Spain is the No. 1 team in the world for a reason

Anytime you take the field against Spain, the reigning 2010 World Cup champions and the undisputed No. 1 team in the world, you're guaranteed to have your hands full.

When you play Spain with most of your best players on the bench to start, you might as well not show up. At least, that's the attitude that the United States seemed to take on Saturday afternoon as they hosted Spain at Gillette Stadium in what should have been a nice send-off for the U.S. before the Gold Cup.

Instead, it turned out to be a 4-0 beating handed to them by Spain which truthfully should have been 6-0 or 7-0. It was that bad. Alvaro Arbeloa scored on a 1-2 but the play was incorrectly blown dead. Alvaro Negredo's cheeky chip went off the crossbar and David Villa just curled a shot wide (all in the first 25 minutes).

"It's been a good moment in football for Spain," said Spanish head coach Vicente del Bosque. "We've had success for some time. We're all reaping the fruits of our labor and hard work."

Carlos Bocanegra (rest) and Landon Donovan (illness) didn't get off the bench while Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey were subbed on at halftime. It didn't make much of a difference since Spain jumped out to a 3-0 halftime lead. I'll bet Tim Howard wished he got a similar break before the U.S. hosts Canada on Tuesday in Detroit for the Gold Cup opener.

"It's a tough test to play them (Spain) anytime, even tougher on the eve of the Gold Cup," said U.S. head coach Bob Bradley. "We've always chosen to take these kind of challenges, playing the best teams. It's the way to see what the game at the highest level is all about."

Spain's finishes were all clinical, leaving Howard with no chance to stop any of them. A leaky U.S. backline was at fault, compounded with Spain's top notch playmaking and shooting abilities.

Santiago Cazorla got Spain on the board in the 28th minute after a David Silva beat his man down the flank then played it to him in the box. Cazorla didn't waste it, putting the ball in the corner, upper 90.

Before the U.S. had a chance to regroup, Alvaro Negredo made it 2-0 after a long, looping pass that sprung him. Xabi Alonso, the Spanish midfield wizard, passed it from behind the midfield line.

Cazorla scored his second in the 41st minute, assisted once again by Silva. It was basically a replay of his earlier strike.

There were wholesale substitutions at halftime for both teams but that only made the game more dull. Neither team did much until Fernando Torres of all people took a through ball and hit a pretty shot off both posts and in. 4-0 Spain, game set match.

The good news for the U.S. is that they'll get right back out there on Tuesday with a game against a rival that they own. I think that's positive for them, rather than going back to training for weeks and letting this stinker stew in their heads.

"Hopefully there's something we can take from this game for the next three weeks and also moving forward," said a strangely upbeat Bradley.

Yeah, let's hope so Bob. If the U.S. doesn't at least get to the Gold Cup final (against Mexico), I'm going to buy the domain name (firebobbradley.com) and then we'll have something to really talk about.

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Spain vs. United States 2nd half live blog

US subs: Bradley in for Jones, Cherundulo for Edu, Dempsey for Rogers, Wondolowski for Altidore, Goodson for Onyewu

Spain subs: Iniesta, Torres and Soriano all in.

Torres has a chance to go in for a shot but he completely bungles it. What has happened to this guy? He can't do anything anymore.

Lichaj gets forward and chips a cross to Wondolowski but its too high and it goes out of bounds. That kind of day for the U.S.

Torres hits a chip off the side netting.

Alejandro Bedoya in for the US. Ramos out for Spain, Valero in.

US gets its first 2 corners of the game.

Dempsey gets loose in the box but stumbles and can't do anything with it.

73rd minute. Torres gets a through ball from Borja Valero and hits it off both posts and in. 4-0 Spain. Yikes. Howard hasn't had a chance any of the goals.

76th minute Reina is out and Iker Casillas is in.

Let the record show, a "Let's Go Bruins" chant just started in the Gillette Stadium crowd. Love it, highlight of the day for the U.S. so far.

Today's announced attendance is 64,121.

Howard comes scrambling out to stop another bid by Spain. Don't know why Bradley didn't give him a breather after halftime, doesn't make sense with the Gold Cup starting on Tuesday.

And it's all over in Foxboro, the U.S. gets stomped 4-0 and it truthfully should have been 6 or 7-0. What a disaster.

U.S. vs Spain 1st half live blog

Spain has already broken down the U.S. defense twice but the first shot was well over and wide. The second one was blocked.

The U.S. just mounted its first attack but it ended with Robbie Rogers flopping.

Sergio Ramos with the best chance: takes a 1-2 and curls it wide.

Spain with another great chance but Silva is incorrectly called offside before he gives it to Arbeloa for an easy tap-in.

Maurice Edu makes a great recovery run to break up another Spain attack. The U.S. is predictably on their heels right now.

Alvaro Negredo hits the crossbar with a ridiculous chip, the U.S. is able to clear the shot out of play. Awesome through ball and sweet shot, should have been a goal.

Spain is just toying with the U.S. right now, David Silva took a shot after a couple nice passes and put it a tiny bit wide.

Juan Agudelo is looking dangerous, so far the only U.S. player to pose any threat with the ball at his feet.

Spain scores in the 28th minute, Santiago Cazorla from David Silva. Cutback in the corner by Silva, plays it to Cazorla who puts it in the corner, upper 90. No chance for Howard, 1-0 Spain.

Alvaro Negredo makes it 2-0 in the 32nd minute. Xabi Alonso found him with a long pass from behind midfield. This is getting ugly.

The US looked to have numbers on a counterattack but Eric Lichaj chose to run into traffic rather than give it to Agudelo who was open and calling for it. And then he left with an injury.

David Silva makes a nice move to get open but he could have done better with the shot. Howard makes the diving save.

Rogers with the best chance so far for the US but it goes wide.

Another quick passing sequence leads to Spain's 3rd goal. 2nd of the game for Cazorla. 3-0 Spain.

Talk about a nightmare of a half by the United States. Shimer is at the game and in the stands and he rightly pointed out that the only way the U.S. can even think of competing with Spain is if they have their full squad. No Donovan, Bradley and Dempsey=No chance in Hell (with regards to Shane McMahon)

Spain's starting 11

Spain's rolling out in a 4-3-3.

Pepe Reina-Goalkeeper
Raul Albiol, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos & Alvaro Arbeloa-defenders
Xabi Alonso (captain), Sergio Busquets & Santiago Cazorla-midfielders
David Villa, David Silva & Alvaro Negredo-forwards.

Substitutes
Iker Casillas-Goalkeeper
Carlos Marchena, Andoni Iraola & Joan Capdevila-defenders
Andres Iniesta, Bruno Soriano & Borja Valero-midfielders
Fernando Torres, Pedro Rodriguez, Fernando Llorente & Manu del Moral-forwards

Head coach: Vicente del Bosque

Officials:
Referee: Roberto Silvera (Uruguay)
First ast: Palbo Fandino (Uruguay)
Second ast: Miguel Angel Nievas (Uruguay)
Fourth official: Mark Geiger (USA)

U.S. starting 11 vs. Spain

The United States will come out in a 4-4-2 formation.

Tim Howard (captain)-Goalkeeper
Jonathan Spector, Onguchi Onyewu, Tim Ream & Eric Lichaj-defenders
Robbie Rogers, Maurice Edu, Jermaine Jones & Sacha Kljestan-midfielders
Juan Aguedelo & Jozay Altidore-strikers

Landon Donovan is out sick, he's expected back vs. Canada on Tuesday for the Gold Cup opener in Detroit.

Carlos Bocanegra, Freddy Adu, Jonathan Bornstein and Donovan are not in uniform today for the United States.

Substitutes:
Marcus Hahnemann-Goalkeeper
Steve Cherundolo, Clarence Goodson-defenders
Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey, Alejandro Bedoya-midfielders
Chris Wondolowski-forward

Jonathan Bornstein after practice

I have to admit that I didn't know who Bornstein was at first, I didn't recognize him but I saw other writers putting their recorders in his face so I followed suit. I have ripped him in the past but I have to say that he seems like a really nice guy. Oh and he's tiny, the U.S. site lists him at 5-9 and 145 pounds.

-"Soccer is soccer, sometimes throughout my career I've been asked to play different positions at different times. I think it's adding to my abilities as a player. I think i'll be transitioning back to my old spot. Try to play as I can when I get the opportunity."

-"I think even after the season ended, I do a lot of running on my own. Don't wanna be out of shape coming into camp. Get past where I was a week ago. I think i'm ready, you never know until you get out on the field."

-"Trying to be sharp every day, some days are better than others but overall I think its getting better."

-"Healthy competition. A great quality, move around in the back. Always look forward to learning as much as I can."

Tim Howard after practice

"I'll be anxious and nervous, that's how I've always been. I love that feeling."

-"It's going to be a big game. You have to stand up, a long 90 minutes. Over the last 4 years, we've played some pretty big games. If you ask them, we've given them all they can handle."

-"I watched Barcelona all season, I think everyone does. They're a tough not to crack so I wasn't surprised that they beat Man. U."

-"Argentina plays a 4-3-3 and molds it around Messi. I think Spain will play a version of that. It seems like Barcelona is ruling the world in terms of strategy and style right now."

-"Tough game but good game to start the Gold Cup with (vs. Canada). We're an older brother against Canada in soccer so I expect them to come out swinging. Because its the first game, a good result for us would go a long way. You always want to start a tournament well no question."

-"We've always said, we'll take on all comers. The tougher games you get to play leads to good things. I think playing on the border (in Detroit) will give them a lot of neutral fans."