SPAIN 3-1 TUNISIA

19 June 2006

A second-half turnaround saw Spain come from behind to register a 3-1 over Tunisia in Stuttgart and consequently book their place in the Round of 16.

The African team got off to a great start when Jaouhar Mnari opened the scoring in the eighth minute. Roger Lemerre’s side held the lead until half-time when his counterpart Luis Aragones made a bold double substitution.

Luis Garcia and Marcos Senna were replaced by Raul and Cesc Fabregas and the pair were extremely influential in Spain’s equalising goal. With 71 minutes gone, Fabregas’ shot was parried by Ali Boumnijel and into the path of Raul who gratefully slotted the ball home.

A brace from Fernando Torres, taking his tally in the tournament to three, gave Spain the victory. It leaves them on top of Group H, three points clear of their nearest challengers Ukraine and five points clear of Saudi Arabia and Tunisia.

The match:
Spain coach Luis Aragones kept with the same line-up that had defeated Ukraine 4-0, while his counterpart, Roger Lemerre, made two changes from the team that had drawn 2-2 with Saudi Arabia, bringing in Anis Ayari and Mehdi Nafti for David Jemmali and Yassine Chikhaoui.

5’: The Spaniards began confidently. Breaking forward, Luis Garcia nodded down to Villa, whose first-time shot from outside the box bulged the side-netting.

8’ Three minutes later the inside of the net shook, but at the other end as Tunisia struck with their first attack. Zied Jaziri did wonderfully well to hold off Carlos Puyol and then the attentions of three defenders in the box before crossing to Jaouhar Mnari who followed up his saved volley to fire past Iker Casillas from close range.

10’: Villa, who scored twice in the opener, was looking menacing and his scorching free kick from just outside the corner of the area had Ali Boumnijel fisting away.

26’: The Valencia striker then slipped Fernando Torres through but Spain’s No. 9 was muscled off the ball by Hatem Trablesi.

31’: Tunisia were already playing on the break and after Puyol had scythed down Trabelsi on the edge of the box, Ayari curled the free kick straight at Casillas.

33’: The Carthage Eagles began to concede a series of free kicks in dangerous places around the area. From one, Garcia, darting to the near post, flicked a header wide.

40’: Another was rolled to Xabi Alonso whose powerful 25-yarder fell a yard wide as Spain pressed.

44’: With the rain pouring down, Torres fired just over from the corner of the box. From the corner, Alonso, unmarked, thought he had scored the equaliser until Ayari stuck out his head to clear off the line.

Holding on:
48’: Spain began the second half as they ended the first. Piling forward, Cesc Fabregas, on for Marcos Senna, had a 20-yard effort fisted away.

52’: Boumnijel was doing the same minutes later, punching Mariano Pernia’s shot clear.

61’: Although offering little as an attacking force, the Africans were now riding the forward waves well. Pernia was gaining ground though and the Argentina-born left-back saw another shot flash wide.

71’: Just when it looked as though Spain had run out of ideas, they struck the equaliser. Joaquin crossed from the right, Torres stepped over the ball for Cesc to shoot. Open-handed this time, Boumnijel palmed the 18-yard effort straight to the feet of Raul who made no mistake from six yards.

75’: Fabregas, breaking into the box, almost gave the Europeans the lead but his shot was blocked by Boumnijel.

76’: No matter - moments later Spain were ahead. Fabregas picked out Torres’ perfect run and the Atletico Madrid striker rounded the keeper and slotted home.

89’: Torres, clean through again, should have added a third for Spain but this time Boumnijel was the one-on-one winner, blocking the shot.

90+1’: Seconds later, he did, striking a penalty under the body of Boumnijel after being held down in the box following a delightful cross from the resurgent Raul.

90+4’: Now on fire, Torres almost grabbed the first hat-trick of the finals, taking down a long pass perfectly before blasting over left-footed.

In conclusion:
A perfect six points, Spain qualify for the second round with another classy display of attacking football. Tunisia, ahead for much of the match, will now need to defeat Ukraine to stand a chance of making the knockout stage.