By ANTONY KASTRINAKIS
THE millions of you who watched England instead of this last night did not miss much.
Just Spain showing their doubters they still boss world football as Pedro slotted home a priceless winner.
With this team it is always a question of whether they will turn up.
Every time people doubt Spain, they knock the doubters down.
Every time people talk of the end of an era, the world and European champions respond.
Arsenal’s Nacho Monreal set up Pedro on 58 minutes and he made sure Spain prevailed in this battle between the two nations that have dominated European football for the last 15 years.
Some thought, even hoped maybe, that this could have been European football coming full circle.
Before Spain’s era of dominance, France had been the darling of Continental football for eight years, winning the World Cup in this venue and going on to do the Double in Euro 2000.
They reached the World Cup final of 2006 — beating Spain in the quarters — but since then have lurched from crisis to controversy.
By contrast, Spain have dominated since losing to Les Bleus.
They have not lost another knockout match in big tournaments and have not lost a World Cup qualifier since 1993 — 50 games ago.
Yet there were still people ready to knock this formidable footballing force off their perch because they drew two home matches against France and Finland.
Spain came here needing a result and France, under World Cup winning captain Didier Deschamps, looked ready to dethrone the reigning champs — maybe not.
Spain should have been ahead after five minutes as Monreal cut back to Xavi who scuffed his shot over from six yards out.
It would have settled Spanish nerves but for once they were poor in possession.
It nearly proved costly on 15 minutes as Christophe Jallet crossed for Karim Benzema who blasted over.
France keeper Hugo Lloris did well to come out and gather Sergio Busquets’ speculative punt just ahead of David Villa.
Moments later Pedro’s shot went straight at Tottenham’s No 1 Lloris — it was the first effort on target and it had taken 23 minutes.
Hungarian ref Victor Kassai got it wrong when he waved play on after Lloris appeared to bring down Pedro after 31 minutes.
With 35 minutes gone, Spain had clocked up an astonishing 79 per cent possession — but they had done very little with it.
That stat was almost made to look silly when Franck Ribery stormed into the box but fluffed his lines allowing Spain keeper Victor Valdes to block his effort.
Five minutes into the second half Valdes got to Mathieu Valbuena’s cross just ahead of Paul Pogba to punch clear.
Spain almost went ahead shortly after but Lloris tipped Andres Iniesta’s blast over for a corner.
But Lloris was left floundering just before the hour when Monreal squared for Pedro who scrambled the ball goalwards and out of the desperate grasp of the keeper.
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque withdrew Villa and threw on Jesus Navas on the hour. He soon got the better of Patrice Evra to square for Pedro who fired over on the turn from seven yards.
France should have levelled moments later. Karim Benzema found Ribery who set up Blaise Mathuidi but he fired straight at Valdes who gathered well.
Gerard Pique admitted after Spain threw away the lead against Finland that they should learn to manage games better when ahead.
They almost gave up another lead with 16 minutes left. Valbuena swung in a corner and Rafa Varane’s header went just wide.
France’s hopes disappeared when former Manchester United midfielder Pogba received two yellow cards in as many minutes — the second for a foul. A man up, Spain should have been certain to walk this.
Yet Ribery found space to unleash a ferocious shot from the edge of the box but it was inches wide.
Deschamps took off Benzema amid boos and Moussa Sissoko of Newcastle came on.
But France could do little to change the result.
Spain turned up last night all right and are back on top.
France: Lloris 7; Jallet 6 (Giroud 92, 5), Varane 7, Koscielny 7, Evra 6; Cabaye 7 (Menez 70, 5), Pogba 7, Matuidi 7; Valbuena 7, Benzema 6 (Sissoko 82, 5) Ribery 5.
Spain: Víctor Valdés 7; Arbeloa 7, Piqué 7, Ramos 7, Monreal 7; Busquets 7, Xabi 7, Alonso 7; Pedro 7 (Fabregas 75, 5), Xavi 6, Iniesta 7; Villa 5 (Navas 61, 7).
Star man: Iniesta
