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Spain vs. Czech Republic ended 1-0 for La Roja. Gerard Pique scored the decisive goal in the 87th minute to break Czech hearts. It was not a vintage performance from Spain, as they struggled to break down a Czech side that had not kept a clean sheet in a competitive match since 2013. Three points is three points however, and Spain are now level with Croatia at the top of Group D.
The biggest surprise in Spain's starting lineup was that David De Gea started ahead of Iker Casillas, despite recent allegations De Gea helped facilitate human trafficking and rape. For the Czech Republic, Tomas Rosicky started, despite only playing 20 minutes for Arsenal this season.
Tomas Rosicky attempts a slide tackle on Andres Iniesta. Photo: @MARCAinENGLISH | Twitter
The first half was a slow and cumbersome affair. The Czech defense held firm and limited the Spanish to a handful of chances, which La Roja failed to take advantage of. Alvaro Morata was the most dangerous player on the pitch, and he forced Petr Cech into a handful of saves. However, they were all saves that the Arsenal goalkeeper would be expected to make, and Spain just looked a little bit flat.
The Czechs threatened for the first time at the end of the half through Tomas Necid, but it was straight at De Gea. All in all, the half had been a rather dismal affair without a whole lot of quality. In fact, the best moment was when Morata took out the linesman with a slide tackle.
Thankfully, the second half started brighter. Morata almost forced an own goal, and the ensuing corner saw an Alba shot almost deflect into the goal. The defending by the Czechs was desperate, but disciplined. The Czech Republic almost shocked Spain after a dangerous free kick was stabbed towards goal but De Gea saved it easily.
Moments later, Morata was hauled off in favor of Aritz Aduriz, despite being the most dangerous player on the pitch and Fabregas was forced to clear an attempt from the Czech Republic out off the danger area, as the Czechs threatened to pull off the upset.
Spain continued to threaten, with David Silva coming close in the 73rd minute, but they just couldn't make their dominance count for anything. 35-year-old Aduriz almost scored a cracker of an overhead kick, but it rolled just wide. It looked like he would have been ruled offside anyways.
As Spain continued to ramp up the pressure, the Czechs defended heroically shutting down every inch of space and throwing their bodies in front of everything, but the individual talent of Spain finally broke through. In the 87th minute, a gorgeous ball from Iniesta towards the back post was nodded in by Gerard Pique.
The Czech Republic threw everything they had at Spain in the final moments of the game, but they just couldn't break through and the game ended 1-0.
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