Andres Iniesta’s cross was duly converted and Spain are up and running in football’s European Championship.
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In fairness, Czech Republic goalkeeper Petr Cech does deserve credit for the length of time his side held out against the defending champions.
– Rosicky played 88 minutes for Czech Republic against Spain, after managing just 19 minutes in all competitions for Arsenal in 2015/16.
Spain quickly took control but struggled to make a breakthrough as the Czechs flooded the defence and midfield to stifle the holders.
Czech, however, was well-positioned to block the Juventus striker’s first time effort from close range.
Cesc Fabregas started and played an ineffectual 70 minutes. Central-defensive pairing Roman Hubnik and Tomas Sivok were particularly strong, who contained and frustrated Morata in the first-half, and then Aduriz in the latter stages.
He just would not allow himself to be beaten today.
He pushed away, punched and caught unsafe shots, giving hope to the Czech fans that the team could produce a result against the European champion.
In the day’s other game, Wes Hoolahan’s goal at the start had sparked scenes of joy amongst the Irish supporters at the Stade de France and it looked like Martin O’Neill’s men would pick up their first points at a European Championship finals in 28 years and their first ever competitive win over Sweden. We tried to attack with order and make the pitch as big as possible.
“It was a great ball from Iniesta”.
“I do not know if it’ll be enough, but with these three points, we have a cushion [atop Group D]. Now we will wait on the second game”.
Sweden trailed until the 71st minute, when Ibrahimovic glided forward and sent a teasing ball across the goal mouth that Ireland defender Ciaran Clark stooped to head into his own net at Saint-Denis, France.
Spain’s head coach Vicente del Bosque was satisfied with his team’s performance and denied the criticism that there are problems for his striking forces.
“This is our path”, he told Telecinco. It is our way.
“Everyone wants to score more but we haven’t been too bad in the last few years with this style”, he said.
He added: “Winning is obviously important”.
“Debut in the Euro, victory and 100 games, do not ask more!” It is also true that we had three moments where we could have scored.
Del Bosque played down the significance of having so many missed opportunities before his team finally took the lead the merited.
Yet, De Gea still had time to justify his selection as he kept out Vladimir Darida’s thunderous volley.
“We would have seen a different game had one of our chances in the opening half gone in”, reckoned Spain captain Sergio Ramos.
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Alba fizzed a superb low cross right through the six-yard box as Spain’s dominance continued – but still they could not find a goal.
