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Spain vs Czech Republic a few quick thoughts

  • Holders Spain got off to a winning start in a bid to be the first side to win a trio of successive European Championship but they left it very late in which to do so
  • Gerard Pique broke Czech hearts with a 87th minute header but in fairness it wasn’t nothing short of what they deserved
  • The first half almost had the air of a training game with the Czech Republic prepared to sit deep and try and stifle Spain’s patient build up
  • And to be honest the tactic certainly worked it’s just that they couldn’t see it out until the 90th minute
  • Petr Cech was bar far the busiest keeper of the two especially with David De Gea’s fingertips not getting warmed up until the 44th minute
  • That was the first time that they really managed to get out of their own half in what was a long an arduous first 45 minute
  • In the opening half the best chances fell to a newly sheared Alvaro Morata and Jordi Alba
  • But Morata would have come in for some criticism due to the fact he was caught offside on many occasions
  • Spain may not have needed a Striker in 2012 on their way to lifting the trophy but you certainly get the feeling that they will need one if they are to make it a hat-trick of Euro titles
  • In the Second half the Czech Rep gave more of an attacking threat and were inches away from taking somewhat of an upset lead when Cesc Fabregas had to hook Theodor Gebre Selassie’s header off the line
  • Adrian Aduriz came on in the second half to give Spain more of a target but still they couldn’t break down the Czech backline
  • They were being forced deeper and deeper and were just minutes away from earning a draw when Andres Iniesta floated in an each perfect pass to Gerard Pique who was on hand to head home and give a Spain a late winner
  • It was heartbreak for the Czech’s but they had a chance to equalise through Vladimir Darida but Spain keeper David de Gea, who had started ahead of Iker Casillas blocked his volley from 10 yards to make sure Spain would start their campaign with all three points
  • It wasn’t a classic Spain performance but you always felt the win was coming
  • The holders now go on to face Turkey on Friday, while the Czech Republic go on to face Croatia.

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