Pique finally broke Czech Republic's resolute defence to score in the 88th minute.
Throughout the match the Czech Republic held fast, led by Petr Cech who saved everything the Spanish threw at them. However, things finally came to a head in the 88th minute.
Andres Iniesta finally conjured up a moment of magic minute when he floated a glorious ball in between defenders and Pique, playing as an auxiliary forward, rose highest to put a well-placed header into the corner. Heartbreak for the Czech Republic but that’s how the cookie crumbles.
Match Report
Reigning champions Spain left it late but Gerard Pique's 87th-minute header earned them a deserved 1-0 victory over a dogged Czech Republic in their Euro 2016 Group D opener on Monday. Pique headed in Andres Iniesta's perfect cross to give Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech no chance after he had made several fine saves to put his side within sight of an unlikely draw.
Cech reacted well to deny Alvaro Morata and David Silva in the first half while Czech defender Roman Hubnik deflected Morata's shot against his own post. Spain were given a fright when a stretching Hubnik forced a save from David de Gea and Cesc Fabregas made a goalline clearance to keep out Theodor Gebre Selassie's header. But Pique ensured the champions began with a victory to join Croatia on three points.
Spain’s Morata, who earlier in the game had comically tackled the linesman thought he’d scored but somehow
Cech made himself unnaturally big to make one of the saves of the tournament so far. To be fair Morata should’ve done a little better and that was a fine move from Spain, starting from midfield from Juanfran who found Silva whose low cross was perfectly placed for Morata.
David Silva’s ball was an absolute peach but Petr Cech was in in no mood to play ball.
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Oh this is when Morata cleared the linesman
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