Live Ticker: Spain 4 : 0 Ukraine

Group H prepares for kick-off
Spain and the Ukraine open action in the final World Cup group to get started. Will chronic tournament underachievers Spain be able to continue the 22-game unbeaten streak without captain Raul? Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko is going to do his best to make it difficult for the Spaniards -- if he's fit enough to take the field, that is. The marksman is back training with his team after nursing a knee injury that has left him questionable for the Group H opener. Stay with DW-WORLD.DE for all the play-by-play action.

0. min.
The Starting line-ups for the opening match in Group H
Spain: 1-Iker Casillas (c); 3-Mariano Pernia, 5-Carles Puyol, 15-Sergio Ramos, 22-Pablo; 11-Luis Garcia, 14-Xabi Alonso, 8-Xavi, 16-Marcos Senna; 9-Fernando Torres, 21-David Villa Ukraine: 1-Olexander Shovkovsky; 2-Andriy Nesmachny, 6-Andri Rusol, 17-Vladislav Vashchuk, 5-Volodimir Yezerski; 9-Oleg Gusev, 14-Andriy Husin, 4-Anatoly Timoshchyuk, 21-Ruslan Rotan; 10-Andriy Voronin, 7-Andriy Shevchenko (c) Referee: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland)

0. min.
Raul out, Shevchenko in.
Spain must do without their talismanic striker Raul who has been out of form. Shevchenko has been given the green light after passing a fitness test.

0. min.
Welcome to Leipzig where World Cup debutants Ukraine face Group H favorites Spain.


0. min.
Just minutes before referee Massimo Busacca blows the opening whistle.
Spain are in their traditional kit: Red shirts, blue shorts, and blue socks. Ukraine are bright as canaries, wearing yellow from top to bottom.

0. min.
The mercury is uncomfortably warm, at around 28 Celsius for the match. And we're underway.
Ukraine are playing from right to left on your computer monitors.

1. min.
Spain sends a ball into the Ukrainian box -- Shovkosky bobbles it but can hold it.

2. min.
Ukraine with their first attack but Luis Garcia from Spain foils it.

3. min.
The first good opportunity for Spain. Torres receives a pass on the right, heads into the box, passes back to Xavi who sends it wide left.

4. min.
Foul against Pablo, Ukraine free-kick


6. min.
Torres again, this time from the left.
Spain have the upper hand here at the start. Corner kick.

8. min.
Spain playing at a fast pace.
Ukraine are back on their heels.

9. min.
Offsides Ukraine after a series of nice passes.


10. min.
Some exercise for Spainsh keeper Casillas after a long Ukrainian pass misses its target.

11. min.
The fans are not letting the heat ruin their day, creating a great atmosphere so far.


12. min.
Ukraine are being patient at midfield, again some nice combinations -- offsides, but just barely.

12. min.
Spain goes ahead!


13. min.
Luis Garcia with the goal. No, now it's Xabi Alonso who's given credit
A corner kick after a wicked shot from Senna set the scene. Luis Garcia could get to the ball first in a mass of playes at the goal box. Gusev gets a foot on it but Spain lead 1-0. Deservedly.

15. min.
Another Spanish corner kick.


17. min.
Yellow for Rusol.
Spain with a free-kick from 30 yards!

17. min.
Goal for Spain! Incredible!


18. min.
David Villa took the direct-kick, which was deflected by the Ukrainian wall -- no chance for Shovkosky. No chance now for Ukraine?

20. min.
Luis Aragones' Spain with the deserved lead. Can Oleg Blokhin's players come up with the right reaction to the whole they've dug themselves?

23. min.
A cross from the left for Ukraine but Casillas reins it in easily.

24. min.
Spain are making their opponents look slightly amateurish. Crisp passes, always thinking one step ahead of the Urkainians.

25. min.
Luis Garcia just a half step from getting goal number 3 for the Spaniards but Shovchosky can grab it just in time at the penatly spot.

26. min.
Spain again in the Ukrainian penalty area.
Torres gathers in a long pass on the right, finds Villa at the edge of the area but Ukraine held this attack off.

28. min.
Indicative of Ukraine's play. Shevchenko at the edge of the Spanish box before he stumbles over the ball, and then fouls the Spanish defender.

29. min.
Rotan with a dangerous cross from the right but Sergio Ramos just gets his head on the ball.

30. min.
Spain are now allowing Ukraine to play with the ball.
After the furious start, Spain are retreating, letting the Ukrainians come at them some.

32. min.
Gusin with the first shot on goal for Ukraine. No problem for Casillas.

34. min.
Torres off a corner, his head ball wide left of the Ukrainian though.

35. min.
Again, Spanish penetration into the Ukrainian box.


37. min.
The pace is slowing slightly in the match. Spain's defenders are passing it amongst themselves.

39. min.
The heat might be taking its toll now. A poor pass by Ukraine, out-of-bounds. Spainsh possession.

41. min.
Spain continue to show flashes of brilliance but it seems as if the players on both sides are ready for half-time.

42. min.
Again offsides Ukraine. The Spanish defense has played the trap well, if not dangerously. This time, Voronin looked to be standing onside but the whistle blew.

43. min.
You know the call. Offsides Shevchenko.

45. min.
Half-time! Spain impress with a fast start.


46. min.
The second-half is ready to begin.
Ukraine coach Blokhin shuffles his line-up, looking for some creative souls to change the team's destiny. Vorobyev for Gusev in midfield.

47. min.
Vashchuk pulls down Torres in the box!
Penalty kick for Spain.

47. min.
David Villa beats Shovchosky -- just barely.
Spain go ahead 3-0. A seemingly insurmountable margin.

48. min.
Ukraine now down to 10 men after that somewhat questionable call by referee Busacca.


51. min.
Ukraine must now switch over to damage control. If the margin gets much larger, they could dig themselves a hole they may not be able to get out in their group.

51. min.
David Villa is alone in front of Shovchosky.
But he shoots its straight at the keeper, and misses the chance at a hat-trick.

52. min.
Yerzerski hip checks his opponent and is booked.


54. min.
Spain are also confident in back. A pass into the right corner by Ukraine is headed away, Ukraine complains.

55. min.
Superstar Raul comes in for super scorer Villa. Alonso makes from for David Albelda.


58. min.
As in the first-half, Ukraine are shocked by a fast-firing Spain at the start of the second-half. A goal by Oleg Blokhin's squad would ease the pain some.

60. min.
With the double substitution, both Spanish goalscorers are now on the bench. They can save their energy for future matches, just as both squads are doing now in Leipzig.

61. min.
Voronin sticks out a foot and it turns out to be a super shot from 18 meters -- just wide left.


62. min.
The sun has sapped the players of their strength after one hour, as the pace has dropped drastically. Nevetheless, Spain are going for number four.

63. min.
Ruslan Rotan out, Serhiy Rebrov in for Ukraine.


68. min.
Shevchenko tries to get behind the Spainsh defense but is again ruled offside.

71. min.
10-man are under the gun again.
Spain can methodically dictate this match, launch the occasional attack. Ukraine can only react. Shovkovsky punches one out before Raul gets to the ball.

73. min.
Ukraine with a prime opportunity.
Vorobyev sends one in from the right, Rebrov comes racing in and sails the all far over the crossbar.

74. min.
Raul to Ramos, the defender is alone on the right but kicks the ball into the side of the net. Ukraine goal-kick.

77. min.
Luis Garcia is spelled. In comes Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas.


79. min.
The passes are getting a little sloppy. The 30 Celsius heat has taken its toll. Vorobyev is hurt, the players can get a drink.

81. min.
Spain up it to 4-0.


81. min.
Beautiful goal. Puyol wins the ball, passes it, gets it back, heads it to Torres who rips it inside the left post.

85. min.
The Spanish supporters are euphoric. They and Spaniards back home will have something to sing about this evening.

86. min.
Ramos lets one go 30 meters out from the right sideline. It lands on top of the net, but that doesn't matter at this point.

87. min.
Torres looks for Raul.
Scoring-machine Spain almost increase the lead but Shovkovsky beats Raul to the ball.

88. min.
Target practice -- Albelda shoots from 18 meters and Shovchosky has to dive to bat the ball away.

90. min.
Casillas dashes outside the box, Voronin can head it past him, but the Spanish defense can clear.

90. min.
+1 Just seconds away from the final whistle. Ukraine are just waiting for this game to end.

90. min.
+2 Shevchenko receives the ball with his chest, gets around one, two, three Spanish defenders before his shot is blocked.

Game over! Spain dismantle supposed group co-favorite Ukraine 4-0.


Spain play cat-and-mouse with the Ukrainians, off to a hot start under sizzling temperatures. Luis Aragones' team was never threatened, and after going ahead 2-0 after 17 minutes, the match was more or less decided. Ukraine must now regroup and look ahead to their match with Saudi Arabia on Monday. They had few opportunities and were overpowered by Spain.