World champions Spain needed a late goal from David Silva on Wednesday to beat Colombia 1-0 in Real Madrid's Estadio Bernabeu, in a colourful international friendly.
Vicente del Bosque's uninspired side enjoyed 69 per cent possession but failed to translate that domination into many clear goal chances.
Colombia, for their part, were happy to defend in depth and hit the hosts on the break, a strategy that almost gave them a creditable draw.
Silva commented that: "It was a difficult game. We played well but so too did they. They did not make things easy for us."
Del Bosque, for his part, said: "Colombia were difficult opponents. But what I did like was that our attitude was different than against Portugal (a 4-0 friendly defeat in November)."
It was Spain's first friendly win since winning the World Cup last July.
The proceeds from the match went to the Spanish players' union. The 60,000 crowd included around 5,000 Colombians, several of whom sported banners with jokes about the alleged love affair between Colombian singer Shakira and Spain defender Gerard Pique.
The visitors made a bright start and midfielder Abel Aguilar forced a sharp save out of Spain keeper Iker Casillas in the 14th minute. Then David Villa hit the Colombian post with a shot and slashed the rebound wide with an open goal in front of him.
Colombia's counter-attacks were more penetrative in the second half, and Juan Cuadrado, Freddy Guarin and Aguilar all came close to breaking the deadlock.
It was Spain, however, who finally hit the back of the net, with just four minutes left, thanks to a clever combination from substitutes Santi Cazorla, Jesus Navas and Silva.
Cazorla released Navas down the right, and his near-post centre was flicked home by the cultured left foot of Silva.
The super subs had saved the world champions from another disappointing display and result.
Vicente del Bosque's uninspired side enjoyed 69 per cent possession but failed to translate that domination into many clear goal chances.
Colombia, for their part, were happy to defend in depth and hit the hosts on the break, a strategy that almost gave them a creditable draw.
Silva commented that: "It was a difficult game. We played well but so too did they. They did not make things easy for us."
Del Bosque, for his part, said: "Colombia were difficult opponents. But what I did like was that our attitude was different than against Portugal (a 4-0 friendly defeat in November)."
It was Spain's first friendly win since winning the World Cup last July.
The proceeds from the match went to the Spanish players' union. The 60,000 crowd included around 5,000 Colombians, several of whom sported banners with jokes about the alleged love affair between Colombian singer Shakira and Spain defender Gerard Pique.
The visitors made a bright start and midfielder Abel Aguilar forced a sharp save out of Spain keeper Iker Casillas in the 14th minute. Then David Villa hit the Colombian post with a shot and slashed the rebound wide with an open goal in front of him.
Colombia's counter-attacks were more penetrative in the second half, and Juan Cuadrado, Freddy Guarin and Aguilar all came close to breaking the deadlock.
It was Spain, however, who finally hit the back of the net, with just four minutes left, thanks to a clever combination from substitutes Santi Cazorla, Jesus Navas and Silva.
Cazorla released Navas down the right, and his near-post centre was flicked home by the cultured left foot of Silva.
The super subs had saved the world champions from another disappointing display and result.
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