Spain, who are bidding to get past the quarterfinals for the first time in 56 years, produced a commanding second half performance to recover from a 1-0 deficit to waltz off deserved 3-1 winners.

Despite Spain's complete domination of their rivals, Tunisia coach Roger Lemerre rejected claims that his team have collapsed under the weight of the Spanish attack.

"First of all we have to digest this reverse," said the Frenchman, who celebrated his 65th birthday on Sunday.

"To say that in the second half we collapsed is wrong, I don't think so.

"Spain had a few key chances, but I don't think we collapsed at all. Overall Tunisia can be proud of their efforts, I sincerely believe that."

The Frenchman will be hoping for a more attack-minded approach against Ukraine in their final group game if they are to have any chance of making the second round.

In the second half Aragones sent on Raul, Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas and another striker in the shape of Joaquin.

It wasn't long before Raul, who has found it hard getting into Aragones' starting lineup due to lack of form following an injury plagued season, had turned the game around.

The striker pounced on a rebound in the 71st minute to pull level and then Fernando Torres put Spain ahead after outrunning and outfoxing Tunisia's rugged defence.

The Atletico Madrid striker then sealed their win when he fired home from the penalty spot after he had been fouled in the dying minutes.

The turnaround finally had the red and yellow section of the stadium singing 'Viva Espana', and capped a second half performance which Liverpool's Xabi Alonso believes could prove key.

"To get back in to the match and go on to win it was very important for us and for the rest of the tournament," he said.

Aragones, as he had forewarned, admitted Tunisia had caused his side problems.

But he did not agree with suggestions Spain had been backed into a corner.

"I said that Tunisia posed a threat," said the 67-year-old.

"We weren't in a corner. On the contrary -- there were two counter attacks by Tunisia, and that gave them a couple of chances to score."

Aragones is known as a master tactician, and he was forced to act when Lemerre tried to outfox him by playing an extra midfielder in a diamond formation.

"For me, Roger Lemerre is an intelligent and extraordinary coach and when he put an extra man in midfield it upset our plans.

"We were playing far too long in the first half.

"When Cesc (Fabregas) came on beside Xavi and Raul also came on we started to create chances.

"We don't have big, two-metre tall players, but we do have Raul who can react quickly.

"The way Cesc and Raul interpreted our kind of game worked perfectly."