Saudi Arabia – Spain

1. Hi there, welcome to our coverage of Spain v Saudi Arabia.

2. Saudi Arabia kick off.

3. 1'

   It is another dry, warm afternoon in Germany, and Fritz-Walter Stadion, Kaiserslautern is full to the rafters.

4. 2'

   Spain have got a much-changed side out today; they are guaranteed to progress from the group, and have chosen to rest all of their regular starters.

5. 3'

   Saudi Arabia win an early free-kick, but Marchena heads clear.

6. 4'

   Spain have looked very good in their first two games, but this is an entirely new starting eleven, and might take some time to gell.

7. 5'

   The strengths of Spain's squad has been much lauded; today will give those players a chance to prove that theory correct.

8. 6'

   Raul heads well wide from a cross from the left; Spain's first attempt on goal is a poor one.

9. 7'

   Lopez is brought down by Aziz on the left touchline; free-kick to Spain.

10. 7'

    This is Saudi Arabia's fourth successive World Cup; they are becoming regulars at this tournament.

11. 8'

    Spain have started quite well; they are having a lot of the ball, but have been unable to really threaten the Saudi goal.

12. 9'

    Noor tackles Iniesta well, 30 yards out from the Saudi goal, but his quick pass up field to Al Jaber is mis-placed.

13. 10'

    Saudi Arabia have a slim chance of progressing from this group, but they need a big victory over the much-fancied Spain in this game - and that, frankly, is unlikely.

14. 11'

    Aziz is down on the turf, clutching his hamstring; he seems in quite some pain as the physio sprints over to administer some treatment.

15. 12'

    Spain are on track for a potential quarter-final against Brazil in the quarter-final stage; what a match-up that would be.

16. 13'

    Raul shows some good close control in the penalty , but he can't quite get around the bulky Tukar.

17. 14'

    SAUDI SUB: Al Temyat comes on to replace the injured Aziz.

18. 15'

    Spain win their first corner of the game. It is swung in to the middle from the right, but Zaid collects comfortably.

19. 16'

    Saudi Arabia look to be strong and organised at the back; it certainly isn't going to be easy for this second-string Spain side to break them down.

20. 17'

    Al Jaber kicks out a little wildly at Lopez as the two tussled down near the corner flag; he is perhaps lucky not to receive a yellow card there.

21. 18'

    GOOD EFFORT! Reyes robs a defender, feeds Joaquim, but the Real Betis winger fires a shot just over the crossbar.

22. 19'

    Spain have advanced to the second round in five of the last six World Cups, but they are always considered underachievers; they certainly have a very talented squad this year.

23. 20'

    Fabregas is Spain's youngest-ever player at a World Cupl he has enjoyed a wonderful season for Arsenal, but has had a quiet start this afternoon.

24. 21'

    ALMOST! Reyes fires in a good first-time ball in between the Saudi defence, but it has just two much pace on it for Raul to reach.

25. 22'

    DANCING FEET! Reyes shuffles his way past a couple of defenders, but his left-foot shot from distance is dragged wide.

26. 23'

    Spain are having a lot of the ball, but haven't really hit their straps going forward as yet.

27. 24'

    Spain are showing good patience as they try and build from the back, but it is hardly a good spectacle for the fans.

28. 25'

    Spain win a corner as Jaoquim's cross is deflected behind; Reyes sends it in to the middle, but Zaid punches clear.

29. 26'

    GOOD DEFENDING! Joaquim and Reyes combine well, but Noor shows good defensive awareness to track the run and shoulder Joaquim off the ball.

30. 27'

    Al Jaber becomes the first man booked in this game; it is a very harsh decision from the refere - the offence was only a trip.

31. 28'

    Dokhi shows good strength to muscle Iniesta off the ball inside the penalty area.

32. 29'

    GOOD SAVE! Fabregas finds Albeda on the edge of the penalty area, but his fierce drive is touched around the post by the Saudi keeper.

33. 30'

    GREAT RUN! Juaquim drifts in from the right, beats two players before firing in a left-foot shot, but again Zaid is up to the task and tips his drive over for a corner.

34. 31'

    Albeda is booked for a challenge in midfield; again, it looks to be a very harsh decision by the referee.

35. 32'

    Spain finally look like they are starting to click in to gear; they have started to look a lot more direct and dynamic in the last five minutes or so.

36. 33'

    Raul goes to ground inside the penalty area as he tries to burst through two defenders; no penalty.

37. 34'

    CHEEKY! Raul finds a little pocket of space on the edge of the box; he has a runner in Reyes, but opts to try and chip the keeper; the ball drifts a foot or so over the crossbar.

38. 35'

    Raul is coming off a poor, injury-hit season for his club side, Real Madrid; but he is Spain's all-time top-scorer with 44 international goals, and has looked quite sharp so far this afternoon.

39. 36'

    GREAT DEFENDING! Reyes' low corner skips across the face of goal; as Albeda is set to prod home, Sulimani flicks clear.

40. 36'

    Reyes is booked for a trip on Dokhi as the defender looked to start a counter-attack down the right wing.

41. 37'

    It has been a low-key half so far; Saudi clearly don't have the belief that they can win this game, and Spain's reserves have only clicked occasionally.

42. 37'

    GOAL! Reyes sends a free-kick from the left wing; Juanito meets the set-piece with a thumping header, planting his effort in to the top corner.

43. 38'

    Spain certainly deserve to be in the lead; they have absolutely dominated the possession, even if they haven't created a bunch of chances.

44. 39'

    Any chance Saudi Arabia had of progressing has now gone out of the window; they don't look remotely capable of threatening an equaliser.

45. 40'

    RUBBISH! Al Jaber breaks down the left wing; he cuts inside, but his right-foot shot is very weak and straight at Canizares.

46. 41'

    Spain are taking the pace out of the game now; they are knocking the ball around in midfield, in full control and with real confidence.

47. 42'

    Al Jaber screams in agony as he is slightly caught by a trailing boot from Salgado; moments later, he is back on his feet and in the thick of the action. What a hero.

48. 43'

    GOOD SAVE! Brilliant play by Joaquim down the right; he beats his man with a step-over before clipping a cross to Reyes at the back post; he side-foots a volley goalwards, but Zaid makes a good low save.

49. 44'

    Jaoquin has been wonderful so far; again he beats his man, gets to the by-line and pulls back a cross, but this time Saudi Arabia clear.

50. 45'

    HALF-TIME: Spain's second-string have been far too strong for Saudi Arabia; it has been a very one-sided half, in which Joaquin has been the star-man.

51. 45'

    SPAIN SUB: Villa comes on to replace Raul.

52. 46'

    Spain kick off the second half.

53. 47'

    Spain had a lot of possession in that first half; I don't anticpate that changing too much after the break.

54. 48'

    If Spain top their group, it is likely that they will face France in the second round; that is a potential classic-in-the-making.

55. 49'

    Joaquin, who was excellent in the first half, is brought down; he seems to have started the second half on the left wing.

56. 50'

    ALMOST! Villa gets free down the left; he holds the ball up before feeding Lopez, but his low drive is turned around the post by Zaid.

57. 51'

    Spain win another corner, thanks to good play down the left from Villa. Reyes curls the ball in to hte middle, but Zaid claims Juanito's header.

58. 52'

    Zaid needs some treatment on a slight knock he took as he came through a crowd to claim Juanito's header from Reyes' corner.

59. 53'

    A lot of pundits are tipping Spain to do very well this tournament; the trouble is, they always look good in the early stages - it is in the knockout rounds where Spain traditionally stumble.

60. 53'

    Zaid has received some lengthy treatment on the calf injury he sustained at that corner, but play has now continued.

61. 54'

    GREAT BREAK! Khariri breaks well down the Saudi left, linking well with Noor, but Spain eventually snuff out the threat inside their own penalty area.

62. 55'

    Saudi Arabia have started better after the break, and Spain have become a little lazy with their passing.

63. 56'

    GOOD STRIKE! Sulimani fires in a shot from distance; he strikes it really well, but Canizares claims comfortably.

64. 57'

    Joaquin gets down the left and fires a low cross across the face of goal, but it is a yard in front of Villa and the ball runs out.

65. 58'

    GETTING BETTER! Saudi Arabia are starting to look a litle more threatening as they go forward; this time Lopez needs to be alert to see off the threat of Al Jaber inside the area.

66. 59'

    It seems like the Saudi's have been told to get more players forward in this second half; they are starting to commit more men to their - albeit infrequent - attacks.

67. 60'

    ANOTHER GREAT RUN! Joaquin is so dangerous with the ball at his feet; again he cuts in from the left before firing in a low shot; Zaid saves.

68. 61'

    Saudi Arabia have a good spell where they send a couple of decent crosses in to the Spanish penalty area, although the European side deal well with the threat.

69. 62'

    AGAINST THE WALL! Joaquin blasts a free-kick against the Saudi defensive wall.

70. 63'

    Spain are attempting to take the sting out of the game as they slow things down in midfield.

71. 64'

    Joaquin has been the stand-out player in this low-key match; he looks a threat every time he gets the ball in to his feet.

72. 65'

    The pace of the second half is certainly slower than the first; perhaps that is the heat, perhaps not.

73. 66'

    There is a real air of complacency about Spain at the moment; they know that Saudi Arabia are unlikely to trouble them, and have started to get lazy at the back.

74. 67'

    SPAIN SUB: Xavi replaces Fabregas; the Arsenal youngster has been very quiet in the second half; Xavi sprints on and looks eager to impress his coach.

75. 68'

    SAUDI SUB: Mouath comes on to replace Al Jaber; a change up front for Saudi Arabia as they look for an unlikely equaliser.

76. 69'

    CLOSE! A swift counter-attack through the middle sees the ball moved to Sulimani, but his left-foot shot is turned around the post by Canizarez.

77. 70'

    SPAIN SUB: Torres on for Reyes; Torres receives a rousing applause as he comes on to replace Reyes.

78. 71'

    Still, Spain are looking sloppy in defence; more slack play sees Saudi Arabia win another corner...

79. 71'

    ...The corner is senrt in to the near post, but Mouath's goal-bound header is deflected over for another corner...

80. 72'

    ...This time Spain deal with the corner a little better, and clear their lines.

81. 73'

    Luis Arragones doesn't look very impressed with the second-half performance of his Spanish side; they have completely lost their momentum.

82. 74'

    Al Harthi tumbles to the ground as he tries to break between Salgado and Juanito on the edge of the penalty area. No foul, says the referee.

83. 75'

    Spain certainly haven't looked like World-beaters in this second-half; in fact, they have really struggled against a lively Saudi display.

84. 76'

    Marchena is booked for a clumsy challenge on Noor; again, it looked a harsh decision from the referee.

85. 77'

    Spain have been so sloppy in the second half; the difference after the half-time break has been amazing. Again they give the ball away in midfield, allowing Saudi Arabia to launch another attack.

86. 78'

    Al Temyat goes to ground in the penalty area under a challenge from Lopez; everyone looks to the referee...

87. 78'

    ...who doesn't see the foul and rules 'play on'.

88. 79'

    Zaid plucks a Salgado cross out of the air and launches a counter-attack with a quick throw out to the right wing.

89. 80'

    Marchena is penalised for a foul on Mouath on the edge of the penalty area; free-kick in a dangerous spot...

90. 80'

    ...Canizarez organises his defensive wall...

91. 80'

    OOOH! Sulimani curls the free-kick high and wide; poor effort.

92. 81'

    SAUDI SUB: Massad comes on to replace Sulimani; Sulimani looked like Saudi Arabia's best attacking player, but he is hauled off.

93. 82'

    Massad's first contribution is to throw himself to the ground, scream in agony and then get to his feet when he realises the free-kick has been given his way.

94. 83'

    ALMOST! Mouath surprisingly goes for goal from a tight angle and almost catches Canizarez off-guard, though the Valencia keeper makes a good save at his near post.

95. 84'

    SLOPPY! Salgado gives the ball away, 30 yards from his own goal, but Saudi Arabia can't capitalise.

96. 85'

    At the risk of sounding repetitive, Spain have been truly woeful since the break; they have looked lazy, sloppy and complacent - against a better side than Saudi Arabia, they would have conceded three or four goals.

97. 87'

    Let's give some credit to the Saudis; since the break they have worked really hard to press Spain higher up the pitch and force some mistakes - and it has worked; they have been the better side in the break.

98. 89'

    WOEFUL FINISH! Al Harthi shoots over the bar from six yards out after being picked out by a low cross from Noor. A truly dreadful finish.

99. 90'

    Torres goes on a threatening run as he cuts in from the left flank and forces a late corner for the Spainish.

100. 91'

     CLOSE! Al Temyat flashes a shot narrowly wide of the far post; Canizarez goes mental at his defence.

101. 93'

     FULL-TIME: Spain looked far from potential champions in a second-half performance of the lowest quality. They progress to a probable second-round tie with France.

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