LiveBlog: Spain-Tunisia

Spain battled back from Tunisia’s early goal, making it six points and seven goals from their first two games. The upset was on the cards, but Aragones’ super-subs Raul, Joquain and Fabregas all had a hand in Spain’s three late second half goals.

Final: Spain 3-1 Tunisia

-thanks to everyone for stopping by and leaving comments.

Full time Apparently the word I wanted was “cojones,” though the online translator refuses to recognise it (which probably means it’s the right word). Either way, good effort from Spain. Any other year they would have caved.

90+2 Tunisia fans looking depressed. Got to feel for them. Still not out though. The Tunisia Ukraine game should be magic. Got to say Spain deserve this win though. Torres fires just over! Great first touch, shot was no good.

90:00 GOAL! Torres scores the pen himself. That’s 3 goals for him. One eye on the Golden Boot.

89:30 PENALTY! Torres was pulled down mid jump by Yahia. I’m not sure they deserve that.

88;00 Torres one on one with Boumnijel, the old man comes out on top this time.

87:22 For the record I had no idea what cajones means. I just did an online translation and it means drawers.

84:00 Does this comebakc officially prove that Spain the cajones to go far this time?

82:00 Just realised Guemamdia was booked for time wasting. Time wasting? At 2-1 down with ten minutes to go? Spanish fans “ole”ing the passes now.

80:00 Guemamdia booked about 10 seconds after coming on. New World Cup record?

77:38 That’s twice I’ve cursed Tunisia now. Apologies to any Tunisia fans.

75:00 GOAL! Torres gives Spain the lead. Played through by a great Fabregas pass, he takes it beyond Boumnijel and strokes home with the outside of his foot.

74:30 Joaquin crosses (again) for Fabregas to shoot. Blocked by Boumnijel. If Tunisia can hold onto this, it’s still a great result.

71:00GOAL! Raul. Now I’m gald I’m not Tunisian and wish I was Spanish. Raul pounces on a shot saved by Boumnijel.

70:00 20 minutes to go. Glad I’m not Spanish! Wish I was Tunisian though.

68:45 Torres down, maybe injured. Replay shows it was from a Jaidi tackle, which gets him a harsh yellow card. Torres up and about, he’s fine.

66:44 Torres shoots over. Lemerre looks insane on the sideline, with his hood pulled tight over his head against the rain.

64:30 Torres receives a great ball in the area, but wants to dribble when he should shoot. “El Ninho” disposessed. Tunisia’s Jaidi takes it from him. Tunisian defence looking pretty solid.

63:14 Aragones still not looking too happy.

62:26 Joaquin does what he’s been sent to do, dribbling down the right flank. Cross is blocked though.

60:57 Pernia with another left footed shot. Only just wide. Bizarelly he looks Spain’s best hope of a goal right now.

58:00 Aragones has wasted no time using all three subs. That’s it for him. He might regret that later.

56:00 Villa off, Joaquin on for Spain (great right winger for those who don’t know). Lemerre counters instantly by bringing on a new left back, Yahia. It’s like chess, only in the rain.

55:30 Hard to feel sorry for Aragones given his bout of racism last year, but he’s looking very stressed on the bench.

53:12 ESPN just flashed up Spain’s all time leading scorer lists. Shocked to see Fernando Hierro in second place (Raul first obviously). How many of Hierro’s 29 goals were penalties I wonder?

51:00 Pernia unleashes a shot which Boumnijel punches away again. At least he’s consistent.

50:27 Namouchi beats two Spaniards in the right hand corner, but his cross is too deep. Spanish defenders need to concentrate.

47:30 Alonso shot beaten away by Boumnijel. Great start by Spain.

45:00 Second half underway. Fabregas and Raul on for Senna and Luis Garcia. We’ll see if they’ve changed from 4-3-3.

-If Tunisia hold on for the win, would this be a bigger upset than Ghana’s win over the Czech Republic?

-this one’s brewing nicely. Should be a quality second half. Expect to see Raul at some point.

Half-time

45+2 David Villa floored by Ayari, no free kick though.

45+1 Torres heads wide form a Xavi corner. How many headers can Spain miss with?

43:40 Torres shot tipped over by Boumnijel (who’s old enough to be his dad). From corner Alonso heads at goal, cleared off line by Tunisia defender. Was it over the line? (not this again). No, it wasn’t.

42:20 Rain coming down heavy. Spanish players unlikely to immitate Gene Kelly any time soon.

41:30 Trabelsi crosses straight to Casillas. It’s odd to see a team who’s star man is their right back, they’re always looking to give him the ball.

39:15 Xabi Alonso shoots just wide. Spain need more of that. Seems like Tunisia’s 5 man midfield is doing a good job preventing Spain’s talented midfielders getting through.

38:30 I’ve figured out Spain’s problem. Too many players with hair bands. It’s just not manly.

36:20 I agree with Tommy Smyth (who’s like a crazy football mad uncle) that Spain should concentrate on Tunisia’s left flank. Trabelsi is a monster at right back, and giving them nothing down his side.

34:22 Horrible hugh pitched whistles from the crowd as Spain pass the ball around looking for an opening. Free kick on the edge of the Tunisia box. Xavi’s deep cross confuses Boumenijel but goes out.

32:42 Little Garcia get his head to Xavi’s cross but heads wide. Half time on the horizon and Spain still a goal down.

31:30 Garcia nailed ice hockey style by Ayari, who gets a yellow.

30:00 Hits the free kick straight at Casillas. Torres breaks but can’t get the ball across. This is turning into a great game.

29:00 Dreadful Spanish corner, Tunisia counter attack and Puyol makes a terrible tackle on Trabelsi. Puyol doesn’t look the same player today.

28:00 Ramos fighting for that ball on the byline again. He seems really up for it.

25:30 Torres shouldered off the ball in the area by Trabelsi. No foul, just a big man against a skinny but talented boy.

23:50 Spain slow it down a bit, before Garcia ups the pace with a back heel to Xavi, who nearly finds Torres.

21:17 Torres hits a half-volley wide from an angle. Spain need to calm down a bit.

19:30 Does anyone else think we should have seen this coming?

17:00 Luis Garcia had possession in a dangerous poisition, but tried to dribble without the ball.

13:30 Spain looking slightly panicked, depserate to equalise. They’re eplaying like it’s the last 20 minutes, not the first. Anyone expecting Spain to walk this one was (stereotype alert) having a siesta.

12:00 Ramos wins the ball on the touchline and crosses. Cross strikes Haggui in the arm. No penalty though, ball to hand says the ref.

10:00 Villa strikes a freekick straight at Boumnijel, who punches it away. Surely that was easier to catch? 40 years of experience tell him not to trust the Teamgeist I suspect.

9:00 We’ll see what this Spanish side is made of now.

7:30 GOOAL! Tunisia! No, really. Mnari scores from close range. Jaziri dribbled all over the Spanish defenders then crossed, Mnari hit a volley which Casillas saved. Mnari was the only one to react and scored of his own rebound.

5:00 Villa controls a long ball, then shoots into the side netting. You get the feeling that an early Spanish goal would open some Biblical size floodgates.

4:00 Tunisian keeper Boumnijel clears. He’s 40 years old, think about that.

0:50 Xavi free kick headed behind by Trabelsi (Tunisia’s first touch). Corner, taken by Xavi again. Luis Garcia heads wide. Tunisia can’t be letting a little fella like Luis Garcia have free headers.

0:00 Kick off.

-Tunisian national anthem. None of their players singing.

-Spanish national anthem. Interesting to see the look on Basque and Catalan payers faces.

-Players coming out to some very dramatic music.

-Here on ESPN I’ve struck relative commentator gold with Adrian Healey and Tommy Smyth. Very much the best of a bad bunch.

-10 minutes to go. Tunisia missing the injured Dos Santos, Spain with the same team that destroyed Ukraine 4-0.

-About 20 minutes till kick off. Line ups as follows:

Spain

* 01 I Casillas
* 15 G Sergio Ramos
* 05 C Puyol
* 22 I Pablo
* 03 M Pernia
* 08 H Xavi
* 14 X Alonso
* 16 M Senna
* 11 S Luis Garcia
* 09 F Torres
* 21 D Villa

Tunisia

* 01 A Boumnijel
* 03 K Haggui
* 15 R Jaidi
* 19 A Ayari
* 06 H Trabelsi
* 12 J Mnari
* 13 R Bouazizi
* 14 A Chedli
* 20 H Namouchi
* 08 M Nafti
* 05 Z Jaziri

Pregame: Will Spain come up with another dominant performance or will Tunisia be the team that comes out on top?

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