Day 4: Group D: Spain v. Czech Republic
posted by The Blue Devil @ 8:29 AM
Lakenheath Old Boys
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
Monday, June 13, 2016
Lakenheath Old Boys
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
Contributors
Previous Posts
- Day 3 - Group C: Germany v. Ukraine
- Day 3 - Group C: Northern Ireland v. Poland
- Day 3 - Group D: Croatia v. Turkey
- Day 2 - Group B: England v. Russia!
- Day 2 - Group B: Wales v. Slovakia
- Day 2 - Group A: Switzerland v. Albania
- We Are England
- Euro 2016 Begins!
- Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Football ...
- Euro 2016 Preview - Group F: Austria and Iceland
53 Comments:
The holders normally get plenty of attention, but, with the exception of the allegations against David de Gea, Spain have gone under the radar. Even though they won the last two European Championships, they don’t really feel like champions because of what happened in Brazil two years ago.
Robbie Martinez and Craig Burley in the studio this morning.
Big questions around David De Gea, but he starts for Spain. Here is the team news this morning:
Spain (4-1-2-3) De Gea; Juanfran, Pique, Ramos, Jordi Alba; Busquets; Fabregas, Iniesta; Silva, Morata, Nolito.
Czech Republic (4-2-3-1) Cech; Kaderabek, Sivok, Hubnik, Limbersky; Darida, Plasil; Gebre Selassie, Rosicky, Krejci, Necid.
This is the smallest of the venues in France 2016 here in Toulouse.
It's been twelve years since Spain lost a European Championship match - June 2004 - cor!
Anthems over and we're set to go in Toulouse.
Despite the presence of Petr Cech, the Czechs more goals in the qualifying round than any other qualifier.
Rubbish start from Spain - a long ball lofted by Busquets runs out of play harmlessly.
It is the deadly Max Bretos on the microphone for this one. Oy.
Spain have settled into their typical possession early doors. Czechs dropping deep to defend.
First corner to the Czechs drifts harmlessly to the back post where it's nodded out for another corner.
The second one doesn't beat the first man.
And now a nice free kick chance for the Czechs. How much would I love to see this one fly in.
Straight into the wall - disappointing.
I'm already bored by the Spanish - and it's only 15 minutes in.
Oh - first chance for Spain. Morata got away from his marker and Nolito fired a cross to him - well saved, Cech.
Silva lines up a corner but it comes to nothing. Spain have no threats at all from corners.
A bit more urgency from Spain now.
If this keeps up, this could become one of the lowest scoring tournaments ever, worse than 1990.
Sergio Ramos is down after a clash with Hubnik.
Nice ball in from Iniesta to Juanfran but well defended.
Free kick chance for the Czechs now - they need to take advantage of these. But don't.
Oh - Morata is found in the area, makes space for a left-footed shot but it's well saved by Cech.
Half an hour in and we're deadlocked
Fabregas skips into the area and wins a corner.
Biscuits with a speculative volley well into the stands.
The Czechs keep trying to spring a break, but they can barely put three passes together.
Spain have played more than three times as many passes as the Czechs.
And yet, as UWS would no doubt point out, the score is 0-0.
Another great save from Cech now.
Coming down to the end of the first half. Still no goals.
Ramos will a forty yard shot that deflects safely into Cech's arms.
That was one of the more tedious first halfs that I've witnessed. I think that Spain may have ruined world football.
A bit livelier at the beginning of this half.
Morata as found in the area but couldn't turn without running into three Czechs.
Another corner to Spain, their 982nd of the match. Silva hits it out for a throw-in.
What would happen if Spain got knocked out in the group stage again - would Del Bosque finally get the sack? Would they abandon tiki take? Just wondering.....
Limbersky is the first Czech into the book - they've done a nice job keeping Spain out without accumulating yellows.
Wow - Morata gets the hook at the 61st minute. He had his chance. Now it Aduriz from Bilbao on for the last half hour.
Aduriz is a 35-year old, Nolito is 29. Still no room for Diego Costa?
The Czechs have a corner chance now - I'd love to see this fly in.
Oh - off the line from Fabregas!
Really dangerous moment there - could easily have been an opening goal for the Czechs.
Another Spain change now - Fabregas trudges off; Alcantara on.
Oh - Jordi Alba somehow ghosted into the area but couldn't convert.
Nice acrobatic effort from Alduriz - just wide.
A bit more of an aerial threat for Spain now with Aduriz in. Just missed out.
Just about 10 minutes for the Czechs to weather the storm.
Pedro comes on for Nolito - you'd have to say that the Spanish front-line failed today.
Selassie comes off - Sural to come on for a late cameo.
GOAL! Bloody typical. 87 minutes in and Pique pops up at the back post for a simple header.
Cue the White Stripes - 1-0 Spain.
Lovely chipped cross over and Pique beat his man to guide a header inside the near post.
Rosicky comes off, looking pretty gutted - he knows that his side was moments away from a good draw.
Oh - late chance for the Czechs, beaten away by Twilight who has had precious little to do today.
Three minutes of stoppage time to come.
There's the final whistle. A really boring match ends with an inevitable 1-0 Spain win.
I'll say it again - I haven't been impressed by any side yet. That is, apart from England. I'm off to do some much-needed errands and will skip the second match today.
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