Spain booked their place in the last 16 of Euro 2020 with a convincing 5-0 victory against Slovakia in Sevilla on Wednesday night.
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Luis Enrique’s side should have taken the lead with just 12 minutes on the clock after receiving an early penalty. Martin Dubravka did well to palm Alvaro Morata’s place kicked away, but the Newcastle man turned from hero to villain just 20 minutes later.
After a short tussle with the defender, Pablo Sarabia finally tucked the ball home. Dubravka tried to touch it over the frame to the goal for a corner, but still he ended up instead only in his own net.
Enrique’s men doubled their lead after the half-time strike when Gerard Moreno did brilliantly to hit the ball back to Aymeric Laporte, allowing the Manchester City man to go home with his first goal for Spain.
The match ended as a competition at the beginning of the second half when Jordi Alba’s low cross swept home by Sarabia, before substitute Ferran Torres made an immediate impact with a lovely flap finish and made it 4-0 to Spain.
Enrique’s side threatened to produce a cricket score when Pau Torres strained into his own net by Juraj Kucka, although Slovakia managed to “hold on” to the 5-0 defeat to avoid further embarrassment.
Let’s get to the player ratings from Slovakia and Spain …
Martin Dubravka saves Alvaro Morata’s penalty / Quality Sport Images / Getty Images
Martin Dubravka (GK) – 3/10 – The Newcastle goalkeeper did well to endure the early penalty but his own goal was fantastically bad. Was as poor the second time he walked the path before Laporte went home. Sending five in a major international tournament is something he will surely never forget.
Peter Pekarik (RB) – 5/10 – Found himself backwards when he was on the ball which did not help his side at all.
Milan Skriniar (CB) – 5/10 – Could not contain the top three in Spain and was only chasing shadows sometimes. His side needed a big performance if they were to keep Spain out and he does not really show up.
Lubomir Satka (CB) – 5/10 – Does not look very convincing early and when he realized that Dubravka had one of those days he looked even more suspicious.
Tomas Hubocan (LB) – 6/10 – Tried to move forward Slovakia left to help the attack but was countered by Cesar Azpilicueta each time.
Marek Hamsik started in midfield / Lars Baron / Getty Images
Jakub Hromada (DM) – 5/10 – Could not get close to the likes of Koke and Pedri and will probably have been happy to be connected at half time.
Juraj Kucka (DM) – 5/10 – Guilty to score the second own goal of the game but to be honest Slovakia had almost given up when he made it 5-0 to Spain.
Lukas Haraslin (RM) – 4/10 – Hardly saw any of the ball and seemed to accept the fate of his side and give up halfway through the second half before he was pulled off.
Marek Hamsik (AM) – 4/10 – Could just as easily have been at home and watched the match for most of the match. Anonymous display from their talisman.
Robert Mak (LM) – 5/10 – Offered very little in the future, although he at least made his best mark of Azpilicueta’s swinging runs.
Ondrej Duda wants to find a finish / Jose Manuel Vidal – Pool / Getty Images
Ondrej Duda (ST) – 5/10 – Did his best to chase lost causes but found himself growing more and more isolated as the game continued.
Michal Duris entered the second half / Maxim Shemetov – Pool / Getty Images
Michal Duris (ST) – 5/10
Stanislav Lobotka (CM) – 6/10
Vladimir Weiss (RM) – 5/10
Tomas Suslov (AM) – 6/10
Laszlo Benes (CM) – N / A
Laporte celebrates his goal / David Ramos / Getty Images
Unai Simon (GK) – 6/10 – Given almost nothing to do but knock the ball out to his defense. One of the quietest games he probably has in his career.
Cesar Azpilicueta (RB) – 6/10 – The Chelsea man started to have fun when Spain had taken control of the game and his darts along the right side gave a good outlet.
Eric Garcia (CB) – 6/10 – Could not have asked for a much easier first appearance in the tournament. Basically, the whole game spent just that between himself and Laporte with a temporary fit in midfield.
Aymeric Laporte (CB) – 7/10 – Took his goal beautifully as he swung the ball over the stranded Dubravka. Much the same as his center-back partner, may just as well have received “N / A”.
Jordi Alba (LB) – 6/10 – Did not see much of him during the first half as an attacking force but popped up with a nice assist when Spain put the game to bed early in the second half.
Koke kept his place in midfield / David Ramos / Getty Images
Pedri (CM) – 7/10 – Continued to spread the ball nicely and helped open the game. The kid has easily gone up to the level needed for a big international tournament and he looks like a quality perspective.
Sergio Busquets (CM) – 7/10 – Barcelona midfielder’s first start of the tournament. Helped take the burden off Pedri when it comes to having someone else in midfield who plays progressive football.
Koke (CM) – 6/10 – Nice and nice in midfield but was rarely under any pressure and seemed to have the freedom on the field when he was on the ball.
Pablo Sarabia started in the front line / David Ramos / Getty Images
Pablo Sarabia (RW) – 6/10 – Had a brilliant chance to open points after 20 minutes but somehow managed to make contact with the ball. Eventually he got his goal with a nice finish.
Alvaro Morata (ST) – 5/10 – It never seemed as if he trusted his own ability when he stepped up to take the penalty. Showed some good stay play with his back to goal but not enough from him once again.
Gerard Moreno (LW) – 6/10 – Did great for hitting Dubravka in the ball and hooking it back against Laporte to go home. Will be disappointed not to have been on the results list given Slovakia’s shaky defense.
? Cambio on @Sefutbol
? ENTRA | @ FerranTorres20
? REA | @AlvaroMorata #SVK? #ESP | 0-3 | 66 ‘# SomosEspaña # EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/6MFapE7qjz
– Spanish Football Selection (@SeFutbol) June 23, 2021
Ferran Torres (RW) – 7/10 – Made an immediate impact with a lovely girly finish.
Thiago Alcantara (CM) – 6/10
Pau Torres (CB) – 7/10 – Torres almost replied, but the goal seems to have been credited to Kucka.
Adama Traore (RW) – 6/10
Mikel Oyarzabal (LW) – 6/10
