With both teams having their tournament exit already confirmed last week, it was the dead rubber of all dead rubbers in this final Group B tie, though victory did spare Vicente del Bosque’s side the humiliation of the wooden spoon.
The Spain boss named seven changes for their final game in Brazil, with the rare appearance of a strike partnership as old guard forwards Villa and Torres were named in their starting XI.
Australia had impressed against group leaders Holland, despite falling to a 3-2 defeat, but they looked lost without the suspended Tim Cahill, as the failed defending champions dominated.
While Spain had the supremacy, there was a distinct lack of pace throughout the game, though Villa’s brilliant opening goal did wake up a few nodding heads, flicking Juanfran’s cross into the back of the net with his heel.
It was the 32-year-old’s 59th international goal in what is likely to be his final World Cup game, and the striker was later seen on the verge of tears in the dugout when he was substituted for Man United playmaker Juan Mata after an hour.
There was virtually no opposition when Villa swept home to break the deadlock, and the Aussie’s defence didn’t improve as Torres was allowed to wander into the box to put away their second after the break, the Chelsea man with a cool close-range finish from Andres Iniesta’s wonderful through-ball.
The holders looked like scoring at will in the closing stages, though they only mustered one more as Mata latched onto Cesc Fabregas’ ball over the top and nutmegged the oncoming goalkeeper Mat Ryan to seal victory.
With nothing to gain but restoring some pride, the world and European champions will have a lot to do over the coming months to prove it isn’t the end of their era of domination as their World Cup comes to an end at the first hurdle.
