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Spain leave it late to grab win

TOULOUSE -- Three quick thoughts from Spain 1-0 Czech Republic in Group D at Euro 2016.

Spain leave it late

The Euro 2008 and 2012 champions are up and running, even though they left it late in their opening win over Czech Republic on Monday. Spain have still not lost a European Championship match since 2004 though here, the tika-taka never quite flowed. It took an 87th minute header from Gerard Pique to deny a brave, defensive Czech performance.

Perhaps Spain were stymied by conditions. Toulouse had been drenched in a prematch downpour and early on, the slipperiness of the surface was announced by Alvaro Morata losing his footing and taking down a linesman with him.