Spain manager Luis de la Fuente made nine changes to his starting lineup against the Czech Republic, sparked by a fast opening goal from Lamine Yamal and a subsequent 2-1 victory despite securing the points.
Lamine Yamal Opens the Scoring Fast Before Spain Retreats
Lamine Yamal needed only six minutes to open the scoring against the Czech Republic on Saturday, October 3, 2026. Dani Olmo provided the pass before Yamal beat his defender and fired a left-footed shot past the goalkeeper. The strike marked Yamal’s 11th international goal, with five of those coming before the 10-minute mark of a match. Rodrigo added a second goal before halftime to put Spain in command, but the team struggled to maintain that rhythm in the second half.
Luis de la Fuente Defends Nine Changes After a Disjointed Display
De la Fuente overhauled his starting XI with nine changes, handing a debut to Roberto Fernández at striker, recalling Fran García, and giving Iván Fresneda his first senior cap, while David Raya started in goal. The rotation left Spain looking disorganized after the interval, prompting the manager to admit that the substitutions disrupted the team’s momentum. “O das tu mejor versión o cualquier rival te hace daño. Nos ha faltado brillantez,” De la Fuente said after the match, acknowledging that a lack of sharpness nearly let the opponent back in. He added that the changes were necessary due to injuries to Eric García, Álex Grimaldo, Nico Williams, and Ferran Torres, alongside Fabián Ruiz’s absence for the birth of his child.
Rodri Sees the Positive Side of a Heavily Rotated Squad
Captain Rodri offered a different perspective on the experimental lineup, emphasizing the value of keeping the broader squad engaged through rigorous international windows. “Hay partidos en los que no puedes generar, pero hemos sabido madurarlo,” Rodri stated, noting that the team knew how to manage a difficult game without its usual fluidity. He reiterated that despite the heavy rotation, the squad continues to deliver results because every player needs to stay ready.
Santi Denia Praises Spain After a Close Call in Oviedo
Czech Republic manager Santi Denia saw his side push Spain until a late Mikel Merino goal sealed the result, following an earlier goal from Slama. Denia’s team nearly equalized when a second Czech goal was disallowed for a foul. After the final whistle in Oviedo, Denia embraced De la Fuente and praised the opposition. “Estoy orgulloso porque hemos salido con mucho respeto, pero hemos ido creciendo. Hay que hacerlo todo perfecto para ganar a España, que tienen al mejor jugador del mundo y al mejor entrenador,” Denia said.
England Humbles Croatia in a Seven-Goal Rout
Elsewhere in international play, England delivered a 7-0 defeat to Croatia in Rijeka. Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon, and Bukayo Saka scored in the first half to build a four-goal lead. Kane, Saka, and Morgan Rogers added three more after the break. The match took place in front of 6,000 children under the age of 15, a crowd arrangement used by the Croatian Federation to bypass a stadium ban requiring a match played behind closed doors.
