Agence france presse
Logrono, (Spain), Oct 10: Defending champions Spain secured their place in next year’s European Championships in France with a 4-0 win over minnows Luxembourg thanks to doubles from Santi Cazrola and Paco Alcacer.
However Spain’s joy was overshadowed by injuries suffered by David Silva and Alvaro Morata, while Gerard Pique was once again jeered by the home support here Friday. Victory took Vicente del Bosque’s men five points clear of third-placed Ukraine, who Spain meet Monday in their final qualifier in Kiev.
“We’ve managed to qualify at last. We knew we couldn’t be complacent, we played very well and managed to get the win,” Cazrola told ‘Television Espanola’. “The coach showed his faith in me and it went well with the two goals.”
Due to an injury to Sergio Ramos, the hosts started without a Real Madrid player in the line-up for the first time ever in a European qualifier. However, it was the treatment once again dished out to Pique for mocking Real Madrid during Barcelona’s treble-winning celebrations last season that caused controversy.
Spain’s movement in the final third was much better than in previous qualifiers and twice they passed up huge chances to go in front as Jordi Alba blazed over from point-blank range before Cazrola smashed a shot against the crossbar.
Cazrola opened the scoring five minutes before half time as he swept home the rebound after Jonathan Joubert had made a smart save from Pedro Rodriguez. In the second session, Alcacer slotted home a neat through ball from Cesc Fabregas on his 99th international appearance 23 minutes from time. Spain’s last two goals came in the last 10 minutes as the tired Luxembourg defence caved in easily.
Meanwhile Switzerland will return to the European Championships for the first time since co-hosting the tournament eight years ago, after thrashing San Marino 7-0 at home with seven different scorers.
As the Swiss secured second place, Group E leader England made it nine wins out of nine in qualifying, with Theo Walcott and Raheem Sterling scoring in a 2-0 win over Estonia at the Wembley, Friday.
With one qualifier remaining, Switzerland have an unassailable five-point advantage over Slovenia, who were held 1-1 by Lithuania but is almost certain to make the play-offs.
England though qualifying will have to be far more ruthless at Euro 2016 than they were at the Wembley Stadium against Estonia. It took until the final kick of the first half for the hosts to score with Walcott meeting Ross Barkley’s through-ball. It was the Arsenal attacker’s seventh goal in nine games for club and country. Sterling got his goal in the 85th minute sliding across the opposition goalmouth to meet a cross from Jamie Vardy.
