in their clubs their clubs...it is hard to choose starting line-up.”
Ireland's best chance originated from a moment of brazen opportunism by Conor Sammon, who gambolled up in pursuit of a high ball which Gerard Pique sought to control and pushed it loose with a speculative foot. The Spaniard raised an arm in indignation but Sammon was off and running; briefly, a one-on-one opportunity bloomed against Victor Valdes but the angle was acute and Sammon's placed shot drifted past the Spaniard's left foot.
Still, no goals had been conceded and the Irish in the stadium began to find voice. There had been other bright moments, most noticeably a typically deft flick from Keane to set Séamus Coleman off in his travels, forcing a rare display of panic from a Spanish player, with Pedro earning a yellow card for clattering into the Donegal man.
Spain’s mesmerising passing movement was, as always, a pleasure to behold but the closest they came to breaching a very composed Irish defence in the first half hour came from a corner whipped in by Xavi which James McCarthy cleared.
The occasions are incomparable but the Irish defence performed with composure which had deserted them when they played the world champions in Gdansk last summer, shepherding rather than jumping in, holding their line and St Ledger, in particular, maintaining cool positional awareness when the Spanish came raiding with their intricate, one touch attacks.
But this was a friendly game and the celebratory Spaniards in the crowd had come to the Bronx expecting goals. Several times, the Irish defence creaked – Forde got down to block David Villa's shot after he was played through by David Silva and in the 41st minute, Pedro sent a shot crashing off the Irish crossbar. Those close calls emboldened the Irish fans...there was almost a Yankee Stadium debut rendition of The Fields of Athenry late in the first half.
The introduction of Iker Casillas early in the second half brought the loudest roar of the evening as Spain continued to dance through an increasingly congested Irish unit. Although McCarthy continued to look comfortable moving amongst the most lauded midfield unit in international football, the Irish were struggling to get on the ball by the hour mark.
Given the moribund season which the Yankees baseball outfit is enduring, this Spanish side is probably the only world champions to visit the Bronx this year. And even at half throttle, they are intoxicating sight.
“Our players are normal young Spanish people who happen to be good at football,” said Del Bosque of the magical generation.
“There is no real credit for me in coaching them. Our country has grown, and in other sports as well. Spain is a country that is evolving. There are more pitches and more coaches. It is not a coincidence that our national team has done so well. There is a lot behind it.”
Spain, then, head to the Confederations Cup after a successful tour of North America while Ireland left the field with their heads held high and the sound of Sinatra singing the eternal New York anthem.
SPAIN: V Valdes (I Casillas, 59 mins); A Arbeloa, G Pique, S Ramos, J Alba; S Busquets, A Iniesta (C Fabregas, 59 mins), Xavi (J Mata, 70 mins); D Silva (J Navas, half-time), Pedro (S Cazorla, 80 mins); D Villa (R Soldado, 59 mins). Subs unused: P Reina, R Albiol, J Martinez, C Azpilicueta, F Torres, N Monreal. Yellow card: Pedro (11 mins).
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: D Forde (D Randolph, 74 mins); P McShane, S St Ledger, D O'Dea, S Kelly (D Delaney, 88 mins); S Coleman, J McCarthy (D Meyler, 85 mins), J Hendrick (Quinn, half-time), A Keogh (J McClean, 74 mins); C Sammon, R Keane (S Cox, 57 mins). Subs unused: A McCarey, R Keogh. Yellow cards: Cox (72 mins), Quinn (81 mins).
Referee: JMarrufo (USA)
