Perfect Spain clinch World Cup spot

European champions Spain qualified for the 2010 World Cup with two games to spare with goals from Cesc Fabregas, Santi Cazorla and Juan Mata sealing a 3-0 win over Estonia in Merida on Wednesday.

Bosnia Herzegovina’s 1-1 draw with Turkey earlier on Wednesday meant Spain could book their ticket to South Africa with victory and they didn’t disappoint reeling off an eighth successive win to reach the finals.

Arsenal captain Fabregas scored only his third international goal on 33 minutes to give Spain the lead and substitutes Cazorla and Mata scored late on.

“We have eight wins in eight and not many teams have managed that,” said goalscorer Fabregas. “We can be very proud of what we have done and it gives us a lot of confidence for the upcoming games and the World Cup.”

Spain qualify as Group Five winners and will go to the World Cup as one of the favourites to land the trophy for the first time after following up their Euro 2008 triumph with a so far flawless qualifying campaign.

“It wasn’t our best game tonight but we have qualified for the World Cup and that is the main thing,” said coach Vicente Del Bosque.

“We are not thinking about the World Cup just yet. We just have to prepare for the next few games which we want to win and continue our momentum.”

Del Bosque chose to rotate his squad following the 5-0 drubbing of Belgium on Saturday with Xabi Alonso and Sergi Busquets making way for Fabregas and Marcos Senna.

Villarreal midfielder Senna has been hindered by injuries for months and this was his first international game since a 2-1 qualifying win over Turkey back in April.

Real Madrid defender Raul Albiol and Valencia defender Carlos Marchena were the two other new faces in a new-look rearguard.

As expected Spain, on a high after their demolition of Belgium, dominated possession but Estonia could have taken a shock 17th minute lead with the unmarked Tarmo Kink heading over when well-placed.

Spain’s early chances all seem to fall to Fernando Torres who had one of those days when the ball simply won’t go in.

In the 24th minute an off-balance Torres blasted over after a brilliant move involving Fabregas and David Silva.

Two minutes later Torres spurned a golden chance with his weak side-footed effort saved and then the Liverpool striker had a goal-bound volley blocked by a last-ditch tackle.

It was Fabregas who provided the breakthrough stealing possession before playing a neat one-two with Silva and slotting home.

Estonia never looked like equalising and it was the same story in the second half with the visitors seemingly just happy to keep the score at 1-0.

David Villa went close to doubling Spain’s advantage early in the second period forcing a smart save.

Del Bosque had the luxury of bringing off Torres and then Villa by the 66th minute.

Villa’s replacement was Cazorla and the Villarreal winger took advantage of some poor defending to put the game to bed in the 81st minute. Mata, another substitute, sealed the win scoring a third in stoppage time.