Spain vs Turkey match report: Supreme Spaniards sail into last sixteen

Spain 3 Turkey 0: Holders qualify for knockout stages after two Alvaro Morata strikes and one from Nolito

Holders Spain eased past Turkey on Friday night in Nice and into the last sixteen (Getty)

After 21 games of Euro 2016 it appears we have a clear favourite. Spain will face far tougher tests than Turkey but their 3-0 win in Nice suggests they are the team to beat again, just as they have been in the last two European Championships.

They became the first side to score three goals in a game at this year's finals with a convincing dismantling of their Group D rivals. They are definitely in the last 16 and should win the group they conclude on Tuesday against Croatia in Bordeaux.

Croatia’s meeting with the Czech Republic was marred by flares thrown on to the pitch, for Spain the flair was already on the pitch from the kick-off with Andrés Iniesta and company playing a different game to their rivals for long periods.

The early pressure was relentless although it went without reward. Morata had a shot saved at the near post on five minutes. Then the Juventus striker forced a corner after Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas and Jordi Alba had combined well. From David Silva’s kick Gerard Pique headed down into the ground and over.

Nolito then curled an effort wide and got on the end of a Juanfran cross from Silva’s ball but again could not get the right direction and power on his shot.

If Nolito and Morata were the chief culprits as Spain’s pressure failed to tell they would soon put things right – both scoring inside three minutes.

First Morata scored with a glancing header from Nolito’s cross and then the assist-provider turned scorer when Fabregas’ lofted through-ball was inexplicably headed up in the air by Mehmet Topal. It dropped to Nolito and he did well to cleverly steer it past Volcan Babakan from the edge of the six-yard box.

It was poor defending from Turkey. They had made it a physical contest early on but as soon as Iniesta got his passing eye in they were chasing shadows. The Barcelona midfielder could have won a penalty when pulled back by Ozan Tufan on the edge of the area. Earlier Sergio Ramos was booked for a foul on Burak Yimaz and he in turn was cautioned for a foul on Sergio Busquets.

Turkey’s best chance came from a Hakan Calhanoglu free-kick that went just over after Juanfran had fouled his former Atletico Madrid team-mate Arda Turan. But Spain dominated and confidence was so high in the latter stages of the first half that Pique found himself in the centre-forward’s position and nearly got on the end of Nolito’s cross.

They were desperate for the third and it came just three minutes into the second period. Iniesta split the Turkish defence with another divine pass. This time Jordi Alba was the recipient and when he crossed for Morata the 23-year-old scored his second of the tournament.

Alvaro Morata scores his second of the night and Spain's third (Getty)

There had been 21 passes in the build-up to the goal and only keeper David de Gea and Pique had not got a touch on the ball as it made its way from one end of the pitch to the back of the Turkey net. Fatih Terem’s team were in turmoil and Arda Turan was being booed by his own supporters. The Barcelona midfielder’s name was sung by Spain supporters and he applauded them – it can’t be easy playing against Iniesta when you are so used to playing with him.

Spain were able to ease up late on and Alba, David Silva and Fabregas were replaced by Cesar Azpilicueta, Bruno and Koke.

Azpilicueta back-tracked brilliantly to cut out Turkey’s best second half chance forcing Olcay Sakan’s shot wide. It meant another clean sheet for Spain who have not conceded since the first game of the 2012 tournament. That defensive strength added to Iniesta and Silva’s midfield artistry and the goals of Nolito and Morata are going to make them difficult to stop.