Thank you for tuning into Sportskeeda's live coverage of Spain's 5-0 rout of Slovakia! Don't go anywhere, as we cover the Group F final round later today. Catch all the action, build-up and coverage of the Euro 2020 here at Sportskeeda. Hope you enjoyed this high-scoring encounter. Until next time, stay safe.
FT: Spain 5-0 Slovakia
After a couple of disappointing draws in the group stages, Spain qualify to the round-of-16 in sumptuous fashion. They took Slovakia to the cleaners, netting five against them in a sparkling, unforgiving display accompanied by horrendous defending. It all started with a blunder from Martin Dubravka, when the goalkeeper palmed the ball into the back of his own net. Aymeric Laporte doubled Spain's lead, before Pablo Sarabia, Ferran Torres and another own goal from Juraj Kucka made matters worse for Slovakia.
The team crashing out of this group just did not create enough or defend well. There was not a single moment when Unai Simon was challenged in between his sticks. Enrique's squad have found their range, having displayed they can play serious football.
90' Four minutes of added time. This is the biggest win of the tournament so far in terms of goal margin, and who'd have guessed a Spanish side short of confidence to do it?
89' Jordi Alba's fizzed cross is blocked away, following which a wild effort from Torres drifts just wide.
87' Traore, allowed to run with attacking freedom, gets the better of Hugocan but his cross is blocked.
86' From Koke to Thiago, and then all the way to Alba on the left, Spain are enjoying possession and are just waiting for a change of pace or momentum.
84' Traore and Sarabia are toying with the Slovakian defence. With quick exchanges, the former is able to carve open some space and put crosses into the penalty area.
Poland draw level against Sweden! Lewandowski scores twice, and now Spain are leading Group E!
82' Pedri dispossesses a blue shirt inside the six-yard box and then goes to ground. Spain, however, do not get the penalty.
80' Traore sweeps past Hubocan all the way back from the full-back position. He plays a delightful cross into the box, and on the follow-up Alba fires wide! Slovakia meanwhile, have just not defended up to the mark.
78' Spain are happy to gasp some energy. After a brief spell of possession from Slovakia, the Spanish side breakaway, but Torres' final ball is a tad too heavy.
77' Spain make their last substitution - Oyarzabal comes on for Cesar Azpilicueta.
75' Excitement for the Spanish fans, as Adama Traore comes on to wear Slovakia's tired legs down.
Thiago and Pau Torres were substituted in just before the game for Busquets and Eric Garcia.
71' After a few ricochets in the box, Torres claims the goal but it clearly appears as though Kucka sidefoots it into his own net. Neither did they clear their lines, nor did Slovakia win the second ball. This is sloppy football.
OWN GOAL JURAJ KUCKA.
71' GOAL FOR SPAIN! It's five!
5-0 SPAIN! This is obliteration. It's going to be a long night for Slovakia, who have been absolutely appalling.
That was simply classic, smooth and relentless. Spain, play a one-two involving Busquets and Sarabia. The latter finds himself with unbelievable amounts of space in the box and puts it on a plate for a tap-in. Ferran Torres takes his chance! Spain are really spoiling their opponents now.
4-0 SPAIN! He's only just arrived, FERRAN TORRES!
65' Morata is coming off for Ferran Torres. Despite another disappointing day in the office, he receives a warm send-off from the Spanish supporters.
64' Sarabia once again, cuts inside and then plays it to an overlapping Azpilicueta. The right-back lobs the ball into the path of Morata in the box but the cross is headed away.
62' Spain, enjoying the bulk of possession, are switching the play with ease. They are maneuvering the ball and defending with it.
60' Lukas Haraslin wins the ball back high up the pitch and is not closed down by the Spanish centre-backs. He takes aim from 30 yards and his effort is well off target. They just haven't turned up today.
Sweden meanwhile, have doubled their lead through Emile Forsberg. As it stands, Spain will finish in second place and face-off against Croatia in the round-of-16.
56' The Spaniards quickly move the ball from right to left. And with all the space in the world, Alba picks him out with a stunning cross. It's an easily tucked away finish from Sarabia, who has made a serious impact this game. Spain have found their swagger.
AND SCORE THE THIRD! 3-0 SPAIN!
55' Spain switch the ball from left to right with ease.
53' Spain are back in control of the game. This is just the kind of situation they'd love to be in. 2-0 up, control of proceedings, defending with the ball.
50' Morata wins a foul against Skriniar while trying to contest for an Azpilicueta throw.
48' Spain are back in possession. Morata, Busquets and Moreno play around on the edge of the box. The Barcelona midfielder tries to square a pass over the top for his attacking partners, but the ball is straight to Dubravka.
Already, there's a different intent in terms of quicker passing, pressing and shooting from Slovakia.
47' First sight of intent from Slovakia. Hubocan does ever-so-well to catch a long pass on the left-hand side and then square it. Duris tries to shift the ball onto his right and shoot from distance, but his shot is blocked.
It's a half-time double substitution. Michal Duris and Stanislav Lobotka are on for Ondrej Duda and Jacub Hromada.
45' Second half is underway. Slovakia make a couple of changes.
An absolute shocker of an own-goal from Martin Dubravka and a looping header from Aymeric Laporte has all but confirmed Spain's berth in the round-of-16. In what was an eventful first-half, Morata's early penalty miss hinted at another frustrating afternoon for Spain. However, a couple of gifts from Dubravka has La Roja in the driver's seat. This could only get worse for Slovakia, as their opponents have found some much-needed rhythm.
HT: Spain 2-0 Slovakia
Laporte scores his first-ever international goal. Dubravka gets off his line and tries to rob the ball off Moreno, who wins the ball and then lobs it into the box for Laporte. The Manchester City centre-half leaps above the rest and doubles Spain's lead. The Slovakian keeper was in no man's land.
45 + 1' 2-0 to SPAIN! AYMERIC LAPORTE!
45' Gerard Moreno receives a throw in, cuts inside onto his left foot and pulls the trigger from just outside the box. It is, however, straight to Dubravka.
41' Alba plays a cheeky pass to Morata from the left but Satka is there again to read and intercept.
39' Moreno is hauled down in midfield once again. Slovakia are committing fouls in order to defuse Spain's flow.
38' Sarabia delivers but Satka gets his head to it first.
37' Spain are lining up a free-kick from about 40 yards. Moreno was fouled.
35' Sarabia, in space, runs at the Slovakia defense once again on the right flank. Hamsik demonstrates his ball retention skill and plays a ball over the top for Duda. The striker receives a late call for offside.
33' Skriniar carries the ball forward and tries to guide a pass into the path of Hamsik in midfield. Spain intercept and recycle possession.
32' That was one of the most shocking goals you'll see all summer. Slovakia, barring that penalty, defended rather cautiously all game. To their distress, they have been punished by their own custodian.
This is truly unbelievable, as goalkeeping errors go, this is as calamitous as it gets. Spain, one could admit, deserve the luck. Sarabia is brought into play by Slovakia, which in first place, was terrible defending.
The right winger's shot strikes the frame of goal, and as the ball rebounds off it, Dubravka mistimes his jump and punches the ball into his own net. That is simply...absurd.
30' WHAT A GIFT FOR SPAIN! Absolute howler from Dubravka!
26' After some thought, the referee decided to give a free-kick in favour of Slovakia. Koke seems to have caught the shin of Hromada.
Pablo Sarabia's movement has sparked some attacking promise for Spain, and so has Pedri's delivery. Alvaro Morata's missed penalty remains the major talking point thus far.
25' Players are taking a short drinks break.
24' CHANCE FOR MORATA!
After patient build-up from Busquets, who switched the play and then played a pass into the path of Morata, the latter cuts inside and takes aim. It was a good, fierce hit from the former Chelsea star, but Dubravka once again has the answers.
This time it's a similar, inswinging delivery from the left boot of Azpilicueta. Pedri finds himself in free space on the far post but even he doesn't make any contact.
19' Pedri, in space in the left midfield area, loops an exquisite pass over the top to Sarabia. Once again on the run, the PSG man fails to make any contact. That was a peach of a pass!
17' Koke and Azpilicueta exchange passes with ease. The former tries to play it through to a mobile Sarabia, but the danger is averted by a fine interception from Hubocan.
16' Spain win a free-kick, after Moreno is fouled on the left-flank while trying to skip past his marker. Clear obstruction.
15' Spain launch their first corner, Garcia only momentarily manages to keep the ball alive but Slovakia clear it eventually.
14' Spain are back in possession, this time pressed higher up the field by Slovakia. The visitors win the ball back and are trying to play around the Spanish press in the middle.
The penalty was shot with serious power, but a savable height and sharp decision-making from Dubravka resulted in a fifth consecutive penalty miss from Spain.
11' Alvaro Morata is set to take responsibility from the spot. This is a big moment as far as Group E is concerned on the whole.
SPAIN WITH A PENALTY! This is a welcome break for them! Can they dust their recent penalty woes off their back?
10' Wait a minute, it appears as though it was Koke who was fouled inside the box. VAR are having a look at a potential penalty for Spain!
9' Spain apply some relentless pressure on the Slovakian midfield. Pedri wins the ball back and tries to play a through pass, but the centre-halves mop up the danger and win a foul.
7' Sarabia is played out wide by Pedri. He shifts to his left and whips a deep ball into the six-yard area. Dubravka, as commanding as he always is, gathers with aplomb.
6' Spain are comfortable with the ball now, as Slovakia prepare to sit deep. We've seen this before. What is really required from Spain's perspective is that bit of urgency.
5' Morata with a snap-shot!
Pedri wins the ball in midfield, feeds it to Moreno, who then cuts inside and then plays an out-ball to Morata on the left. At the very first touch, Morata lets fly from an acute angle but his shot his parried away by Dubravka.
4' Spain try to play down the line on the right, but a back pass to Azpilicueta goes for a Slovakia throw-in due to the right-back's heavy touch.
3' Spain try to drive past their half by Slovakia are not prepared to sit them and allow the charge.
2' First foul of the game, as Jordi Alba brings down his counterpart while contesting for a ball in the air.
1' Spain have as many as five players in their starting XI that have under 10 caps to their name.
Slovakia, in blue, get us underway.
The players are out in the middle and we're ready for kick-off!
Spain, meanwhile, have drafted in Chelsea skipper Cesar Azpilicueta to infuse experience and a more conventional option at right-back. Pedri, as exciting as he always is, gets the nod in the Spanish midfield as well. Pablo Sarabia of Paris Saint-Germain is also set to add a differential in Luis Enrique's attack.
Slovakia appear to have retained their formula heading into this fixture against Spain. They are set to play their traditional 4-2-3-1, with Hamsik, Skriniar and Duda tasked with voicing their influence on the pitch.
Slovakia substitutes: Michal Duris, Marek Rodak, Jan Gregus, Stanislav Lobotka, Patrik Hrosovsky, Martin Koscelnik, Laszlo Benes, Vladmiri Weiss, Martin Valjent, Tomas Suslov, David Hancko, Dusan Kuciak
Spain substitutes: Fabian Ruiz, Mikel Oyarzabal, Pau Torres, Dani Olmo, Thiago, Marcos Llorente, Robert Sanchez, Ferran Torres, Adama Traore, David de Gea, Jose Gaya, Rodri
🚨 ¡¡CON ESTE ONCE NOS JUGAMOS EL PASE!!
👥 Esta es la alineación de @LUISENRIQUE21 para el tercer partido de la @SeFutbol de la Fase de Grupos de la #EURO2020 ante Eslovaquia.
— Selección Española de Fútbol (@SeFutbol) June 23, 2021
Spain confirmed XI (4-3-3): Unai Simon; Jordi Alba, Eric Garcia, Aymeric Laporte, Cesar Azpilicueta; Koke, Sergio Busquets, Pedri; Pablo Sarabia, Alvaro Morata, Gerard Moreno
Slovakia confirmed XI (4-2-3-1): Martin Dubravka; Peter Pekarík, Lubomír Satka, Milan Skriniar, Tomas Hubocan; Juraj Kucka, Jakub Hromada; Lukas Haraslín, Marek Hamsík, Robert Mak; Ondrej Duda
TEAM NEWS IS IN!
Meanwhile, only nine minutes or so to go for the announcement of line-ups. Spain could ring in a few changes to get their balance right.
Also read: A take on five players who could belie their age and become instant matchwinners in their respective country's folklore, written by renowned commentator and Sportskeeda's expert columnist, Jim Beglin.
Stages like the Euros are laid out for stars to glitter on the big stage and let the world take notice of their prodigious footballing abilities. Fair to say, quite a few names have put themselves on the map for their respective countries and raised eyebrows with spectacular performances. Here's a list of five players who have been surprise packages this Euro 2020, according to our expert columnist Paul Merson. Italy's Manuel Locatelli has taken his goalscoring acumen to the next level Euro 2020: 5 surprise packages of the tournament so far
Did you know?
Only one team in the history of the European championships has gone on to draw all their three group matches - Portugal, in 2016. And, they'd go on to win the tournament emphatically. Jinxed?
Head-to-head
Slovakia have only won one of their six encounters with Spain. This is the first time the pair will meet in a major tournament. Spain, clearly, hold the upper edge with four wins to their credit.
There are just three days to go for the knockout rounds of the Euros, and after three riveting matchweeks, there's a clearer indication on which team has what it takes to lift the coveted European championships.
Who do you think will win the Euros? Here's what out expert columnist, and former Liverpool FC goalkeeper David James has to say on the same. Can Gareth Southgate's England bring it home this year?
After two dire draws in their opening matches, Spain are one of the few star-studded sides in a spot of bother. Despite maintaining 86% and 77% of possession against Sweden and Poland respectively, Luis Enrique's charges never looked like stamping their authority in any of those games. The formula heading into this one will be simple: win and comfortably carry the confidence into the last 16. Should they succumb to a defeat, La Roja will have to book an early flight back.
Slovakia on the other hand, have shown glimpses of quality this Euros. Taking down an upbeat Poland side in the opening game demonstrated their character and grit, but they came crashing down against the group leaders Sweden in their next game. Patience will be the name of the game against a Spanish side that loves to keep the ball. However, should they hold their ground and stick to a rigid shape, it doesn't seem to difficult to snatch a point or more against Spain at the moment.
Here's an extensive read on all you need to know ahead of Spain's final group clash, against Slovakia.
Hello and Welcome to Sportskeeda's Euro 2020 coverage of another intriguing Group E clash between Slovakia and Spain from the Seville. This is your host, Akarshak Roy, providing you all the build-up and live updates from the game.
Catch all the action, build-up and coverage of the Euro 2020 here at Sportskeeda. Hope you enjoyed this high-scoring encounter. Until next time, stay safe.
After a couple of disappointing draws in the group stages, Spain qualify to the round-of-16 in sumptuous fashion. They took Slovakia to the cleaners, netting five against them in a sparkling, unforgiving display accompanied by horrendous defending.
It all started with a blunder from Martin Dubravka, when the goalkeeper palmed the ball into the back of his own net.
Aymeric Laporte doubled Spain's lead, before Pablo Sarabia, Ferran Torres and another own goal from Juraj Kucka made matters worse for Slovakia.
The team crashing out of this group just did not create enough or defend well. There was not a single moment when Unai Simon was challenged in between his sticks. Enrique's squad have found their range, having displayed they can play serious football.
Slovakia meanwhile, have just not defended up to the mark.
Ferran Torres takes his chance! Spain are really spoiling their opponents now.
They just haven't turned up today.
In what was an eventful first-half, Morata's early penalty miss hinted at another frustrating afternoon for Spain. However, a couple of gifts from Dubravka has La Roja in the driver's seat. This could only get worse for Slovakia, as their opponents have found some much-needed rhythm.
The Manchester City centre-half leaps above the rest and doubles Spain's lead. The Slovakian keeper was in no man's land.
Sarabia is brought into play by Slovakia, which in first place, was terrible defending.
The right winger's shot strikes the frame of goal, and as the ball rebounds off it, Dubravka mistimes his jump and punches the ball into his own net. That is simply...absurd.
Absolute howler from Dubravka!
After patient build-up from Busquets, who switched the play and then played a pass into the path of Morata, the latter cuts inside and takes aim. It was a good, fierce hit from the former Chelsea star, but Dubravka once again has the answers.
This time it's a similar, inswinging delivery from the left boot of Azpilicueta. Pedri finds himself in free space on the far post but even he doesn't make any contact.
Pedri wins the ball in midfield, feeds it to Moreno, who then cuts inside and then plays an out-ball to Morata on the left. At the very first touch, Morata lets fly from an acute angle but his shot his parried away by Dubravka.
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Spain substitutes: Fabian Ruiz, Mikel Oyarzabal, Pau Torres, Dani Olmo, Thiago, Marcos Llorente, Robert Sanchez, Ferran Torres, Adama Traore, David de Gea, Jose Gaya, Rodri
Also read: A take on five players who could belie their age and become instant matchwinners in their respective country's folklore, written by renowned commentator and Sportskeeda's expert columnist, Jim Beglin.
Here's a list of five players who have been surprise packages this Euro 2020, according to our expert columnist Paul Merson.
Euro 2020: 5 surprise packages of the tournament so far
Only one team in the history of the European championships has gone on to draw all their three group matches - Portugal, in 2016. And, they'd go on to win the tournament emphatically.
Jinxed?
Slovakia have only won one of their six encounters with Spain. This is the first time the pair will meet in a major tournament. Spain, clearly, hold the upper edge with four wins to their credit.
Who do you think will win the Euros? Here's what out expert columnist, and former Liverpool FC goalkeeper David James has to say on the same.
Euro 2020: Ranking the top 5 favorites to win the tournament
The formula heading into this one will be simple: win and comfortably carry the confidence into the last 16. Should they succumb to a defeat, La Roja will have to book an early flight back.
Slovakia on the other hand, have shown glimpses of quality this Euros. Taking down an upbeat Poland side in the opening game demonstrated their character and grit, but they came crashing down against the group leaders Sweden in their next game. Patience will be the name of the game against a Spanish side that loves to keep the ball.
However, should they hold their ground and stick to a rigid shape, it doesn't seem to difficult to snatch a point or more against Spain at the moment.
Slovakia vs Spain prediction, preview, team news and more | UEFA Euro 2020