Spain wins even when they don’t play well – Czechia too weak for world champion

In the Nations League Group 3 clash between Spain and the Czech Republic, the favorite was clear from the start. That was reflected in the first half, as the hosts took a 2-0 lead. Spain were fairly lackluster after the break, allowing the Czechia to pull one back before Merino eventually sealed the final score.🚨: Spain secures another win, this time with victory over Czechia. 🇪🇸✨ pic.twitter.com/5v8eEKb30X— FÚTBOL HUB (@FutbolHub_) October 3, 2026 Spain produced a dominant first-half display against the Czech Republic, taking a 2-0 lead into the break while creating a host of chances in an impressive attacking performance.The hosts came close to an early opener after just one minute. Lamine Yamal was looking to repeat his habit of scoring inside the opening minutes, having found the net in the second minute against England and the first against Sevilla, but his effort against Kinsky went narrowly wide.Yamal did not have to wait long to find the breakthrough, however. In the fifth minute, the Barcelona star once again showed his quality, cutting inside before curling a trademark left-footed effort towards the far post. Kinsky could only stretch out a hand, but there was nothing the Czech goalkeeper could do to prevent Spain from taking the lead.🚨 YAMAL BEAUTY 🤯Lamine Yamal scores a stunning goal for Spain against Czechia 🔥 pic.twitter.com/H9FRMQMfRh— Football on Predict (@FConPredict) October 3, 2026 Spain almost doubled their advantage two minutes later. Olmo received an excellent ball inside the penalty area and appeared perfectly placed to make it 2-0, only to lose his balance at the crucial moment and send the opportunity begging.The Czech Republic continued to struggle to contain Spain's attacking players, with Baena going close in the 13th minute. The Spanish winger cut diagonally towards the edge of the box before sending a tame effort straight into Kinsky's hands.Spain missed another excellent opportunity in the 32nd minute. A slick attacking move saw Pedri play a clever ball back towards Olmo, who had found himself unmarked inside the area. However, his finish lacked power and went straight at Kinsky.##NAJAVA_MECA_9999608##Just a minute later, Baena tried his luck again from outside the box, but once more his effort was comfortably gathered by the Czech goalkeeper.Spain's pressure finally produced a second goal in the 35th minute. Pedri slipped into the penalty area and looked to cut the ball back towards Roberto, but a Czech defender's intervention sent the ball into the path of an unmarked Rodri. The Manchester City midfielder made no mistake, producing a magnificent high finish to extend Spain's lead to 2-0.🇪🇸🔥 𝐑𝐎𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐈𝐈𝐈𝐈!Rodri pounces on the opportunity and calmly slots the ball into the back of the net! ⚽️💥#Spain #Rodri #Football #NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/a9WiaZzxg3— Rayn Maldini (@RaynMaldini) October 3, 2026 Spain were almost out of sight moments later. Baena unleashed another effort from outside the box, and although the shot appeared somewhat forced, it was still directed dangerously towards goal. Kinsky reacted well to keep the score at 2-0.The second half was a far quieter affair than the opening 45 minutes, with the tempo dropping considerably and very little happening in either penalty area. Spain appeared determined from the very start of the second half to protect their 2-0 advantage rather than continue pushing for more goals, allowing the game to settle into a much slower rhythm.That approach saw the match drift without any major chances until the 69th minute, when the Czech Republic finally found a way back into the contest. The visitors moved the ball forward with ease and picked out Slama's run into the box, with the Czech player firing a well-struck low effort across goal and beyond Raya's outstretched arm to make it 2-1.##EDITORS_CHOICE##Spain did not appear overly concerned by the setback and continued to manage the game, while the Czech Republic struggled to create another clear opening.Their task became even more difficult in the 85th minute when Krejcí was sent off. The Czech defender saw two yellow cards within the space of just six minutes, first for dissent and then for a foul, leaving his team with 10 men for the closing stages.The game was finally put beyond doubt in the 89th minute when Mikel Merino finished off a swift Spanish counter-attack, sealing a 3-1 victory.UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE – DIVISION AThursdayDenmark – Portugal 2-4 (1-2)/Damsgaard 23, Hojlund 53 – Cancelo 13, Ramos 25, Vitinha 67, Felix 87/Germany – Serbia 2-0 (1-0)/Bischof 39, Wirtz 61/Greece – Netherlands 2-2 (2-0)/Ioannidis 23, Masouras 45+2 – Van Dijk 59, Reijnders 89/Wales – Norway 2-1 (1-1)/James 38, Williams 48 – Bobb 11/FridayBelgium – Turkey 3-0 (1-0)/De Bruyne 10, 59, Lukaku 76/France – Italy 1-1 (0-0)/Olise 55 – Bastoni 68/SaturdayCroatia – England 0-7 (0-4)/Kane 8, 53 Bellingham 21, Gordon 39, Saka 45, 68, Rogers 87/Spain – Czech R. 3-1 (2-0)/Yamal 6, Rodri 35, Merino 89 – Slama 69/