He has not exactly cemented his candidacy for the World Cup Spain with his play in the first four games of the Nations League but he goes on vacation with the work done, that cannot be discussed with Luis Enrique, more likely to see the glass full than empty . The red faces the road to the beach as leader of their group after beating the Czech Republic with some solvency and taking advantage of Portugal’s defeat in Switzerland. The final four is a little closer, although everything points to a final day in Braga against the heart-stopping Portuguese.
A recognizable Spain was seen from the beginning, much more than in the previous games of this Nations although the batteries did not last long. She had the red spirit, as much as the Malaga public, magnificent and sparkling like few others. She defended the national team with the ball and gave it speed in the circulation trying to break the always dense defensive network of the Czechs, who drew so many troubles in Prague a week ago. And that during that initial stretch, Silhavy’s team showed a little more ambition, putting a lot of pressure on the construction of the Spanish team’s play.
But that good flavor that Spain was giving to the game, the Czech Republic tried to embitter it with two very clear chances in just one minute. Unai Simón deactivated both with interventions of great merit, especially the second, when he outsized Kuchta in a one-on-one. Before he had gotten a good hand against Cerny’s shot. But the Czech momentum was suddenly curbed in the hot Malaga night. When they were at their best, when they had touched the goal, the Central Europeans found themselves behind on the scoreboard. Koke connected with Asensio, who gave the killer pass for Carlos Soler to arrive from the second row and go up first.
The goal calmed the spirits of the two teams. Curiously, the Czechs did not take a step forward but decided to fall back, being more recognizable. And Spain somewhat regained calm through the ball and returned to dominate comfortably, although without finding too many spaces. In addition, the news that came from Geneva was very positive because Switzerland dominated Portugal on the scoreboard and gave the red team the provisional lead. Asensio asked for a penalty from the endless Çakir shortly after the goal but the contact was outside the area and the VAR disregarded it.
Spain was able to score the second and practically sentence against a team with little offensive potential like the Czech. Marco Asensio was once again the common thread of the play but this time Carlos Soler did not hit the shot after a great break. In his return with the national team, the madridista has more than fulfilled his time, drawing great minutes and always being a threat to the rival. It is indisputable that he has responded to the confidence of Luis Enrique, which in a World Cup year is not little.
After the wake-up call in the previous one, the Spanish coach had chosen to leave Gavi on the starting bench for the first time in this break, but he turned to him shortly after the start of the second half and the man from Los Palacios did not take long to leave his seal in the match, with a couple of pressures and a left-footed shot from the edge of the box. A similar case was that of Sarabia, also a substitute for the first time in this Nations, who barely set foot on the field of play scored the second after a cross from Ferran Torres, although Dani Olmo’s previous subtle touch deserves his corner of glory as well. A 2-0 that came shortly after another great intervention by Unai Simón against Kral. The Basque goalkeeper is another of those who has confirmed Luis Enrique’s always discussed decisions as correct.
With the game going downhill, a final stretch was drawn for the enjoyment of the respectable with the Spanish bench more pending in Geneva than in Malaga. The “olés” of the public enlivened those last minutes in which Sarabia was the one who came closest to the goal. But the job was done. Victory and leadership. Nothing better to go to the beach.
2 – Spain: Unai Simon; Carvajal, Eric Garcia, Inigo Martinez, Marcos Alonso (Jordi Alba, m. 78); Soler (Gavi, m. 59), Rodriguez, Coke (Busquets, m. 78); Marco Asensio (Sarabia, m.70), Alvaro Morata (Ferran, m.59) and Dani Elmo.
0 – Czech Republic: Mandous; Jemelka, Brabec, Zima; Coufal, Sadilek (Kral, m. 29), Soucek, Zeleny (Kalvach, m. 78); Cerny (Hlozek, m. 59), Kuchta (Jurecka, m. 59) and Pesek (Tecl, m. 79).
Goals: 1-0, m.24: Carlos Soler. 2-0, m.75: Sarabia.
Referee: Cüneyt Çak?r (TUR). He booked Carvajal (78 ‘) for Spain.
Incidents: match corresponding to the fourth day of the League of Nations, played at the La Rosaleda Stadium, Malaga, before 30,389 spectators
