Spain 2-1 Argentina: Two-Goal Xabi Alonso Settles Two-Penalty Encounter

Spain needed a late penalty to sink an Argentina side who had themselves equalised from the penalty spot in a game that saw them largely second-best.

Despite only making two substitutions over the course of the evening, Diego Maradona's side lacked fluency and were on the back foot, ultimately paying the price as Xabi Alonso scored twice, once from the spot. Lionel Messi's equaliser from a penalty situation proved insufficient.

The Spaniards experimented with something of a 4-3-3, Iniesta playing on the right hand side of David Villa and David Silva up front, Sergi Busquets joining old hands Xabi Alonso and Xavi further back, ahead of Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol and Joan Capdevila. Iker Casillas earned his 100th cap in goal.

Argentina lined up in a 4-4-2, Angel di Maria and Maxi Rodriguez supporting Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuain, while Javier Mascherano and Gago sat ahead of a four-man defence comprising Fabricio Coloccini, Martin Demichelis, young Cristian Ansaldi - a debutant - and Gabriel Heinze, and with Sergio Romero in goal.

Following a minute's silence for Robert Enke, Spain started the game, and did so with some style. Just six minutes in Xavi set up David Silva for what should have been the opener, and Silva then turned privoder for a great Villa opportunity.

Just sixteen minutes in the hosts took the lead. Iniesta, Silva and Xavi worked the ball effortlessly through the midfield to Villa on the left flank. Villa plays it back into the box for Silva, who forces a parry from Romero, only for Xabi Alonso to tap it home for the opener.

It was all Spain until the 25th minute when Gonzalo Higuain spurned Argentina's first real chance of the game. He did manage to connect with Angel di Maria's cross, but his finish was wayward.

From there, though, normal service was resumed as Spain dominated the remainder of the first half, Fabricio Coloccini needing to clear Villa's effort off the line after great work from Iniesta, and then Villa himself shot wide.

Some poor central defending from Spain allowed Di Maria a one on one just before the break but the Benfica winger's attempted chip was all wrong, and with Spain deservedly leading the first half ends.



However, with the introduction of Raul Albiol for the impressive Carles Puyol came Argentina's equaliser. The Albiceleste had started the second half with purpose and duly won a penalty when the Real Madrid stopper felled Maxi Rodriguez in the box. Lionel Messi stroked it home with ease.

Spain could have felt aggrieved, given that a similar penalty claim for Iniesta after a Gago foul went unpunished, but set about finding the winner anyway. Substitute Cesc Fabregas and the impressive Sergio Ramos both came close, and then Xabi Alonso managed to seal the winner.

His long shot was parried by Romero, and in turn met the hand of Demichelis in the box. Up stepped the Real Madrid man for his second of the evening and duly put it away from the penalty spot.

Jesus Navas and Alvaro Negredo could have added to Spain's tally towards the end, and Martin Demichelis spurned a great header opportunity right at the death, but 2-1 it finished at the Vicente Calderon.

For Vicente del Bosque it's a performance from which he can draw several positives, but a question or two remains both over his side's defence and their ability to protect a lead in general. Argentina, meanwhile, played a largely orthodox lineup and found themselves wanting. Diego Maradona may be inspired to shuffle his pack yet again.

Albert Dumont, Goal.com