Thats more like it. Substance to match the style. Goals to match the build-up. Spain blew Honduras away with their attacking, incisive brand of football, but they were indebted to two pieces of clinical finishing from David Villa to grab them the three points they so desparately craved. After a spritely start from the Hondureños, the game slowly grew into a practice match for Spain. But much like Arsenal in the Premiership they tried many times to walk the ball into the net instead of shooting on sight, which inevitably lead to a scoreline which flattered the Central Americans. Vicente Del Bosque changed things around after the shock Swiss defeat, and it worked wonders as Spain looked more like the side that waltzed to victory in Vienna than the one which laboured to wins over South Korea and Saudi Arabia and got beat by Switzerland.Xavi and Xavi Alonso were superb at the heart of Spains 4-3-3 formation, with Sergio Busquets perfomingly admirably just behind them. I've been a long-standing critic of Busquets, but on this form he more than warrants a slot in the first XI. And with the midfield, minus poor David Silva who seems set for a spell as a sub, clicking into place Spain ravaged a limited yet surprisingly adventurous Honduras side, who were not afraid to knock it around and attack with intent. It could so easily have been six or seven had Fernando Torres not left his shooting boots in Liverpool and Jesus Navas his crossing boots in Sevilla. Not their finest nights, but Torres will be glad to gain some much-needed match time, while Navas was a constant thorn in Honduras' side, regardless of his wastefulness with his final ball.
Sergio Ramos fluffed a couple of chances. Villa smashed the bar with a first-half rocket. Spain had two legitimate penalties for handball turned down and one stroked wide. Cesc Fabregas had a shot cleared off the line seconds after replacing Xavi in the secon half. It really was incessant pressure from La Roja, but they'll be hoping these chances are converted if they beat Chile and make it through to the second round. Profligacy on this scale will be punished in the latter stages. Just as well David Villa scored two beauties either side of half time, the first an absolute peach of a finish after a glorious run into the box. The new Barca striker was a revelation down the left hand side. His second was thanks to a flowing team move involving Xavi and Navas, and took a slight deflection as it shot past keeper Noel Valladares.
So a win against Chile should see Spain top the group and all memories of that opening defeat erased. That said, I can't say I'm as certain now about Spain winning the tournament as I was before it all kicked off. Brazil, while not playing well, look dangerously efficient, with Argentina and Portugal also offering scintillating performances in their second outings. I have an inkling a South American team will walk away as winners. But this tournament, which has fired up in the last few days, is about as unpredictable as any in living memory. The knockout stages promise to offer up a few crackers but first the nervy third round of group matches. I predict a few big guns to fall.