Match ends, Spain 1, Czech Republic 0.
Spain 1-0 Czech Republic
- From the section Football
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Spain's attempt to win a record third European Championship in a row began with a last-gasp victory over the Czech Republic.
Gerard Pique headed in a late Andres Iniesta cross to finally break the resistance of their stubborn opponents.
Alvaro Morata, Jordi Alba and David Silva had earlier efforts saved as the holders lacked a cutting edge.
Spain had also survived a scare when Cesc Fabregas hooked a Theodor Gebre Selassie header off the goalline.
Vladimir Darida had time to rescue an equaliser for the Czech Republic but Spain keeper David de Gea, who had started despite allegations against him in the Spanish press in the build-up, blocked his volley from 10 yards.
Same old Spain?
There might have been a few Spanish nerves after the team's exit at the group stage of the 2014 World Cup and loss to 137th-ranked Georgia in their final warm-up game before Euro 2016.
And any anxiety would not have been helped from a first half in which La Roja had 74% possession and made 378 passes compared to the Czech Republic's 136 but fail to engineer a breakthrough.
Morata had been given the nod to lead the Spanish attack with support from David Silva and Nolito and they were comfortably contained by a disciplined and organised defence.
Spain increased their urgency after the break but it was a similar story as they failed to translate their dominance into goals.
Silva's chipped ball put Alba through on goal but the left-back's control let him down, while Silva cut inside and sent a left-foot shot wide.
Substitute Aritz Aduriz put an acrobatic overhead kick wide and it looked like being a frustrating start for Vicente del Bosque's side until centre-back Pique broke the deadlock in the 87th-minute.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Spain
- 13de Gea
- 16Juanfran
- 3Piqué
- 15Ramos
- 18Alba
- 10FàbregasSubstituted forThiago Alcántaraat 70'minutes
- 5Busquets
- 6Iniesta
- 21Silva
- 7MorataSubstituted forAdurizat 62'minutes
- 22NolitoSubstituted forPedroat 82'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Casillas
- 2Azpilicueta
- 4Bartra
- 8Koke
- 9Vázquez
- 11Pedro
- 12Bellerín
- 14Thiago Alcántara
- 17San José
- 19Bruno
- 20Aduriz
- 23Rico
Czech Rep
- 1Cech
- 2Kaderábek
- 6Sivok
- 5Hubnik
- 8LimberskyBooked at 61mins
- 22Darida
- 13Plasil
- 4Gebre SelassieSubstituted forSuralat 86'minutes
- 10RosickySubstituted forPavelkaat 88'minutes
- 19Krejci
- 7NecidSubstituted forLafataat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Kadlec
- 9Dockal
- 11Pudil
- 12Skoda
- 14Kolár
- 15Pavelka
- 16Vaclik
- 18Sural
- 20Skalak
- 21Lafata
- 23Koubek
- Referee:
- Szymon Marciniak
Match Stats
Home TeamSpainAway TeamCzech Rep
- Possession
- Home72%
- Away28%
- Shots
- Home18
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away3
- Corners
- Home14
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away12
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Spain 1, Czech Republic 0.
Attempt missed. Jaroslav Plasil (Czech Republic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Attempt saved. Vladimir Darida (Czech Republic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ladislav Krejci.
Aduriz (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Tomas Sivok (Czech Republic).
Foul by Aduriz (Spain).
Roman Hubnik (Czech Republic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Czech Republic. David Pavelka replaces Tomas Rosicky.
Goal!
Goal! Spain 1, Czech Republic 0. Gerard Piqué (Spain) header from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Andrés Iniesta with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Czech Republic. Josef Sural replaces Theodor Gebre Selassie.
Corner, Spain. Conceded by Tomas Rosicky.
Corner, Spain. Conceded by Pavel Kaderábek.
Jordi Alba (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Theodor Gebre Selassie (Czech Republic).
Substitution
Substitution, Spain. Pedro replaces Nolito.
Attempt missed. Aduriz (Spain) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Sergio Ramos with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Spain. Conceded by Vladimir Darida.
Juanfran (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ladislav Krejci (Czech Republic).
Offside, Spain. Juanfran tries a through ball, but Aduriz is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Czech Republic. David Lafata replaces Tomas Necid.
Foul by Sergio Ramos (Spain).
Tomas Necid (Czech Republic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. David Silva (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Andrés Iniesta.
Attempt blocked. David Silva (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Thiago Alcántara.
Corner, Spain. Conceded by Tomas Sivok.
Corner, Spain. Conceded by Roman Hubnik.
Substitution
Substitution, Spain. Thiago Alcántara replaces Cesc Fàbregas.
Foul by Nolito (Spain).
Pavel Kaderábek (Czech Republic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Czech Republic. Conceded by Sergio Ramos.
Substitution
Substitution, Spain. Aduriz replaces Álvaro Morata.
Booking
David Limbersky (Czech Republic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
David Silva (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by David Limbersky (Czech Republic).
Attempt saved. Andrés Iniesta (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Sergio Ramos.
Offside, Czech Republic. Vladimir Darida tries a through ball, but Ladislav Krejci is caught offside.
Sergio Ramos (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Theodor Gebre Selassie (Czech Republic).