They're quite literally surgical in their approach; their operating room a carpet of freshly cut grass 105 metres long by 68 metres wide. Interchanging short passes, patiently probing for an opening to exploit, in search of that vulnerable spot to flick the scalpel and make a lethal incision. It's a maddening way to go, being paper-cut to death. Tuesday, the Portuguese were bled dry.
The Spanish may not be back to their sublime best, the form that thunderstruck the 2008 Euro championship, but Tuesday showed that they're unquestionably on the right track.
"We want to make history," coach Vicente Del Bosque proclaimed following the 1-0 Round-of-16 verdict over Portugal at the FIFA World Cup at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town. "The players are motivated. It's a long tournament and we are able to do it."More and more, that's looking possible.
The goal that decided the match and the Iberian Derby was just so Spain. From the edge of the box, Andres Iniesta, El Ilusionista as he's called in his homeland, slips a short pass to the equally mystifying Xavi, who in turn cleverly backheelflicks on for the speeding David Villa. Portugal goalkeeper Eduardo, superb on the night, blocks the pocket assassin's first shot but the followup is tucked in unmercifully off the underside of the crossbar in the 63rd minute.
From then on, Del Bosque's side played their now-famous sadistic game of keep-away, knocking the ball about with casual insolence as the Portuguese tried in vain to chase it down.
The same sort of stifling defensive scheme that shackled Brazil on Friday at Durban, Portugal had Spain's intricate interplay gummed up through a largely disappointing first half. After the break, though, Villa and Co., began to swashbuckle.
The final possession tally, 61 per cent to 39, isn't so surprising, really. This was always going to be Spain's game for the making. But if not for Eduardo's nine saves it would have been a blowout. Portugal never really got its counter-attack game going.
With their noses in front, the Spanish bossed the midfield and, in turn, the match.
"Spain won with merit," admitted Portuguese tactician Carlos Queiroz. "But I would also like to underscore the fact that Portugal played with a great degree of dignity and ambition and I believe the fans have justifiable reason to be proud of the way the team has played.
"It was an extremely difficult game but Spain moved the ball very well and had more possession and any team that does that can control the game better. We could have scored at certain critical moments, but Spain's victory is justified.
"We always have as our main goal to win. We also want to have an honourable performance to dignify Portuguese football. I wanted us to be able to leave the field with our heads held high, and I think we accomplished this."
Spain accomplished what it set out to do, as well. Beat a highly ranked opponent (third in the FIFA rankings) and do it in convincing style.
Vanished are the doubts and the whispers that followed the shock 1-0 loss to lightly regarded Switzerland in its opening group game. If El Nino, Fernando Torres (dubbed "the Spanish Emile Heskey'' for his struggles at the World Cup by one catty English wit), can rediscover that extra gear at any point in the next three matches, the Spanish might well be nearly unstoppable.
Significantly, the path is now clear for La Roja to set up a tantalizing semifinal against either Argentina or Germany. After watching Paraguay's struggles to eliminate Japan, if Villa and Co. can replicate the type of performance they threw at Portugal throughout the second half, there shouldn't be any doubt.
"We will not underestimate Paraguay, and prepare for them with great respect," promised Del Bosque.
While Villa continued to enhance his burgeoning reputation, Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo once again flopped at a major international event. Interestingly, the hugely entertaining Nike "Write the Future'' World Cup ad campaign originally featured England pug Wayne Rooney, Ronaldo, Italy skipper Fabio Cannavaro and Ivory Coast goal-machine Didier Drogba, all of whom are no longer playing and none of whom distinguished themselves here.
Do we smell a curse?
On Thursday, Ronaldo was reduced to a ghostly spectre in a game he and all his countrymen hoped would be a defining moment for both, a lamentable evening summed up as he spit petulantly at the feet of a TV cameraman while exiting the pitch.