Pete Hall was in Toulouse to witness Spain stutter in win over Czech Republic, with doubts emerging as to whether they have the firepower to secure a unprecidented third-successive Euro crown.
This was the moment Spain were meant to prove that their cataclysmic failure at the World Cup two years ago was a blip rather than a blueprint.
Group D opener opponents Czech Republic represented beatable opposition, coming into the tournament having conceded the most goals in qualifying of all the 24 nations competing in France.
Yet, La Roja stuttered in the pleasant Toulouse surroundings, casting doubt over whether Vincent del Bosque's new-found attitude to squad selection could cost Spain their chance of making history.
Previously accused of being too predictable, the Spain coach made some bold picks when naming his 23-man squad, most notably in attack, omitting a fit-again Diego Costa and top goalscorer in qualifying Paco Alcacer.
Spain's Gerard Pique celebrates his late winner against the Czech Republic with Sergio Ramos (left) - PA Sport
The combative Costa wasn’t fit enough to make an impact in Brazil, and should not have made the trip, but looked set to lead the line in France, having been favoured by Del Bosque over the past few seasons, while Alcacer’s goal drought towards the end of last season cost him his spot on the plane.
So, it was left to Alvaro Morata to shoulder the goalscoring responsibility in the Stadium Municipal – or Le Petit Wembley as it is known locally – but he missed several opportunities to silence the naysayers with some wayward finishing and reluctance to shoot first time.
The fervent La Roja following made the short journey across the border in their droves and painted the "Pink City" a darker shade of Rojo in the run-up to the encounter, but they wouldn’t have been impressed with what they witnessed for the majority of the match in the southern French drizzle.
Spain boss Vicente Del Bosque - Reuters
The game panned out in an almost identical fashion to the shock midweek defeat to Georgia, with Spain dominating possession, creating the chances, but not putting them away. Only a Sergio Ramos gaffe was missing.
Morata toiled, Nolito jinked his way through on several occasions while AndresIniesta dictated, but the same lack of finishing touch eluded Del Bosque’s men
As the rain came down, the Czechs settled in for the afternoon, with 11 men behind the ball for much of the match – a situation Andres Iniesta is all too familiar with.
Czech Republic's defender Tomas Sivok reacts during the Euro 2016 group D football match between Spain and Czech Republic - AFP
“It’s true that it’s not the first time we’ve had this kind of game or opponent,” Iniesta said post-match. “It means they have a respect for us. There’s not a single way of breaking down these teams. You have to be calm and patient and keep going forwards until you get the result you want.”
Del Bosque was equally calm about how flat his men appeared in the final third, and echoed Iniesta’s determination to stick with the patient style.
“We created a lot of chances,” Del Bosque said. “We hope it’s not a problem [finishing them]. We had the game completely under control and that’s the important thing. It hasn’t been too bad for us this style, hey?”
Euro 2016 Spain Iniesta - AFP
Defiant in the extreme, loyal to his system, but the 65-year-old’s reluctance to address the striker situation seems foolish. This team is not of the same ilk as recent tournament successes.
Spain don’t have a great deal of goals from midfield. They don’t have a Thomas Muller weighing in with strikes from deep, they don’t have a Dimitri Payet to fire in thunderbolts from the edge of the box. Gerard Pique has scored more goals than Iniesta, David Silva, Cesc Fabregas and Thiago Alcantara for club and country this season.
Fabregas was particularly ineffective against the Czechs. The Chelseaplaymaker was the only Spain player to cover over six kilometres in the first half. The result? No key passes, no dribbles and no shots.
This is a Spain without the dynamism of old, so to put all your hopes on Alvaro Morata – who is not always first choice for his club – and Aritz Aduriz – Spain’s oldest-ever player in a European Championships – is a gamble to put it mildly.
Spain may well have earned a vital three points in Toulouse, but they missed an opportunity to send a message to their Euro crown suitors, and head to the French Riviera for their next match against Turkey having left us all wondering whether this model for success since 2008 has had it’s day.
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