Spain started very brightly in Faro with striking duo Raul and Morientes showing the understanding they shared at Real Madrid to carve the Russian defense apart on a number of occasions in the first ten minutes. Russia looked dazed by the pace and invention coming their way from the Spanish, taking the opportunity to calm the play whenever they could.

However, stifling tactics were not enough to dampen the spark in the fizzing Spaniards. Looking as though they had an extra yard of pace over their Russian opponents, Spain hurried back to cover whenever Russia crossed the half-way line and bombed forward in numbers when an attack was underway.

The opening frenzy of the first quarter of an hour soon gave way to a scrappy period around the 20 minute mark where the Russians began to patiently build attacks only to meet scything challenges from the likes of Carles Puyol and Ivan Helguera in Spain's defense.

Russia responded in kind as first Morientes and then Raul were cut down in their stride by cynical tackles. The ensuing play, with tempers fraying, became untidy and both teams had good chances go begging as the blood remained on the boil. Vicente Rodriguez inflamed matters by going to ground for a second time as he searched for a free kick and an Oscar nomination.

A flurry of cards

Rodriguez was again on the dirt ten minutes later but this time he had good reason. Russia's captain Aleksei Smertin chopped the Spanish midfielder down in the latest of a long line of brutal challenges and was awarded the yellow card.

All the fouls and play acting contributed to the game stuttering to a staccato rhythm on the half hour mark with the free flowing fervor and passion of the opening exchanges lost in a flurry of yellow cards and deafening whistles. The Spanish however were the first team to retain their composure and with the Russians back tracking Raul cut to the by-line to launch a wait high cross into the center. Morientes, stooping for power, forced a save from the header.

Quickly the Russians came alive and burst through with the giant Dmitri Boulykrin firing a low hard shot at Cassilas in the Spanish goal which the keeper saved with his legs. As the half came to a close, Dmitri Alenichev forced two good saves from Ike Casillas as the pace returned to its opening frenzy but the first half remained goal-less as the whistle blew for the interval.

Spain retains composure

The game resumed in much the same vein as the match had begun. Spain swarmed all over Russia from the off but this time the physicality was matched by creativity with Raul going close in the opening minutes of the second half after intricate play built from the back line.

After going close with another trademark header, Fernando Morientes was replaced with Juan Carlos Valeron and the effect was almost instantaneous. The substitute was on the pitch for only 20 seconds before his first touch of the game took the ball away from a gaggle of diving defenders and his second powered the ball past the Russian keeper to make it 1-0 to Spain on the hour.

Pushing for the killer blow

Far from resting on their laurels, the Spanish pushed for a second goal with Raul again leading the charge, flashing a vicious shot past the upright with just under 20 minutes to go. At the other end, the Russians continued their patient build-up but chose to be over elaborate rather than direct with the goal at their mercy.

Russian attacks continued to flounder on the rock that is Carles Puyol as the wild-haired defender refined his tactics from mugging Russia's attackers to controlling the last third of the pitch with timely challenges as the clock began to run out for his opponents.

With ten minutes to go, the inspirational Raul Gonzalez Blanco made way for Fernando Torres to a standing ovation. The Spanish captain's replacement -- one of his country's rising stars -- was soon in the thick of things, having a shot charged down within a minute of coming on.

Physical challenges produce more cautions

The Spanish were almost punished after Boulykrin was taken out on the edge of the penalty area by a tackle Bruce Lee would have been proud of. Luckily for Albelda the culprit, the referee kept the red card in his wallet, showed a yellow and the Russians squandered the free kick.

Roman Sharanov was not so lucky three minutes later. His shoulder barge on Torres when clean through was his second offence and this time the red card was held aloft, reducing the Russians to ten men.

Spain finished the game in control, although nursing a few cuts and bruises. Sitting pretty in Group A , the Spanish will hope that their wounds heal before the next game against the Greeks comes round on June 16.

Spain: Casillas, Puyol, Marchena, Helguera, Bravo, Etxeberria, Albelda, Baraja, Vicente, Raul, Morientes. Subs: Canizares, Aranzubia, Capdevila, Torres, Luque, Gabri, Alonso, Cesar, Joaquin, Xavi, Valeron, Juanito.

Russia: Ovchinnikov, Evseev, Smertin, Sharonov, Sennikov, Gusev, Alenitchev, Aldonin, Mostovoi, Izmailov, Boulykin. Subs: Malafeev, Akinfeev, Radimov, Sychev, Kariaka, Semshov, Kerzhakov, Aniukov, Kirichenko, Bystrov, Loskov, Bugaev.