No stopping Spanish surge

By Adam Szreter at Juan A. Samaranch stadium

Spain completed a clean sweep of Group B in Lausanne this evening with a comprehensive triumph against Poland that will send them into Wednesday's semi-finals confident of justifying their status of favourites to win the third UEFA European Under-19 Championship.

Entertaining match
Despite the fact that this was a 'dead rubber', both teams entertained a crowd of 1,400 with some committed and skilful football that will have fired the imaginations of the young and pleasantly surprised the not-so-young.

Seven changes
Having already won the group with two wins out of two, Spain made seven changes from the team that started their previous game, with the promising Real Madrid CF youngster Juanfran among the three players suspended - defender Sergio Ramos and midfield player Albiol were the others.

Early threat
Jaime Gavilán, like Juanfran a member of the Spanish squad that reached the final of last December's FIFA World Youth Championship, was the first to threaten Marcin Juszczyk in the Polish goal, heading just wide after good work by Francisco Chica and Joan Tomas.

Spain ahead
On ten minutes Spain took the lead with a move of classic simplicity that exposed shortcomings in the centre of the Polish defence. Raiding down the left, Garrido sent over a fine cross from the byline, Victor nodded it down and there was Borja, who had started the move, to finish it off with a low drive.

Lead doubled
Three minutes later Poland fell apart again, this time Joan Tomas and Borja combining to set up Victor for his second goal of the tournament and at this stage a landslide victory looked on the cards. But Poland, prompted from midfield by the burly Tomasz Szczepan, regrouped and Lukasz Jasinski fired just over the bar.

Piszczek goal
Gradually Marcin Smolinski and Marcin Tarnowski pushed forward in support of lone striker Lukasz Piszczek, giving the Poles more options, and Smolinski was only denied by the fingertips of Manuel, who flicked his shot on to the bar. Poland's persistence was eventually rewarded in first-half injury time as Szczepan and Tarnowski combined to set up a straightforward chance for Piszczek to score his fourth goal of the tournament.

Gavilán scores
After the break Poland were on the backfoot once more as Spain carved out a string of chances, Gavilán finally converting one on the hour in spectacular fashion with a left-footed drive into the roof of the net.

Victory complete
Six minutes from time, with Poland now clearly dispirited, Gavilán picked out substitute David with a fine crossfield ball and his centre fell kindly for Roberto Soldado to fire in the final goal. Spain now return to this venue on Wednesday to play Group A runners-up Ukraine in the last four.