Spain sends Ireland packing

Spain’s dazzling ball control, dizzying passing game and deluge of shots were way too much for Ireland.

Fernando Torres scored a goal in each half, and David Silva and substitute Cesc Fabregas added the others as Spain beat Ireland 4-0 and eliminated the Irish from the European Championship with its most lopsided loss in 41 years.

Spain, which leads Group C along with Croatia with four points, dominated the tempo and scoring opportunities through its quick combinations and precise passing. The defending champions completed an incredible 779 passes and took 26 shots — 20 of them on goal — in a performance that put it on course for a spot in the quarter-finals.

Torres, who scored in the Euro 2008 final, put Spain ahead early after dispossessing Richard Dunne inside the area and scurrying past Stephen Ward before sending an angled shot over goalkeeper Shay Given in the fourth minute.

Torres started over Fabregas as the world champions reverted to fielding a traditional striker after the attack was led by six midfielders against Italy. The Chelsea striker became Spain’s third all-time leading scorer with 30 goals in 95 appearances.

“We wanted to win, to make a better impression than we did against Italy,” said Torres, whose team completed three times as many passes as the Irish. “From the first minute we showed the character to win.”