Spain end World Cup with a win over Socceroos

Too late, but at least not too little.

Vicente del Bosque's Spain side ran out comfortable winners over Australia thanks to strikes from two of the team's legendary forwards and one from Juan Mata.

David Villa backheeled in the brilliant first, after a strong surge by Juanfran down the right flank.

It was a perfect moment to bring down the curtain on his international career.

He left the pitch in tears, substituted for Juan Mata not long after the interval.

Australia toiled but offered nothing like the threat they posed to Holland earlier on in the tournament.

With Tim Cahill suspended, their key man was out of action and they looked blunt and devoid of a cutting edge. 

Fernando Torres, another Spain striker whose career may be coming to an end, added the second, after a perfectly weighted through-ball by Andres Iniesta. 

The Barcelona midfielder, winning his 100th international cap, was still pulling the strings for Spain and has been their best player in this botched campaign. 

Mata added the third, slamming home from close range to complete the victory, which was scant consolation for La Roja, but still a nice way to depart from Brazil.

Of the team that started this game, how many will start the first match of Euro 2016? At a guess, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Koke and perhaps Iniesta. 

The hard work, the rebuilding, begins here.

 

Match facts

Spain: Reina; Juanfran, Ramos, Albiol, Alba; Cazorla (Fabregas 68), Alonso (Silva 83), Koke, Iniesta; Torres, Villa (Mata 57).

Booked: Ramos.

Goals: Villa 36, Torres 69, Mata 82.

Australia: Ryan, McGowan, Davidson, Spiranovic, Wilkinson, Oar (Troisi 61), Bozanic (Bresciano 72), Jedinak, McKay, Leckie, Taggart (Halloran 46).

Booked: Spiranovic, Jedinak.

Referee: Nawaf Shukralla (Bahrain)