Spain's Torres sparkles as Irish eliminated

KIEV - Fernando Torres scored twice on his return to the starting lineup as stylish Spain thrashed Ireland 4-0 on Thursday to go top of Group C with Croatia and end Irish hopes at Euro 2012.

Croatia had earlier come back to earn a 1-1 draw with Italy which left the Italians in danger of an early exit after Mario Mandzukic's 72nd minute strike cancelled out Andrea Pirlo's curling free-kick from 25 metres in the 39th.

Torres smashed the ball past keeper Shay Given in the fourth minute and confidently struck his second on the break in the 70th, justifying his inclusion instead of Cesc Fabregas after the title holders' toothless 1-1 draw with Italy on Sunday.

Spain's David Silva and Fernando Torres (R) celebrate second goal against Ireland with teammates during their Group C Euro 2012 soccer match at PGE Arena in Gdansk, June 14, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

David Silva had added the second for the world and European champions by calmly placing the ball wide of a cluster of defenders in the 49th minute, and Fabregas scored the fourth in the 83rd after coming off the bench.

Spain and Croatia lead the group on four points, with Italy down but not out on two, and Ireland no longer in contention following their 3-1 defeat by the Croats on Sunday.

The headlines off the pitch were stolen by the repercussions of clashes between Russian and Polish supporters before their teams drew 1-1 in a Group A match in Warsaw on Tuesday.

Poland's president and sports minister called for tougher punishment after the first people received what he considered light sentences over the violence in which 184 people were detained, most of them Poles.

Poland, co-hosting the tournament with Ukraine, expects 20,000 Russian fans to arrive in Warsaw with tickets for their team's final group match against Greece on Saturday, twice the number that came to the game with Poland.

Russia has demanded Poland protect its fans and says it will appeal against a decision by UEFA to dock its team six points in qualifying for the next European Championship if their fans misbehave again after crowd trouble at an earlier match.