Czech Republic lose 0-2 to Spain with 13 shots and none on target

Nikola Dabanović refereed a 19:45 UK kick-off at the epet ARENA, in front of 18,193. Both managers set up four-two-three-one. Czech Republic lined up with Kovář in goal behind Coufal, Zima, Krejčí, who wore the armband, and Jurásek, with Král and Červ ahead of them and Ambros, Hložek and Provod supporting Naderi. Luis de la Fuente's Spain were captained by their goalkeeper, Unai Simón, with Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsí, Dean Huijsen and Marc Cucurella across the back, Martín Zubimendi and Fabián Ruiz in midfield, and Yéremy Pino, Fermín López and Álex Baena behind Ferran Torres.

Pedro Porro was booked in the 11th minute, and Spain's lead arrived in the 39th, when Álex Baena scored from the penalty spot. It was 0-1 at half-time.

Both benches moved in the 66th minute. Czech Republic sent on Hopi for Naderi and Šubert for Provod, and Spain brought on Roberto Fernández for Ferran Torres and Mikel Merino for Yéremy Pino. Merino was booked in the 69th, and Krejčí was shown a red card in the 72nd. In the 76th Vlček replaced Ambros, and Spain sent on Pedri for Fabián Ruiz and Marc Pubill for Pedro Porro. Jorge de Frutos came on for Fermín López in the 82nd, and Kabongo and Souček replaced Hložek and Červ in the 85th. The last word went to one of the late arrivals: Pubill scored at 90+6, and it finished 0-2.

Czech Republic had 29.8 per cent of the ball and played 293 passes to Spain's 704, completing 79.5 per cent of them against 91.1. They won four corners to ten. Czech Republic took 13 shots to Spain's 22, and theirs broke down as nine off target, four blocked and none on target, with one from outside the box. On those numbers, the shooting is where the evening was settled: the hosts kept knocking and nobody had to open the door. Spain put five efforts on target and scored with two of them.

Without the ball the figures sit close together. Czech Republic made eight tackles to Spain's nine, both sides won five, and the clearances went 20 to 19; duels won finished 28 to 29. Where the hosts led clearly was over distance and in the air: 51 long balls to 37 and 11 aerial duels won to five. Those two lines suggest Czech Republic went over Spain's midfield rather than through it. On this evidence, that is a sensible plan when the other side makes 704 passes, and a hard one to cash with nothing on target.

Before this game the Czech Republic's form guide held nothing but defeats: 0-3 away to England, 1-3 away to Spain, 0-2 and 1-2 at home to England and Croatia, and 0-3 to Mexico at the World Cup (our report). Spain's held nothing but wins: 2-1 away to Croatia, 3-1 at home to the Czech Republic, 4-1 at home to Croatia, 3-2 away to England (our analysis) and 1-0 over Argentina at the World Cup (how that one went). This result fitted both lists. Spain kept the ball, and only Spain put a shot on target.

Three meetings are listed here, all in the Nations League: Czech Republic 2-2 Spain on 5 June 2022, Spain 2-0 Czech Republic on 12 June 2022 and Spain 3-1 Czech Republic on 3 October 2026. Spain won two of them and the other was drawn.

With this match counted, every side in League A Group 3 had played five games. Spain led on 15 points, England were second on 12, Croatia third on three and Czech Republic fourth without a point. The first two places lead to the quarter-finals, third to a possible relegation play-off and fourth to possible relegation.