TheDailySoccerNews.com

Spain have equalled Italy’s and France’s record of consecutive wins, but they were made to work hard for it by a determined and defensive Iraq side in Bloemfontein on Wednesday afternoon.

In winning the game, Vicente del Bosque’s side clinched a semi-final berth in the Confederations Cup as expected and they can now afford to experiment in their match with South Africa at the weekend.

Iraq sat back and defended in numbers although they did push forward more than they did in their opening match and cannot be criticised for concentrating on preventing the European champions from scoring.

After netting five goals in their opening match of the tournament, the Spanish side looked slightly fatigued despite making four changes.

In the opening minutes, both teams set themselves up into positions that they would maintain throughout as Iraq’s defence found their bearings and Spain’s midfield tried to work out how to find a way through.

Alaa actually had the first shot of the game as he warmed Iker Casillas’ gloves, but it was David Villa that missed the best chance until then as Juan Mata picked him out at the far post and he volleyed wide from close range.

Santi Cazorla and Villa again took aim from long range as the catenaccio approach from the Middle Eastern outfit was continuing to frustrate Spain.

Having enjoyed so much space against New Zealand this was a completely different challenge and will not be remembered as anything other than the route by which a semi-final place was earned.

For Iraq it could have been a piece of history for them, but they were unable to hold out in the second half and once Spain took the lead they were unlikely to lose it.

Villa was able to find his range though as he was left completely unmarked in the 52nd minute to meet Cazorla’s looped cross, but the Valencia forward could only head at the keeper.

Within three minutes though he had atoned for that miss by connecting with a Joan Capdevila cross from the left to glance a header inside the far post to put Spain ahead.

It proved to not just be the winning goal, but also made Villa la Furia Roja’s second top goalscorer of all-time behind Raul Gonzalez.

Torres, Xabi Alonso and Mata on two occasions had shots before substitute Dani Guiza took aim, but Iraq also had chances with Nashat sending a free-kick just wide, before he sent a shot straight at Casillas.

Del Bosque will be pleased with the win after explaining that he was taking nothing for granted beforehand and will take plenty from a game that was more testing than many neutrals had predicted.