Spain put five past Slovakia to book Croatia showdown
24 June, 2021
Spain finally have lift-off at Euro 2020 after a 5-0 hammering of Slovakia on Wednesday sent them through as runners-up in Group E, with Croatia their opponents within the last 16.
Luis Enrique described his team as a bottle of cava going to be popped plus they certainly exploded in Seville, where a scoring frenzy felt cathartic and could yet prove transformative because of their chances in the knock-out stages.
Spain were even going to progress as group winners until Viktor Claesson scored in the 94th minute against Poland to secure top spot for Sweden. Slovakia finish third and so are out.
"It's obviously a relief, not only for me, but what this means when you insist upon the same ideas and you can get the results," said Luis Enrique. "The effect comes at the best moment and prepares us for what's to come."
After two tension-filled draws against Sweden and Poland, Spain were left scrambling to qualify, with Luis Enrique admitting he'd took any position in the group so long as it meant going through.
But Spain ran riot at La Cartuja, their early anxiety heightened by Alvaro Morata's missed penalty and then quickly eased by two dreadful mistakes by Slovakia's goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.
The first was an own goal which will surely go down among the strangest occasions of the tournament before another Dubravka error allowed Aymeric Laporte to head in.
With the shackles off, Spain let loose in the next half as Pablo Sarabia, Ferran Torres and another own goal from Juraj Kucka confirmed an emphatic win, regardless if Croatia and Luka Modric provides a much sterner test next week.
Luis Enrique made four changes, with Sarabia the main one to help make the biggest impression after coming into the front three.
Sergio Busquets, who missed the first two games after testing positive for Covid, made his first appearance of the tournament.
"Periodically you have somewhat of a block and sometimes you merely stir the hornet's nest," said Luis Enrique. "We've 24 players desperate to play."
Spain monopolised the ball in the first half but for 30 minutes, it had been a familiar story of chances missed and frustration growing.
Spain were awarded a penalty as Jakub Hromada went to clear but instead lashed in to the leg of Koke.
Morata had deferred the spot-kick to Gerard Moreno against Poland which time took charge, and then whip the ball at a comfortable height for Dubravka to palm away to his right. It was the fifth consecutive penalty Spain have missed.
- Dubravka nightmare -
They might have crumbled but instead persevered, even while Sarabia and Pedri both kicked the air before finally Dubravka stepped directly into provide them with a helping hand.
Lubomir Satka's scuffed clearance fell right to Sarabia, whose dipping shot banged against the most notable of the crossbar and flew upwards. Dubravka was under it and as he tried to flick the dropping ball over his own crossbar, he succeeded only in flapping it into his own net.
Spain breathed a sigh of relief and just before half-time they managed to get two. Dubravka was again at fault, this time around edging out and then see Moreno steer the ball away from him in the region and cross it back. Laporte did brilliantly to loop his header into the top corner.
Slovakia threw Michal Duris and Stanislav Lobotka on at half-time but Spain were liberated and within 10 minutes, it was three. This time around, it was not a mistake but a slick move that managed to get, Jordi Alba pulling back again to Sarabia, who steered in to the corner.
Morata came off when he could have wanted to stick to and his replacement scored almost along with his first touch, Torres applying a outstanding flick to Sarabia's cross to leading post.
It got worse for Slovakia, a scrap in the box resulting in Kucka hacking Pau Torres' header into his own net for a fifth. Spain were briefly top, limited to Sweden to snatch a winner.
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