Spain Vs. Ireland: Fernando Torres Gets Brace As Spaniards Cruise

Surprise, surprise. Ireland’s out of the running to reach the knockout rounds of Euro 2012 after a thumping defeat against Spain which comes as no shock at all. Their stuffing against Croatia meant that they needed a result here, and no reasonable person would have given them much chance.

Granted, they were completely and utterly done before that goal, but that’s picking nits. They’re extra completely and utterly done? Truth be told, the only point of the goal was to boost Torres’ confidence, but hey, they need him happy.

So yeah, that’s 2-0. It could be seven or eight if Spain decided to go full-speed, but there’s no reason for them to at this point. Ireland are out as it stands. And it will almost certainly stand.

Here is an approximate summary of what’s happened so far this game.

Rest of the minutes in: Uh-oh. Spain are now defending a 1-0 lead. We know what that means: Pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Simon Cox is going to be a glorified midfield destroyer anyway and won’t ever see his own penalty box. Good luck, Simon Cox! Kickoff is at 3 p.m. ET from Gdansk, Poland. You can catch the game on ESPN in the United States.

We’ll have live coverage in our Spain vs. Ireland, Euro 2012 StoryStream. For more on the entire world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on twitter.

So Spain are either the best or second best team at Euro 2012 and Ireland are either the worst or second worst team in the tournament. Cracking match we’ve got on tap, isn’t it?

Lines: Spain, -1.5 (-105). Ireland, +1.5 (-115).

When writing a preview of a match that appears to be magnificently lopsided on paper, one generally attempts to find something good to say about the clear underdog. In an attempt to avoid looking like a complete and utter imbecile, the previewer often attempts to present scenarios in which the inferior team could potentially win, in case the unthinkable happens.

There’s no reason that Ireland should avoid defeat against Spain. That’s not to say that they’re incapable of avoiding defeat, though. It’s not like there are any bad teams at the European Championships, ever. This isn’t Hoosiers, or The Miracle of Castel di Sangro. Upsets of that magnitude can’t happen in the Euros because teams that small don’t get to the Euros.