Spain at least ensured their golden era finished with a victory as they defeated Australia in something of a lacklustre Group B dead-rubber match.

David Villa, one of a number of stars from an historic generation who will now call time on their international careers, scored his 59th and final international goal before Fernando Torres and substitute Juan Mata made the win comfortable after the break.

With critics quick to sound the death knell for the Spanish tiki-taka style it was perhaps fitting two of the country's key players in their success over the last six years contributed to the opening goal. However, it was less about the number of passes than the weight of the one which Andres Iniesta, winning his 100th cap, delivered inside left-back Jason Davidson to allow the overlapping Juanfran to cross for Villa to backheel past Maty Ryan.

Villa was replaced by Mata 10 minutes after half-time but his slow walk to the touchline was of a disappointed man resigned to the passing of time and not one milking the limelight one final time. Upon reaching the bench, he sat with his head in his hands for several moments.

Iniesta again unlocked the Socceroos defence with a through ball that split Australia's two centre-halves and Torres ran in from the left to slide home the second, before Mata converted from close range with eight minutes remaining.