Fernando Torres scored for the first time in two years for Spain and then did it again to end Ireland's hopes of a Euro miracle.

 Fernando Torres scored for the first time in two years for Spain and then did it again to end Ireland's hopes of a Euro miracle. Photo: AP

There was a miracle in Gdansk after all, but not the one that the Republic of Ireland had been praying for.
Two goals in one game from Fernando Torres, rather than the most famous victory in the Republic's football history, was the fairytale that few had anticipated as Spain reminded the world why they are the outstanding team of this generation.
Outpassed and outplayed for the entire 90 minutes, Ireland succumbed to their heaviest defeat under Giovanni Trapattoni and their biggest at a major tournament as they became the first team to be eliminated from Euro 2012.
The dreamers had yearned to see football's equivalent of Buster Douglas knocking out Mike Tyson, but Spain had other ideas and they ended Irish hopes with goals from Torres, David Silva and Cesc Fabregas.
The innocent optimism of the Irish that preceded Sunday's 3-1 defeat against Croatia was replaced by harsh reality as they approached this clash against the world champions.
One hopeful banner, an Irish tricolour carrying the message "Come on you Boys in Green - Miracles do happen" summed up the magnitude of the task. Even the author probably did not believe its claim.
Dreams of the miracle had lasted a mere four minutes - a minute longer than Croatia needed to score in Poznan - when Torres delivered the perfect response to his critics by putting Spain ahead.