Euro 2012: Torres sends Ireland crashing out

There was a miracle in Gdansk after all, but not the one that the Republic of Ireland had been praying for (Thursday). Two goals in one game from Fernando Torres, rather than the most famous victory in the Republic's football -history, was the fairytale that few had anticipated as Spain reminded the world why they are the outstanding team of this generation.

Outpassed and outplayed for the entire 90 minutes, Ireland succumbed to their heaviest defeat under -Giovanni Trapattoni - and their biggest at a major tournament - as they became the first team to be -eliminated from Euro 2012.

The dreamers had yearned to see football's equivalent of Buster Douglas knocking out Mike Tyson, but Spain had other ideas and they ended Irish hopes with goals from Torres, David Silva and Cesc Fabregas.

The innocent optimism of the Irish that preceded Sunday's 3-1 defeat against Croatia was replaced by harsh reality as they approached this clash against the world champions.

One hopeful banner, an Irish tricolour carrying the message "Come on you Boys in Green - Miracles do happen" summed up the magnitude of the task. Even the author -probably did not believe its claim.

Dreams of the miracle had lasted a mere four minutes - a minute longer than Croatia needed to score in Poznan - when Torres delivered the perfect response to his critics by putting Spain ahead.

Two minutes earlier, Simon Cox had forced Iker Casillas into a full-stretch save with a left-foot strike from 20 yards that helped to justify his controversial selection by Trapattoni. Cox, who qualifies for Ireland through his Galway-born grandmother, has not scored a Premier League goal for West Bromwich Albion since April 2011, but his -selection ahead of Kevin Doyle and Jonathan Walters owed to his work-rate and willingness to become a fifth body in midfield.

Trapattoni's plan was to flood the centre of the pitch and stifle Spain's creativity, but better teams have tried that and failed. Ireland would be no different.

The Ireland coach admitted prior to the game that Spain are "Real Madrid and Barcelona, without Lionel Messi". Cox, Keith Andrews and Glenn -Whelan deserved sympathy for the task of having to shackle Xavi, Andres Iniesta and David Silva.

Sadly, at times, it was like watching a practice game involving ten green traffic cones as Spain cut Ireland apart.

Torres's goal was the perfect example. Iniesta's sublime pass found Silva in the penalty area. Richard Dunne's challenge was perfect, but the clearance dropped to Torres, who lashed the ball past Shay Given from six yards. Torres, overlooked in favour of Fabregas against Italy on Sunday, had a point to prove and his cupped ear to the Spanish fans -suggested he had made it.

Poor Given. The Ireland keeper was in goal when Torres ended his six-month Premier League drought for Chelsea against Aston Villa in March. Almost two years since the forward last scored for Spain in a competitive game, Given was on the receiving end again.

Having gambled on Cox in his starting line-up, Trapattoni strangely replaced the forward with Walters at half-time, despite him arguably -having been Ireland's best player.

The change did little to alter the Irish approach, as Keane and Walters were still isolated up front, with Spain practically hiding the ball from their opponents.

Whenever Ireland did win possession, they resorted to hit-and-hope. Their tactics were as dated and redundant as Gdansk's crumbling, grey Lenin Shipyard.

Spain, guilty of overplaying in the first half, continued to pass the ball to death, but Silva's 49th-minute goal gave them the cushion that enabled them to toy with the Irish.

Given, at fault for two of Croatia's goals in Poznan, was once again -culpable as Spain doubled their lead.

The 36 year-old inexplicably punched Iniesta's close-range shot rather than caught it. The ball dropped to Silva on the penalty spot, who dummied Sean St Ledger and Stephen Ward before passing the ball through Dunne's legs and into the net. Typical Spain. Why shoot when a pass will do?

Silva, as magical as he had been at times for City last season, rounded off a stunning performance by releasing Torres for his second, a right-foot strike from 15 yards, in the 70th minute. It was finished in the fashion of the Torres of old. Maybe El Nino still has it in him, after all.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque, mindful of the forward's fragile -confidence, treated Torres to the applause of the stadium when he replaced him with Fabregas in the closing stages.

Rather than play out the final 10 minutes, however, Fabregas joined in on the act by scoring Spain's fourth moments later.

Spain: Casillas, Arbeloa, Pique, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Xavi, Busquets, Alonso (Javi Martinez 65), Silva, Iniesta (Santi Cazorla 79), Torres (Fabregas 74). Subs: Valdes, Albiol, Juanfran, Pedro, Fabregas, Negredo, Mata, Llorente, Jesus Navas, Reina. Booked: Alonso, Javi Martinez.

Rep of Ireland: Given, O'Shea, St Ledger, Dunne, Ward (Green 80), Duff (McLean 76), Andrews, Whelan, McGeady, Cox (Walters 46), Keane. Subs: Westwood, Doyle, Kelly, McShane, Gibson, Hunt, O'Dea, Long, Forde. Booked: St Ledger, Whelan, Keane

Referee: P Proenca (Portugal)