SPAIN CRUISE TO FRIENDLY WIN

Spain lived up to their billing as the best side in World football, waltzing past England to extend their unbeaten run to 29 games.

England had looked the better side in the opening 15 minutes, with Emile Heskey in particular imposing himself on a Spanish defense that was without its preferred central pairing.

DAVID BECKHAM

With outfield leader Carles Puyol injured and fellow centre-back Carlos Marchena rested, Gerard Pique was given his first cap and Raul Albiol was picked alongside him.

The inexperienced pair were successfully targeted by England early on, with Gabriel Agbonlahor the recipient of the best chance - a first time shot from a Gareth Barry cross that whistled just wide with Iker Casillas beaten.

Yet Heskey came arguably closer to scoring after 14 minutes when he ran in behind Pique who hauled him back on the edge of the box.

A red card and a free-kick or penalty would have been the expected outcome but the referee's assistant came to Pique's rescue, wrongly flagging for offside.

Unfortunately for England that warning was what Spain needed to open up. Two minutes later Fernando Torres and David Villa both had good chances blocked before Villa shot straight at David James from inside the box.

Their dominance continued, with Villa scoring after 26 minutes only to see it ruled out for offside, before finally they were rewarded with a goal.

36 minutes had gone when Villa had a ball played into his feet on the edge of the box and, with Jagielka and Terry on his hip, turned them both in an instant before slotting past James.

A back-post Heskey header less than a minute later gave hope that England would respond well to going behind but it was the last good chance the away side would get until the 88th minute.

David Beckham's appearance for the second half, allowing him to tie Bobby Moore for the most England caps as an outfield player, sparked some interest but it was Spain's match.

The reigning European Champions cruised through the second half without either threatening or being threatened, although they were able to snatch a second goal to put the game away.

Xavi, at the heart of everything for Spain, hit a hopeful free-kick into the England box and Llorente found enough space behind Matthew Upson to power a header past Robert Green.

Only a late chance for Carlton Cole offered hope, when he was played in behind the Spanish defence by Beckham, took the ball round Pepe Reina and found the target from a tight angle but Carlos Marchena was there to block the shot on the goal line.

Manager Fabio Capello can take relief in the fact that they were beaten by the best, but he will have hoped for more from an England side that have looked more clinical since the Italian took over last winter.