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Spain passed and prodded—and at times, it seemed, plodded—their way to a 1-0 win over the Czech Republic in their Euro 2016 opener on Monday.
Gerard Pique was the hero, heading home the game's only goal in the 87th minute to give the defending Euro champions the victory. Spain were in control throughout, holding 72 percent possession and outshooting the Czechs 18-6 (5-3 on goal).
According to WhoScored.com, the shutout victory means Spain have not conceded in 600 minutes, and it was the team's sixth straight clean sheet, per Squawka Football.
Their late winner has also become a familiar trend, according to ESPN Stats & Information:
It wasn't the most dominant showing, but it was certainly good enough, as Leander Schaerlaeckens of Yahoo Sports noted:
You only have to be just-below-average to survive the Euro group stage, with 2/3 moving on. Then it's knockout. Form doesn't mean much yet.
Spain couldn't have dominated the proceedings much more in the first half, but they simply couldn't quite break down the Czech Republic defense. The Spaniards held 74 percent possession, outshot the Czechs 9-2 (3-0 on goal) and had four corners to just two for their opponents, per ESPN FC.
OptaJohan perhaps best summed up Spain's first-half dominance:
Alvaro Morata had the two best chances of the half. In the 16th minute, David Silva played a blistering low cross into Morata, who met the ball and put his effort on goal but was denied by goalkeeper Petr Cech.
Later in the half, he deftly dummied the Czech defense and freed himself room to shoot from the left side of the box, but his effort went just wide of the bottom-right corner.
The Spaniards certainly lived up to their pass-heavy, high-possession style of play in the opening 45 minutes, as ESPN Stats & Information noted:
And Dermot Corrigan of ESPN saw little reason for the Spaniards to change that style of play, despite the lack of a first-half goal:
Spain continued to press to start the second half, and both Nolito and Sergio Ramos had shots blocked following a wild scramble after a corner kick in the 47th minute.
The Czechs started coming into the game more as the second half wore on, however, and Cesc Fabregas had to make a crucial goal-line clearance in the 67th minute on a set piece after Gebre Selassie's header beat 'keeper David De Gea.
For Spain, meanwhile, the chances kept coming, but they were mostly left wanting. At times, a dangerous buildup was stymied by one too many touches or a shot off target. A few key tackles from Czech defenders kept the ball out of the back of the net, too.
But eventually, Spain's advances wore down the Czech, and Pique put home the winner in the 87th minute.
Andres Iniesta played a key role in the goal, whipping in a right-footed cross from the left edge of the box. Pique was able to get behind his defender and had a free header on goal, calmly nodding the ball inside the right post.
Ives Galarcep of SBISoccer.com praised the crafty Iniesta for his role in the goal:
Corrigan, meanwhile, saw the late goal as the culmination of Spain's tactical approach to the game:
Vladimir Darida had the chance to salvage a point for the Czech Republic, as the ball fell to him in the box in stoppage time, but he ripped his shot directly at De Gea, who made the save.
Spain will next face Turkey on June 17 in a game that is far more difficult for the Turkish side than Spain, as the Spaniards are likely a point away from advancing to the knockout phase, while Turkey lost their opening match.
For Spain, a bit more decisiveness and urgency in the final third may be necessary as the tournament goes on, though they proved once again on Monday that they are still capable of grinding out a late win.
The Czech Republic have Croatia up next on the same day, and anything less than a win will put the Czechs in dire straits. They certainly didn't play poorly against the more talented Spaniards, but the Czechs will need to be much more ambitious and brave in their next two contests if they are to advance.