Spain wishes to get back to winning ways when they travel to Prague to battle Czech Republic. This is the first of the two games La Roja will play against the opposition this month.
Luis Enrique's team failed to resist Portugal to level it 1-1 at home in the Iberian derby whereas the Czechs picked up a commendable 2-1 victory over Switzerland in Prague.
CZR vs SPN UEFA Nations League 2022-23 Match Details
Date: Sunday 5th June 2022/ Monday 6th June 2022
Time: 20:45 (CET)/ 00:15 (IST)
Venue: Sinobo Arena, Prague
CZR vs SPN UEFA Nations League 2022-23 Match Preview
An evening of delight for Czech Republic as they continue their hot streak of form in beating Switzerland 2-1 for their first win in the current Nations league campaign. The chaotic defence of the away team did hand them the victory but It added to the reputation manager Jaroslav Silhavy is carrying in his role. Their performance in the Euros by knocking out Netherlands in the last 16 stages and only narrowly missing out on the World cup qualification in the playoffs is a ramification of the good job being done. The Czechs promotion to League A in the Nations League was the beginning of something special. So, they are likely to make it a remarkable one. On Thursday, it took only 11 minutes for Jan Kuchta to strike the opener before the Swiss responded through Noah Okafor. The winner was a fortune of luck as a cross was deflected into his own net by a recent Europa league winner with Frankfurt, Djibril Sow. Their impressive win ushers the confidence to take on a top footballing nation like Spain. Silhavy men have shown their might against the sides higher ranked than them and only two defeats since the Euros give them the necessary momentum. However, Spain are looking for their first win as well so it makes them hard to contain at this moment.
La Roja were left disappointed by their missed opportunities against their rivals as Portugal found a path to climb back into the game for a 1-1 draw. This ended the four-game winning streak Spain carried since the Nations League final last season. Alvaro Morata netted the opener for Spain following a quick break administered by Gavi, the 17-year-old lighting up the Nations again. Valencia’s Carlos Soler should have doubled the lead soon after blazing his own rebound over the bar while Jordi Alba’s horrendous header from close range could have easily sealed the Iberian derby in their favour and the three points on the board. The lack of finishing touch from both the sides was the culprit, goalkeeper Unai Simon reaffirming his first-choice status with some crucial saves. No doubt, Luis Enrique will be hoping for better ways to see out the fixtures in a congested calendar which will deflect the fitness level of the players further after an intense league season. His side’s grit will satisfy him though and Enrique wants his boys to maintain it while facing the Czechs. To add to their determination, the Czechs have failed to score in any of the past meetings against Spain.
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CZR vs SPN UEFA Nations League 2022-23 Match Team News
Czech Republic will still be without their talismanic striker Patrick Schick as he continues to nurse his injury along with Tomas Petrasek. Rest of the squad is available for Jaroslav Silhavy to choose his best eleven for the game. There should be some rotations from their win against Switzerland.
Luis Enrique have Aymeric Laporte out for this fixture with Pau Torres continuing to pair with Eric Garcia at the back. Thiago Alcantara is far away from a return from his muscular injury. Sergio Busquets could be given a rest while Dani Olmo can begin the game after making an appearance from the bench in the Iberian derby.
CZR vs SPN UEFA Nations League 2022-23 Match Expected Lineups
Czech Republic: Tomas Vaclik; Vaclav Jemelka, Jakub Brabec, David Zima; Vladimir Coufal, Tomas Soucek, Michal Sadilek, Jaroslav Zeleny; Jakub Jankto, Adam Hlozek; Jan Kuchta
Spain: Unai Simon; Dani Carvajal, Eric Garcia, Pau Torres, Jordi Alba; Gavi, Rodri, Koke; Pablo Sarabia, Alvaro Morata, Dani Olmo
CZR vs SPN Head to Head
It has been six years since Czech Republic took their chances against Spain, failing in their task in a 1-0 defeat in the group stages of the 2016 European Championship. The defeat meant the Czechs haven’t won against La Roja in the five meetings they have till now. Spain have collected four wins on the bounce while their only draw was a 0-0 stalemate way back in 1996 World Cup.
CZR vs SPN UEFA Nations League 2022-23 Match Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Vaclik (8.5)
DEF: Coufal (8.5), David Zima (8.5), P.Torres (8.5), Alba (9)
MID: Koke (8.5), Rodri (8.5), Soucek (9.5)
FW: Sarabia (9), Kuchta (9), Morata (9.5)
Captain: Alvaro Morata
Vice-captain: Tomas Souchek
