Spain: Casillas, Ramos, Puyol, Pablo, Pernia, Senna (Fabregas 45), Alonso, Xavi, Garcia (Raul 45), Torres, Villa (Joaquin 55).

Tunisia: Boumnijel, Trabelsi, Jaidi, Haggui, Ayari (Yahia 56), Bouazizi (Ghodbane 56), Namouchi, Nafti, Mnari, Chedli (Guemamdia 79), Jaziri.

After thrashing Ukraine in their opening game Spain were expected to comfortably see off Tunisia and confirm their credentials as possible World Cup winners. Although their victory was hardly achieved in that manner they did show enough to suggest they have a genuine chance.

Spain started with real confidence and purpose and Garcia flicked a header wide of the near post before Villa smashed in a ferocious shot that rippled the outside of the side netting.

Nothing had been seen of the Tunisian attack until the ball was inadvertantly sent through the inside right channel by a Spanish tackler. Jaziri latched onto it and brushed Puyol to one side with disdain. He carried the ball into the box then checked back and bundled his way through three challenges, including Puyol again, before scooping a pass into the onrushing Mnari.

He hit an instant shot that Casillas stopped but could not hold and Mnari followed in to send the ball into the roof of the net.

Minutes later Tunisia had a great chance to do further damage. Jaziri showed great strength once again before turning and sending a perfect ball out to the overlapping Trebelsi. The full back had half a field to himself and colleagues unmarked in the middle but his touch was dreadful and the ball escaped out of play.

Spain began to camp in the Tunisia half and were aided by their opponents tendancy to concede possession in and around their own box. They were also winning a string of corners and free kicks and it seemed merely a matter of time before they struck.

However shakily Tunisia survived and threatened again when a superb ball into the box by Trebelsi gave Jaziri a chance but his run was not quite on the right diagonal and Casillas got there just ahead of him.

A lovely flick by Villa would have put Garcia clear inside the box had his first touch not been faulty before the eager Trebelsi led another break for Tunisia.

With players free inside him Trebelsi looked to go past Puyol and the struggling defender simply took him out as he was going past. A free kick and a booking. Ayari managed to send his shot around the wall but Casillas was right behind it all the way.

The keeper then threw out for Torres to burst through three challenges and storm into the box. In looking to square to his onrushing colleagues he managed to hit the one covering defender.

There had been an inordinate amout of corners and free kicks for Tunisia to defend and the marking remained highly suspect throughout. Garcia was left unattended but flicked wide of the far post from Xavi's free kick and just before half time Alonso was able to stand still on the penalty spot and still not attract a marker. His header was cleared off the line by Ayari.

Half Time: Spain 0 Tunisia 1

Spain flexed their muscles at half time by introducing Raul and Fabregas. Not long into the half Joaquin would join them and with Reyes still sitting clicking his heels it gave a fair indication of the depth of their squad.

Fabregas was quickly into the action with a fierce drive that demanded a fine parry from Boumnijel and Pernia came forward from left back to send in a stinging shot that the keeper managed to fist over the bar in strange fashion.

Spain were beginning to struggle to make chances now but with Tunisia increasingly unable to get out of their own half it seemed only a matter of time before an opening arrived, especially as the stream of set piece situations continued unabated.

Torres was sent speeding towards Jaidi inside the box but the big defender made a clean tackle to rob him and when Pernia and Torres then sent hopeful drives miles over the bar it looked as though frustration might get the better of the Spaniards.

With twenty minutes remaining, however, the Tunisian resistance ended and it was a slightly soft goal to concede.

The approach was neat and Joaquin cut back a clever ball that was dummied into the path of Fabregas. He side footed an effort goalwards and although Boumnijel was at full stretch he made a poor parry back into the danger zone and Raul pounced to level the scores.

Space now began to open up and Spain showed themselves perfectly capable of exploiting it. Fabregas brought a good save out of Boumnijel with a low drive that the keeper repelled with his feet but the erratic custodian was at fault again moments later when he advanced beyond his box without getting anywhere near a through ball which Torres simply took to one side and slotted into the vacant goal.

It was hard to see Tunisia managing a response now and Spain taunted them with prolonged sessions of keep ball. One superb one touch move was only halted by a marginal offside decision against Raul breaking clear inside the box.

Namouchi had a fleeting hint of a chance but his touch was poor and the opening disappeared.

Fabregas, who was revelling in the space that had now opened up, sent Torres clean through on the keeper but Boumnijel spread himself well to block as the striker speared a shot goalwards before Spain wrapped things up as the game entered stoppage time.

Raul sent in a delightful chip to the far post and Yahia manhandled Torres to stop him getting on the end of it.

Torres pulled rank over Raul to take the spot kick but was lucky to notch his second after Boumnijel managed to dive over his spot kick.

There was still a chance for him to complete his hat trick as Joaquin sent him racing into the box again. His first touch was perfect but his left footed drive was not and flashed well over the bar.

Spain therefore qualify with something to spare and look real contenders for this tournament. They have also shown that they have plenty in reserve to call on.

Full Time: Spain 3 Tunisia 1

Spain: Casillas 5, Ramos 6, Puyol 3, Pablo 5, Pernia 6, Senna 5 (Fabregas 8), Alonso 7, Xavi 7, Garcia 6 (Raul 7), Torres 8, Villa 7 (Joaquin 7).

Tunisia: Boumnijel 4, Trabelsi 7, Jaidi 7, Haggui 5, Ayari 6 (Yahia 4), Bouazizi 5 (Ghodbane 2), Namouchi 4, Nafti 4, Mnari 6, Chedli 4 (Guemamdia 2), Jaziri 7.

Referee: C.Simon (Brazil) 4
Too many cards in a fairly tame clash.

Good:
Possession football is the name of Spain's game. They can keep it for a long, long time and obviously feel that is more important than having an out and out holding midfielder.

Bad:
Puyol looked like a full back trying to play centre half and was slow and easily out muscled. The defensive display of Spain will have given future opponents heart.

Ugly:
Ayari, the Tunisian left back, had looked keen to put himself about on the pitch and when he got subbed off he went to work on the dug out. I hope he didn't take any hostages.