Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live text commentary of tonight's Euro 2012 Group C encounter between holders Spain and the Republic of Ireland in Gdansk.
Following Italy's draw with Croatia earlier this evening, the Spanish will surely be looking at this match as an opportunity to take a big step towards the quarter-finals after they earned a point from their opening game.
Meanwhile, Ireland are in desperate need of some points as they were beaten 3-1 by Croatia on Sunday.
Please note that the match starts at 7.45pm.
21.39Right, that's it from us this evening. We'll be back tomorrow with live text commentary of Ukraine's match against France and the small matter of England's encounter with Sweden. It's sure to be another cracker of a day and we hope that you can join us again. Thanks for your company and goodnight!
21.37While the Irish lick their wounds, Spain have sent out a very clear message to the rest of the tournament and that message is that they will not give up their crown easily. Can anyone stop them?
21.36And there it is. Ireland become the first team to be knocked out of Euro 2012 after being absolutely hammered by the defending champions.
90+3 minFULL TIME: Spain 4-0 Ireland
90+2 minIrish fans really making some noise now. Unfortunately for them, their team hasn't been goo enough in this tournament. They've been totally out-played tonight, but I'm sure that they will rue that 3-1 defeat to Croatia over the weekend.
90 minWe'll have three minutes of injury time here in Gdansk...
88 minThat said, there are some extremely glum-looking faces amongst their ranks as they bid farewell to their team.
87 minFair play to the Irish fans, they're still in full voice for their team.
85 minThey maye already have four goals, but Spain are on the hunt for more.
81 minBoom. Fabregas makes it four as he thumps home at the near post from a corner. That was an unstoppable finish.
81 minSpain 4-0 Ireland (Fabregas)
80 minHere comes another change for Spain with Santi Cazorla replacing Andres Iniesta. The Barcelona midfielder has been phenomenal tonight and the Spain fans show their appreciation by bowing to their central talisman.
77 minSpain have a free kick which Xavi sweeps high and wide. You wouldn't bet against them bagging a fourth sometime soon.
76 minMeanwhile, Ireland make a substitution as James McClean comes on for Damien Duff.
75 minHe hasn't been on for that long but Javi Martinez is booked for a lunge on Glenn Whelan. Naughty boy.
74 minTorres receives the plaudits of his teammates on the bench and he looks absolutely delighted.
72 minThat was Torres' last contribution of the night. The striker is replaced by Cesc Fabregas.
70 minThat's looks to be it for Ireland. Silva pokes the ball through to Torres who calmly fires past Given.
70 minGOAL! Spain 3-0 Ireland (Torres)
70 minGOAL! Spain 3-0 Ireland (Torres)
67 minSome confusion in the Spanish area as Casillas fluffs McGeady's cross to give away a corner, which comes to nothing.
65 minSpain make the change as Xabi Alonso is replaced by Javi Martinez.
64 minWasteful from Ireland. McGeady plays in Andrews who dummies to shoot before selling his teammate well short with a return pass in the box.
63 minRobbie Keane is down clutching his ankle after a collision with Busquets. I think that he'll be okay.
62 minSpain go straight up the other end to win a corner with Busquets eventually firing wide after a scramble in the area. The midfielder's search for a first international goal continues.
61 minMcGeady whips in a cross, but Casillas gathers easily. You have to wonder where an Irish goal is going to come from.
58 minThat was very close indeed. Iniesta sets Torres away, only for the linesman to flag for offside. Replays show that there was the smallest amount of daylight in it
56 minNearly a third for Spain. Some one-touch passing gets them to the edge of the area, but Xavi's goal-bound drive is blocked.
55 minIreland are looking stifled to say the least. Every time that they get the ball there about four red shirts on them.
53 minXabi Alonso now goes into the book after taking out Jonathan Walters.
51 minSpain quickly return to the Irish half, but give it away. Can Ireland snatch something here?
49 minThat could be farewell to Ireland. Given palms Iniesta's shot out to Silva, who seems to take an eternity to make up his mind before slotting the ball casually as you like into the back of the net. It's a long way back for Trapattoni's men now.
48 minGOAL! Spain 2-0 Ireland (Silva)
48 minDecent stop from Given! Arbeloa is found out wide by Torres before he fires a low shot towards goal. Given gets down low to bat it away.
46 minSpain have started where they left off in the first with some silky passing that gets the stats people weak at the knees.
45 minYep, he replaces Simon Cox as Spain get us underway in the second half.
20.46Looks like Jonathan Walters is coming on for Ireland...
20.38So, can Ireland keep themselves in the tournament with a goal? They have to avoid defeat tonight to stay in Euro 2012. We'll be back for the second half in five.
20.37Today's other match in Group C saw Croatia earn themselves a 1-1 draw with Italy in Poznan. You can check out our match report for that game right here.
20.34As it stands, Ireland are heading out of Euro 2012. It was a typically dominant display from the defending champions, but there were glimpses from the Irish that Giovanni Trapattoni will be happy with. I'm sure Vicente del Bosque will have criticisms of his team, but he must be happy that his decision to start with Torres paid off instantly with a goal.
45+1 minHALF TIME: Spain 1-0 Ireland
45 minGlenn Whelan is now booked as he breaks up a Spanish attack with a foul on Silva. There will be one minute of added time.
45 minChance for Ireland! Keane gets some space in the area, but his shot on the angle is blocked by Pique.
44 minSome stoic defending there from Ireland. Given first saves Arbeloa's low drive before Dunne blocks Alonso's effort as the ball bounces around in the area. Heroic stuff from the men in green.
41 minXavi! The midfielder gets some space on the edge of the area but can't curl the ball past Given.
40 minThat was a little bit Arsenal for Spain there. Torres get sent clear out on the left side, but he tries to pick out Alba with a floated pass across the box. Alonso is eventually teed up, but Ireland block the shot and get rid of the danger. Not very clinical from the defending champions.
38 minThere's a huge cheers from the Irish fans as Keane breaks up a passing move from the Spanish. They're going to need more of that if they are to get something out of this game.
36 minWe have our first yellow card of the contest as Robbie Keane is booked for a mis-timed challenge on Andres Iniesta.
35 minTorres goes for goal again from inside the area with a poked effort that Given easily takes.
32 minIreland are now enjoying some of the ball. Spain threaten to counter attack, but they get the ball back thanks to the tireless Keith Andrews.
30 minFor all of Spain's possession, the Irish are by no means out of this. They're only a goal behind and there's a good hour to play. However, a second goal for their opponents could mean curtains.
28 minNow Ireland have a rare attack which is snuffed out when Aiden McGeady's cross fails to find its way into the area.
27 minIreland get it away, but Spain are back in possession instantly.
25 minClose again for Spain. Jordi Alba works some space down the left hand side before his cross is headed over from close range by Silva. Xabi Alonso then has a dig from distance that's deflected over for a corner.
23 minGood save from Given, Iniesta tries his luck, but the shotstopper is equal to it and punches away.
21 minThey've made a bit of a hash of that. Xavi plays it short before Given eventually gathers Pique's poor cross.
20 minSpain have a free kick now as Iniesta in muscled off the ball. This is definitely shooting range.
18 minCredit to Ireland, they're having a right go of it. Arebeloa is dispossessed on the edge of the box, but Damien Duff's searching ball for Keane is overhit and goes straight to Iker Casillas.
16 minGerard Pique, of all people, flashes a shot at Given from distance. However, the keeper deals with it comfortably.
14 minSpain are just camped out in the Irish half doing what they do best before Xavi scuffs the ball over the bar. It's mesmeric stuff from the holders, as expected.
12 minThe referee blows his whistle as Torres is offside, but he was nearly in again there. Silva was asking the questions once more.
10 minReplays show Torres cupping his ear to his critics following his goal. You can bet that he enjoyed that after missing out in the opening match.
9 min...which Richard Dunne gets his head to, but the ball floats harmlessly wide.
9 minUp the other end Andrews' effort is turned wide for a corner...
8 minTorres nearly scores again! Alvaro Arbeloa's header finds the striker six yards out but he can only shoot wide under pressure.
6 minDanger again for Ireland as their defence fail to clear their lines. Silva takes control before his tame effort is gathered by Given.
4 minPick that out. David Silva is tackled on the edge of the area, but Fernando Torres picks it up before firing in past Shay Given's near post. That was a thumping drive. The worst start for Ireland.
4 minGOAL! Spain 1-0 Ireland (Torres)
3 minThe champions are getting into their passing groove under a chorus of boos from the Irish.
2 minSpain have the ball but they kick it out of play after Sergio Busquets is nobbled by Keith Andrews.
1 minIreland have enjoyed 30 seconds of possession already and you wonder if that's as good as it'll get for them tonight.
19.45The national anthems are over, the handshakes are done and it'll be Ireland to get us underway.
19.40The Irish fans are making a right old racket inside the stadium. Kick off is just minutes away...
19.37Is the script written for Robbie Keane to make an impact tonight? There were rumours that he would be dropped for tonight's game by Giovanni Trapattoni has kept his faith in the veteran striker. He's made a career out of vital goals and a nation will be hoping that he pulls something out of the bag in Gdansk.
19.32Vicente del Bosque's side will be hoping to get their campaign up and running tonight. With Croatia's 1-1 draw against Italy earlier this evening, the Spanish can seize the initiative in Gdansk. You can read our match report of the Azzurri's draw here.
19.28It looks like the Spanish can have no complaints over the surface this evening. They were unhappy with a lack of moisture against the Italians, but it's been raining in Gdansk and should provide a slick pitch for the holders.
19.26Meanwhile, Simon Cox partners Robbie Keane in attack for the Irish as they look to avoid a second consecutive defeat. You can see the teams here.
19.25Right, first thing's first. The big team news is that Fernando Torres starts for Spain in place of Cesc Fabregas following Sunday's draw with Italy. Manager Vicente del Bosque was criticised for not playing a striker and it looks as if he's taken that on board tonight.
