Andres Iniesta showed why he could be the key to Spain's chances at Euro 2012 when he came off the bench to inspire the world and European champions to a 1-0 win at home to China in their final warm-up game on Sunday.
The fleet-footed midfielder, introduced at halftime at a festive Cartuja stadium in sweltering Seville, gave Spain the attacking flair they were missing in the first half and set up David Silva to score the 84th-minute winner after the home side had squandered a slew of chances and twice hit the crossbar.
Picking the ball up wide on the left, he surged past his marker into the area and pulled it back past stranded goalkeeper Zeng Cheng for Silva to sidefoot into the empty net.
Centre back Raul Albiol had rattled the frame of the goal with a header from a Fernando Torres flick at a 62nd-minute corner and Iniesta sidefooted the ball on to the crossbar after an audacious piece of close control a minute later.
"They closed the game down well in the first half but we woke up in the second and could have scored more goals," Silva said in a pitchside interview with Spanish TV.
"Andres made it very easy for me pulling the ball back and I just had to tap it in, he is a fantastic player," the Manchester City playmaker added.
The Spanish, who play their opening Group C match at Euro 2012 against Italy on June 10, would have won by a considerably wider margin had it not been for an inspired display by Cheng, easily China's best player.
China, ranked 66th, were ultimately overwhelmed by Spain's slick passing game and barely troubled Victor Valdes in the home goal after he replaced Casillas at the break.
Spain are bidding to become the first nation to win back-to-back continental titles with a World Cup in between at the European Championship in Poland and Ukraine.
Photograph: Denis Doyle/Getty Images
