News » . With that domination now at an end, the task facing Spain

CURITIBA, Brazil -- Defending champion Spain salvaged some World Cup pride on Monday with a convincing 3-0 victory over Australia in their last match at the tournament. Custom New Orleans Saints Jerseys . After losing their previous matches in Group B to the Netherlands and Chile, both teams took to Arena da Baixada in the southern Brazilian city of Curitiba knowing they could not advance to the second round. David Villa, on his 97th and final appearance put Spain ahead in the 36th minute with his record 59th goal, guiding Juanfran Torres pass into the net with the inside of his right foot. Juanfran had been found by a typically incisive pass by Andres Iniesta. "We stepped up against Australia and won this match, and Im happy to have participated in the first goal," said the 32-year-old Villa, who has called time on his international career. "Its sad because we would have liked to have spent more time here, but thats how it is." Iniesta was at the heart of the second goal too, providing the pass for Fernando Torres to steer the ball past Australia goalkeeper Mat Ryan in the 69th minute. Juan Mata, who replaced an emotional Villa early in the second half, added the third in the 82nd from close range, stroking the ball under Ryan after he was found in space by fellow substitute Cesc Fabregas. David Silva, who also came on late, went close in the 89th but his shot from outside the area went just wide. Though nothing, in terms of World Cup progress, rested on the game, Spain showed some of the clever passing football that has seen it dominate the game over the past six years -- winning Euro 2008, its first World Cup in South Africa in 2010 and then Euro 2012. With that domination now at an end, the task facing Spain is to manage the transition from an aging squad that has won everything in the game to a new generation of players waiting to take centre stage. "We went out with dignity," Del Bosque said. "These have been six years of which we have been first in the FIFA ranking, a generation of players that have taught others, and have shown themselves," he added. "We bow out with our head high knowing the future of the Spanish team has a good base regardless of who coaches it, with good veterans." In the early minutes of the match, Australia took the game to the champions, but it wasnt long before Spain asserted control and started dominating possession. "We started bright enough but you have to give credit to them, they are a quality team," Australia coach Ange Postecoglou said. "We looked jaded, tired, and gave away the ball too easily, so its disappointing." Australia, which lacked bite up front through the suspension of Tim Cahill, finished with zero points, its worst ever performance in a World Cup. On its 1974 debut, Australia garnered a point. However, the Socceroos were in an extremely tough group and pushed the Netherlands hard during its 3-2 defeat. For its part, Spain avoided the worst World Cup title defence in history. That label remains with the France team of 2002, which only secured one point in its goal-less campaign in the tournament co-hosted by South Korea and Japan. "What happened is in the past now," Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso said. "We tried to face our situation in the best manner possible. This is football, though, and we go home sad." ------ Lineups: Australia: Mat Ryan, Ryan McGowan, Jason Davidson, Matthew Spiranovic, Alex Wilkinson, Matt McKay, Mile Jedinak, Oliver Bozanic (Mark Bresciano, 72), Tommy Oar (James Troisi, 61), Matthew Leckie, Adam Taggart (Ben Halloran, 46). Spain: Pepe Reina, Sergio Ramos, Raul Albiol, Jordi Alba, Juanfran Torres, Koke, Xabi Alonso (David Silva, 83), Santi Cazorla (Cesc Fabregas, 68), Andres Iniesta, Fernando Torres, David Villa (Juan Mata, 56). Jermon Bushrod Saints Jersey . Last years runner-up, Sara Errani, also reached the last eight in straight sets. Flipkens converted all four of her break points against Meusburger, and the third-seeded Errani broke Karin Knapps serve five times to win their all-Italian match 6-4, 6-3. Jermon Bushrod Jersey . According to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, the New York Rangers winger skated with extras and goalies today. http://www.saintsrookiestore.com/Saints-Cameron-Meredith-Jersey/ . -- Joe Thornton scored the tiebreaking goal with 5:39 left in regulation to help the San Jose Sharks overcome a two-goal deficit to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3 on Thursday night.The Montreal Canadiens will look to avoid a season-worst fourth straight defeat Monday night when they travel to Denver to face Patrick Roy and the surging Colorado Avalanche. You can listen to the game live on TSN Radio 690 Montreal starting at 9pm et/6pm pt. Montreal (16-7-2) had won eight of nine before falling 5-0 to the New York Rangers on Nov. 23. It then dropped a home-and-home set with lowly Buffalo, losing 2-1 on the road Friday and 4-3 in a shootout the next night. Brendan Gallagher, who signed a six-year, $22.5 million extension prior to the second contest, ended a five-game goal drought Saturday. Galchenyuk got an assist on the goal. Its frustrating, but we cant really do anything about it now and weve got to focus on our next game, Galchenyuk said. Learn from our mistakes, take the positive things from these two games and move on. Montreal outshot Buffalo by 24 over the two games. We spent three-quarters of the game in the offensive zone without being able to capitalize more than we did, coach Michel Therrien said. The way we played, we could have picked up four points this weekend. Price made 32 saves in the first meeting with the Avalanche and will be in net for this contest. Hes 6-2-0 with a 1.51 goals-against average over his last eight starts after stopping 23 shots Friday. Roy has watched Colorado underachieve most of the season, but the Avalanche coach knew that the defending Central Division champions had it in them to improve. Their recent surge is providing proof as Colorado will seek its sixth victory in eight games. The Avalanche (9-10-5) are tied with Dallas for last place in the Central after winning their first division title in 11 years in Roys first season. Theyre beginning to recover from a slow start, though, and have gone 5-2-0 over their last seven after beating the Stars 5-2 on Saturday. Cameron Meredith Jersey. Alex Tanguay had a goal and two assists, Matt Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog added a goal and an assist apiece and Tyson Barrie had a career-high three assists. A break here and there, we would have won seven in a row, Roy said. I love the way we are playing right now. I really love (it). Were intense, were on the puck, were competing well, we put pucks on net. Colorado tied for fifth in the league with a 19.8 power-play percentage last season, but it had gone 1 for 31 (3.2 percent) over its previous 11 heading into Saturday. Duchene and Landeskog scored with the man advantage in the third period after Roy delivered a message by sending his fourth line to work a previous power-play opportunity. Our power play was big. Its nice to finally score on it, said Tanguay, who assisted on both power-play goals. We havent been scoring on that all year. The Avalanche had seven power-play chances for the game and held a 47-24 shot advantage. Calvin Pickard had 22 saves to earn his first NHL victory as a starter. I dont think we wasted any shots, Duchene said. That is what Patty has been harping on all season. He wants us to make the plays when theyre there, but when they are not there, put pucks on net and get some greasy ones. Duchene and Tanguay scored in the first meeting with Montreal on Oct. 18, but the Avalanche allowed two goals to P.K. Subban and another to Alex Galchenyuk in the second period of a 3-2 loss. Game Notes: MTL is 1-0-0 vs COL this season, winning at home COL has won their last 2 games at home vs MTL Colorado: 3-1-0 past 4 games, 15GF, 2/15 on PP 3-4-0 past 7 home games, 2/24 on PP Tanguay (1G, 3A) past 2 games Montreal: 0-2-1 past 3 games, 1/6 on PP, 4GF 0-2-0 past 2 on road, 1GF, 1/4 on PP 8-0-0 when scoring first Subban (2G) vs COL this season Cheap Denver Nuggets Jerseys Cheap Minnesota Timberwolves Jerseys Cheap Oklahoma City Thunder Jerseys Cheap Portland Trail Blazers Jerseys Cheap Utah Jazz Jerseys Cheap Los Angeles Clippers Jerseys Cheap Los Angeles Lakers Jerseys Cheap Phoenix Suns Jerseys Cheap Sacramento Kings Jerseys Cheap Dallas Mavericks Jerseys Cheap Houston Rockets Jerseys Cheap Memphis Grizzlies Jerseys Cheap New Orleans Pelicans Jerseys Cheap San Antonio Spurs Jerseys Cheap Golden State Warriors Jerseys ' ' '