Spain have registered a 6-1 victory over South Korea to make a significant statement ahead of Euro 2016.
Korea had gone 16 games without defeat, albeit against weaker opposition, but they were overpowered and outclassed by Spain who netted three times during an eight-minute spell before half time.
The European champions were five to the good by the 54th minute and although Korea stemmed the flow of goals before full time, they could only net one consolation strike of their own during the closing stages.
Read below to see how the action unfolded at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg.
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the international friendly between Spain and South Korea.
There may only be nine days remaining until the start of Euro 2016 but many of the participants continue to compete in friendlies as they look to maintain their fitness ahead of the 24-man tournament. That's exactly what Spain are attempting to do as they welcome Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid players back into the fold after a long La Liga campaign but coach Vicente del Bosque will be keen to see whether the other members of his squad can push their way into contention for a first-team spot later this month.
While the attention is rightly on Spain, South Korea have not travelled to Europe to roll over. In fact, they have every reason to take this fixture seriously after being a 16-match unbeaten run and having avoided conceding a goal in their last nine matches. The opposition hasn't been great but it will be regarded as a huge achievement if they can not only avoid defeat against one of the best teams in the world, but shut them out for 90 minutes too.
Without further ado, let's take a look at the team news that is emerging from the changing rooms in Austria. There's a significant selection in the Spain ranks...
SPAIN XI: Casillas, Azpilicueta, Pique, Bartra, Bellerin, Bruno, Iniesta, Fabregas, Silva, Nolito, Morata
Of course, the main news is the appearance of Iker Casillas, who is making his 167th appearance for for his country. He will be equalling the record set by Vitalijs Astafjevs for most games played for a European nation. There are also starts for the likes of Gerard Pique and Andres Iniesta, while David Silva will continue to build his fitness in an attacking three with Nolito and Alvaro Morata.
We are still awaiting news of the South Korea lineup but we will bring you that as soon as we get it. In the meantime, why not take a look at our preview to today's contest by clicking here.
It has been less than 24 hours since Del Bosque selected his 23-man squad for the Euros and there were some surprising omissions. Atletico's Saul Niguez and Real's Isco were the most notable names to miss out on selection but if you haven't seen the full squad, you can do so here.
HEAD TO HEAD! Today's contest will represent the third time that the two nations have met since the 2002 World Cup, when South Korea famously emerged victorious on their way to the latter stages of the competition. Since then, Spain have registered two victories, the first of which came in 2010 by a 1-0 scoreline before they eased to a 4-1 triumph two years later.
These were the scenes a moment ago at the Red Bull Arena. The announcer certainly appears enthusiastic about welcoming the reigning European champions...
¿Quieres sentirte uno más de los nuestros saliendo al campo? ¡Mira esto! #VamosEspaña pic.twitter.com/T3bgiz87hM — Selección Española (@SeFutbol) June 1, 2016
This game will be Spain's second fixture in less than a week. On Friday, they successfully overcome the challenge of Bosnia-Herzegovina by a 3-1 scoreline. Nolito was responsible for giving Spain a two-goal lead during the early stages before they finally sealed the win in added-on time. Catch up with the full report on the game by clicking here.
PREDICTION! Spain are the clear favourites to prevail in Austria but we expect South Korea to push them all the way in what should be a tight contest with very few goals. Spain to win 1-0.
We are still waiting on details of that South Korea team news. We are sure it is keeping you in suspense.
SOUTH KOREA XI: Jin-Hyeon; Suk-Young, Jeong-Ho, Kee-hee, Hyun-Soo; Sung-Yueng, Kook-Young; Tae-Hee, Heung-Min, Dong-won; Ui-Jo
Turns out that you didn't have to wait too much longer. As expected, Son Heung-min and Ki Sung-yueng both feature, as does former Sunderland player Ji Dong-won.
The players are beginning to emerge from the tunnel in Austria. We will have all the action for you very shortly.
I've been wrongly telling you that this is Spain's final friendly. It's not. They still have Georgia to come on June 7. Anyway, we are underway!
Spain have started this match very sharply. They quickly earned a free kick on the left-hand side of the penalty area but Fabregas's delivery was poor and South Korea were able to clear. There's a sizeable crowd watching this game considering the kickoff time.
To their credit, Korea have hit straight back and sent a couple of teasing deliveries into the penalty area. No-one was there to make the final touch but it's been a promising start from both teams.
You can certainly see why Korea have enjoyed so much joy over the past year and a bit. They are playing with a high intensity and they should have at least tested Casillas in the Spanish net when Son was given the ball on the left of the penalty area but his shot was rushed and driven high into the stand.
SHOT! You wouldn't think that this was a friendly. It's being played at a tempo more suited to the Premier League rather than international football. Silva and Iniesta are having a lot of the ball in the final third with Iniesta forcing a decent stop out of the goalkeeper with a low 20-yard drive.
Spain have taken control of the game over the past few minutes. Only a last-ditch tackle stopped Nolito from getting a shot on target before a corner was nearly met by Bartra.
South Korea aren't known for their threat from set pieces but they very nearly opened the scoring when the ball was flicked on at the near post from an inswinging free kick. Unfortunately for the Asian side, there was no-one at the back post to add the final touch.
CHANCE! What a chance for South Korea. A neat interchange frees up Son on the right flank before he cuts the ball back to Hwang Il-jo. The attacker is only around 16 yards from goal but he completely scuffs the effort and the ball rolls through to Casillas.
There's been a lot to like about this Spanish performance so far but they are fortunate not to be a couple of goals down. South Korea are playing with the kind of confidence you would expect from a team who haven't lost in 16 matches and they are certainly not overawed by facing a team of Spain's quality.
CHANCE! Bellerin comes mightily close to open his account for Spain! A sensational move involving three players ends with the ball being teed up for Bellerin to send a first-time effort across the goalkeeper but Kim Jin-hyeon tips the shot away for a corner.
GOAL! Spain 1-0 South Korea (Silva)
GOAL! Spain 2-0 South Korea (Fabregas)
Talk about a two-minute capitulation! The first goal was a stunner but the second a calamity.
After Morata won a free kick around 25 yards from goal, Silva stepped up to whip the ball into the top corner with the aid of the inside of the post. It's the perfect set piece. Moments later, a header from Jang Hyun-soo only just reached the goalkeeper who fumbled the ball and Fabregas was on hand to tap the ball into an empty net from 18 yards.
Unless they pull off something special, you'd have to say that Korea are out of this match but they continue to show plenty of ambition in the final third. Ji Dong-won was just provided with the chance to curl the ball towards the far corner but like his teammate earlier in the match, it was scuffed.
GOAL! Spain 3-0 South Korea (Nolito)
Well that's most definitely game over. A through ball from Azpilicueta finds Nolito and the attacker manages to cut back onto his right foot before slotting the ball into the bottom corner. Spain look exceptional in attack today.
Korea remain undeterred but you have to feel that the more they throw men forward in search for a goal back into the game, they are leaving themselves wide open to a heavy defeat.
HALF TIME: Spain 3-0 South Korea
The half-time whistle goes in Austria and Spain have all but assured victory over a lively South Korea side who will count themselves unfortunate to have been on the receiving end of a flurry of goals from the European champions. They've had chances of their own but they now must try to avoid slipping to a heavy defeat after going so long without losing a game.
The players are back out for the second half. Spain have made an array of alterations so we will try to bring you those as we go on. South Korea get us back underway.
Korea almost fashion a chance within 10 seconds of the restart but Spain are soon back up the other end of the pitch and earn a free kick through Morata. The set piece goes straight into the far corner but Morata is adjudged to have acted as a distraction to the goalkeeper from an offside position.
GOAL! Spain 4-0 South Korea (Morata)
They are being helped out by the abysmal defending of their opponents but Spain are certainly making a statement here. They net a fourth goal through Morata, who rises above the Korean defence and ahead of Kim to head into the net from eight yards.
GOAL! Spain 5-0 South Korea (Nolito)
Korea's defending over the past 25 minutes has been outrageously bad. The defender attempts to ease out Bellerin with the ball about to go into the goalkeeper's hands but the speed of the Arsenal full-back deceives him and his cut-back is placed into the bottom corner by Nolito.
Korea win a corner and throw men forward and although the corner is poor, it reaches Kim Kee-hee. However, he mis-times his flick and the ball goes harmlessly wide.
Both teams are backing at least three or four substitutions. We aren't even going to attempt to name them all but it's safe to say all of the Spain players are keen to get a piece of this match. They smell goals and there should be more goals.
Pedro - who came on at half time - is set free down the right flank and after deceiving the first defender, he looks odds-on to score Spain's sixth. However, he decides to try to take on the whole defence and he is finally dispossessed by the fourth man. A tad greedy but who can blame him.
SHOT! Moments later, Nolito tees up Pedro to finally get a shot on goal but his strike towards the near post is well smothered by Kim.
While Spain are in total control, Korea must be wondering how they have failed to find a goal of their own in this match. Ji does superbly on the left flank before clipping the ball towards Suk Hyun-jun but the forward fails to divert his flick past Casillas, who made himself big at his near post.
CHANCE! Casillas may be competing in his 167th international but he still holds the desire to keep clean sheets in relatively meaningless friendlies. Suk took the direct approach as he weaved his way into the box before drilling the ball towards the far corner. Unfortunately for the Porto attacker, the veteran was on hand to palm the ball away.
That proves to be Casillas's last contribution before being replaced by Rico. He comes off to a warm reception from the crowd, who probably recognise that he hasn't got too many games left in a national team shirt.
Just 10 minutes to go at the Red Bull Arena now. The action is still being played at a decent pace for a friendly but goalmouth action is starting to become less frequent.
GOAL! Spain 5-1 South Korea (Ju Se-jong)
They deserved that. Korea toy with they ball on the edge of the penalty area before it finally arrives at the feet of Ju Se-jong, who drives the ball into the roof of the net via the boot of Bruno Soriano. Nothing more than a consolation but they get finally get the goal that their play has merited.
GOAL! Spain 6-1 South Korea (Morata)
FULL TIME: Spain 6-1 South Korea
After Morata beats the goalkeeper to the ball before curling the ball into an empty net from an acute angle, the referee rightly decides there is no need for any additional time.
Korea were limited opposition to a certain extent but this was a very impressive performance from Spain and will their confidence ahead of Euro 2016 no harm at all. That will be all from Sports Mole for this game but we hope to see you again soon! Goodbye for now.
