Spain's Fabregas comes of age on the big stage

STUTTGART, June 20: Although Cesc Fabregas was the youngest player to appear for Spain in a World Cup, it was his mature intervention that turned the Group H game against Tunisia in their favour.

A goal down and running out of ideas as they tried to break down Tunisia's rock-like back four, Spain looked to be heading for their first defeat in 24 games at halftime.

The midfield were becoming nervous, the strikers were not getting the service they needed and Spain were adopting a long-ball game that went against their nature.

But Luis Aragones's decision to throw on the 19-year-old Arsenal midfielder in place of the more robust Marcos Senna changed the course of the match as Spain won 3-1.

''Cesc knew how to interpret the game perfectly,'' Aragones said after the match yesterday. ''We rediscovered our touch and started to become more creative.'' Fabregas set up the equaliser 19 minutes from time when Tunisia keeper Ali Boumnijel spilled his rasping drive and fellow substitute Raul netted the rebound.

The equaliser settled Spain's nerves and for the first time in the game they began to create real problems for the Tunisia defence.

Five minutes later the young midfielder threaded a slide rule pass through the Tunisian back four into the path of Fernando Torres and the striker finished off coolly to take his tally for the tournament to three goals.

Torres added another from the penalty spot in stoppage time, but it was Cesc who had turned the match.

''The coach sent me on to play alongside Xavi to help move the ball around quicker in midfield,'' Fabregas told reporters.

''We were looking for the gaps to put Torres clear because he is so quick.'' The youngster said the nature of Spain's comeback victory showed that in addition to the stylish football they showed in the opening game, they also have the winning spirit needed to go a long way in the tournament.

''The important thing today was that we knew how to react when things weren't going well. We grew as a team in the second half.'' Skipper Raul, who took his tally to 44 goals in 96 games with his equaliser, agreed with his team mate.

''It was a difficult game and early on we were trying to do things too quickly,'' he said.

''We had to work hard, but this side knows how to be patient and to fight back. After we scored our first goal the side were much more fluid with their passing.''

REUTERS

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