Spain just kept their ridiculous post-World Cup routine rolling, hitting an insane 41 games without tasting a negative result and staying 100% in UEFA Nations League A after a 3-1 win over the Czech Republic this Saturday in Oviedo. And yeah, Lamine Yamal was right there in the mix again, doing what he does.
Yamal Is Just Built Different
This kid, Lamine Yamal, is on another level right now. He bagged yet another goal, bringing his total to four in three games in the current World Cup cycle. That’s compared to seven in the last one, so he is absolutely flying. Remember how he got on the scoresheet in under two minutes against England and Croatia? That was unprecedented for the Spanish national team. Against the Czech Republic, he almost did it again, nearly celebrating after 57 seconds, but had to “settle” for scoring after just six minutes. Still, the impact is instant, every time.
The Grind and The Finish
Luis de La Fuente definitely experimented in this match, even handing a debut to Roberto Fernández. Spain controlled the action, just like you’d expect. They were smart, managing their energy and stepping it up when they felt it was best. The expected second goal came in the 35th minute, with Rodri smashing one home. After halftime, Spain made more changes, and that’s when the Czech Republic started to believe a bit more, facing an opponent that didn’t have the same “edge.” Slama pulled one back for them in the 69th minute with a low finish. There was even a scare where an equalizer almost happened after a mistake by Raya, but the referee had already called a foul on Le Normand, so the goal didn’t stand. Good call, saved them! Then, the ever-present Merino pounced on Kinsky’s rebound after Muñoz’s attempt in the 89th minute to seal the deal. Even Spain’s Olympic gold medal coach, Santiago Denia, who led them to victory against France in the 2024 Olympic Games, saw a team he coaches lose for the third time, reuniting with some of his former Olympic players like Pubill, Eric García, Cubarsí, Baena, Fermín, and Joan García.
Leading the Pack, Looking Ahead
Spain is sitting pretty with nine points, making them the outright leader in their group. Croatia has three points, while the Czech Republic is stuck on zero. England is in second with six. In other League A action, Switzerland kept their 100% record alive too, with a comeback 2-1 win over Slovenia. An early scare from Vipotnik’s goal was countered by an own goal from Janza, and then Ndoye scored in the 38th minute. Over in another group, Scotland finally got their first win after falling short in the first two rounds, taking down North Macedonia 2-0 with goals from Bowie and McGinn.
So, Spain rolls on, undefeated and top of their group. Next up for them? They visit Croatia on Tuesday. The squad’s gonna be fired up to keep that 100% record and that insane 41-game unbeaten streak absolutely intact.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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