Spain begins their march toward a third straight European championship
Monday, as they clash with the Czech Republic at Stadium Municipal in
Toulouse, France.Spain lost their final warm-up match to Georgia - ranked 137 in the
world - on Tuesday. Three days later goalkeeper David de Gea denied a
claim reported in a Spanish newspaper that he organised a sex party with
prostitutes for teammates in which a woman was made to take part
against her will. Up until then, the two-time defending champions had
been quietly approaching Euro 2016 under the radar.
Which is odd for a side that have not lost a match at a European Championship finals since 20th June 2004, and whose last defeat in a competitive fixture was back in October 2014.
Opponents Czech Republic also suffered a defeat in their final warm-up match. They lost 2-1 to a South Korea side that had been routed 6-1 just days earlier… by Spain. In fact, Pavel Vrba's side have won just one of their last six matches and have a real difficulty keeping clean sheets.
Spain's attackers must be licking their lips in anticipation of facing a side who failed to record a shut-out in qualifying, and conceded the most goals (14) of all the teams to make it to Euro 2016.
TEAM NEWS
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has hinted that David de Gea is likely to start in goal.
Striker Alvaro Morata is fit after missing their warm-up match against Georgia with a thigh injury, while David Silva could win his 100th cap.
Czech Republic's Borek Dockal has been hampered by an ankle injury, but is expected to play.
Marek Suchy is suspended for the opener so Michal Kadlec or Roman Hubnik will replace him at centre-back.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Which is odd for a side that have not lost a match at a European Championship finals since 20th June 2004, and whose last defeat in a competitive fixture was back in October 2014.
Opponents Czech Republic also suffered a defeat in their final warm-up match. They lost 2-1 to a South Korea side that had been routed 6-1 just days earlier… by Spain. In fact, Pavel Vrba's side have won just one of their last six matches and have a real difficulty keeping clean sheets.
Spain's attackers must be licking their lips in anticipation of facing a side who failed to record a shut-out in qualifying, and conceded the most goals (14) of all the teams to make it to Euro 2016.
TEAM NEWS
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has hinted that David de Gea is likely to start in goal.
Striker Alvaro Morata is fit after missing their warm-up match against Georgia with a thigh injury, while David Silva could win his 100th cap.
Czech Republic's Borek Dockal has been hampered by an ankle injury, but is expected to play.
Marek Suchy is suspended for the opener so Michal Kadlec or Roman Hubnik will replace him at centre-back.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Spain are unbeaten in four games against the Czech Republic. The Czechs have scored only one goal in those four matched (netted by Jaroslav Plasil in March 2011).
- Spain qualified for the 1998 World Cup at the Czechs' expense. The only goal in their two qualifiers was a penalty converted by Fernando Hierro.
- The teams also met in Euro 2012 qualifying. David Villa scored twice for Spain in a 2-1 win in Granada, with Juan Mata and Xabi Alonso on target in their 2-0 away victory.
- Spain won four of 12 encounters with the former Czechoslovakia (D1, L7). In competitive games, the Spanish won two and lost three of five meetings.
Spain
- By winning Euro 2012 they became the first side to win back-to-back European titles.
- Spain reached the final the last time the Euros were held in France in 1984, but lost 2-0 to the hosts.
- Spain have only conceded one goal in their last nine games in the tournament, scored by Italy's Antonio di Natale on 10 June 2012.
- Spain haven't conceded a single goal in their last 510 minutes at a European Championship finals, which is the longest run in the history of the tournament.
Czech Republic
- The Czech Republic have qualified for every European Championship since independence.
- They have won seven of their last 10 games in the group stage of European Championship finals.
- The Czechs have also scored in each of their last 11 games in the group stage.
- They won the competition as part of Czechoslovakia in 1976 and reached the final in their first appearance as the Czech Republic in 1996, losing to Germany.
- The Czech Republic conceded 14 goals in the qualifying campaign, more than any other team who qualified for these finals.
Possible line-ups
Spain: Casillas; Juanfran, Piqué, Ramos Alba; Busquets; Silva, Fàbregas, Iniesta, Nolito; Morata.
Czech Republic: Čech; Kadeřábek, Sivok, Kadlec, Gebre Selassie; Darida, Plašil; Dočkal, Rosický, Krejčí; Necid.
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