Preview: Slovakia vs Spain
As Slovakia battles Spain in a crucial Group E showdown at Seville's Estadio de La Cartuja, both teams seek redemption: Spain aims to silence its critics and find its first win, while Slovakia hopes to secure a spot in the tournament's next stage after a narrow defeat to Sweden.
Slovakia
Slovakia failed to pick up any points against Sweden when both countries met last Friday, the 18th of June. The first half concluded without any goals or notable moments from either team. But the game sprang to life after the interval.
Sweden’s Alexander Isak saw his shot deflected wide, just inches away from the goal, before heading above the crossbar minutes later. A dazzling run by the Real Sociedad forward left as many as three Slovakian players behind as he surged towards the defense. Fortunately for Slovakia, Martin Dubravka made a crucial save to keep them in the game.
However, Dubravka later became the culprit when he stopped an onrushing Swedish player illegally, resulting in a penalty. Emil Forsberg capitalized on the opportunity, putting Sweden ahead in the 77th minute. The Slovakians attempted to equalize in the final moments, but the Swedes defended resolutely until the game ended.
The defeat leaves Slovakia in second place with three points in Group E after one win and one loss. Following one defeat in six games across all competitions (DWDDWL), coach Stefan Tartovic will be hoping for a win against Spain to strengthen their position in the race for qualification. A 4-2-3-1 formation with Duda leading the attack is expected.
Spain
Spain remains unbeaten in six games across all competitions with a record of DWWDDD. However, they are currently 3rd in Group E with only 2 points after drawing two games and not having secured a win. On Match Day 2, they managed a 1-1 draw against Poland.
Alvaro Morata put the Red Fury ahead with a goal at the 25th minute, tapping the ball into the net from close range. Moments later, Poland's Robert Lewandowski leveled the score with a powerful header past Spain’s goalkeeper, Unai Simon of Athletic Bilbao.
No more goals were scored for the rest of the match, leaving Spain without a win. Manager Luis Enrique faces criticism for Spain's current form, despite the team's star-studded roster. On Wednesday, he aims to address his critics with his strategic choices.
Ferran Torres, who recently won the Premier League title with Manchester City, came off the bench in the second half. He might see another off-the-bench appearance on Match Day 3. An attacking 4-3-3 formation is likely once again, with Gerard Moreno, Alvaro Morata, and Dani Olmo leading the attack.
Team form
Showing the latest five games—giving you a quick look at recent performance trends. Teams in good form tend to do well in the next match.
Team Comparison
Side-by-side assessment of team statistics, including goals, attacks, and more. This allows you to directly compare key performance metrics. Analyzing these stats can reveal patterns and strengths that might influence the outcome.