Nice: Holders Spain became the first team to score more than two goals in a game at Euro 2016, beating Turkey 3-0 as Andres Iniesta shone again and forward Alvaro Morata answered his critics with two goals.
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In another match Czech Republic and Croatia were tied 2-all while Italy beat Sweden 1-0.
“Its a hard situation for a player to experience the whistles of your own fans”, Andres Iniesta, Turan’s Barcelona teammate told reporters.
He said: “People said we wouldn’t score?”
The attacking midfielder has been one of the stars of the tournament, scooping up man of the match awards against both Czech Republic and Turkey, and Rakitic has nothing but praise for the Spain ace.
The Czechs picked up their first point thanks to a remarkable late fightback amid chaotic scenes in Saint Etienne. Substitute Skoda pulled a goal back for the Czechs in the 75th minute with a header, and Necid equalized by a penalty resulting from Domagoj Vida’s handball.
Turkish player Arda Tura’s dismal performance during the first match loss to Croatia as well as during the second match has been criticised by fans.
Three of Spain’s followers were arrested in Nice for carrying neo-Nazi banners, and another three for trying to bring flares into the stadium ahead of the match against Turkey.
Croatia’s President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic condemned the trouble-making fans as “enemies of Croatia”.
That means instead of already having qualified for the last 16 along with Spain, Croatia still require a point from Tuesday’s game, adding to the tension of the occasion.
“I have nothing to prove”, he said. I called them up. “These are not fans, these are sports terrorists”.
Vrba has been handed a huge blow following the news that Tomas Rosicky is out of Euro 2016 with a thigh injury that he sustained in the draw with Croatia, but the former Arsenal midfielder has confirmed he will remain in France to support his teammates.
Italy booked their place in the knockout rounds in the relative calm of Toulouse as Brazilian-born striker Eder smashed home a stunning victor two minutes from time to seal a 1-0 win over Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Sweden. “We played well and controlled the game virtually for the 90 minutes”, he said.
After disappointing since his move to Inter Milan in January, Eder was delighted with his goal. “That helped me to save some energy for this championships and also allowed me to work a lot of my fitness”.
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‘We need to win or draw to stay top of the group. “We got off to a good start”.
