Euro 2012 Comment: Spain Pick Up Where They Left Off, But David Villa Will Have To Wait To Break Raul’s Record

It was back to business for European and world champions Spain as they comfortably dispatched poor Liechtenstein 4-0 in their first Euro 2012 qualifying match, their first match to begin the defence of their continental crown, their first competitive match since earning a star above their crest this past summer.

It was a vintage Spanish performance at the Rheinpark Stadium in Vaduz and it almost looked like an attack-overloading-defence training session at times. La Furia Roja barely got out of first gear as they attacked, pressed, and dominated their hosts from the opening whistle and in truth, they could’ve come close to a double-digit victory had the match taken place in the middle of the season when everyone was in full flight.

It may only have been little Liechtenstein, but the fact that Spain overcame a minnow without much fuss should come as a sign of encouragement for coach Vicente del Bosque as his world champions showed their thoroughly consummate professionalism to get the job done and never exposed any complacency.

The hunger and motivation to continue stacking up on their silverware is still there as the Spaniards now look to become the first nation to successfully defend the European Championship crown and sandwich a continental trophy in between the World Cup.

Speaking of back to business, it was good to see Fernando Torres back on the scoresheet after being heavily criticised for his dismal, impotent showing at the 2010 World Cup. He was the hero of the night for La Roja with two quality goals, the first a stunning chip over the goalkeeper, and the second a clinical drive at the near post. And El Nino will be grateful that strike partner David Villa didn’t overshadow him after the new Barcelona hitman equalled Raul’s all-time scoring record for Spain, but failed to break it.

In truth, El Guaje could’ve smashed the 44-goal mark and race half a dozen goals clear in one single game. The 28-year-old matched Torres’ opening goal with an equally stonking 25-yard humdinger to put La Seleccion 2-0 up, but he saw four excellent attempts at goal swatted away by Liechtenstein goalkeeper Peter Jehle, while a point-blank effort right at the death cannoned off the bar. It just wasn’t Villa’s night to take the throne away from Raul.

Perhaps the footballing gods were holding off for a more glamorous venue and occasion than the 6,000-capacity Rheinpark for Villa to etched his name into Spanish history books. A high-profile friendly against Argentina at the majesterial El Monumental on Tuesday should do nicely.