World and European champions Spain could have been forgiven for taking their foot off the gas in the UEFA Nations League but there has been no such easing up from Luis de la Fuente’s side.
Spain’s four straight wins in the competition mean they have already qualified for the quarter-finals and they will expect to keep momentum high when heading to Czechia on Thursday.
Czechia have enjoyed a dismal Nations League, losing all four of their games to be staring down the barrel at relegation to League B, and they will have their work cut out at Stadion Letna.
Czechia v Spain Tips Summary
Best Bet - Spain to win & both teams to score @ 7/4
Alternative Bet - Mikel Merino anytime goalscorer @ 2/1
Bet Builder - Alex Baena 1+ shots on target, Tomas Soucek 1+ shots & Vladimir Coufal to be booked @ 7/1
Czechia v Spain Prediction
Best Bet: Spain to win & both teams to score @ 7/4
It is hard to oppose Spain given their immense winning habit and it is even harder to see a Czech side in such woeful form becoming the first team to down La Roja in 90 minutes since Colombia in March 2024.
De la Fuente may use this fixture as an excuse to give some of his fringe players more minutes, however, so there is hope the hosts can give the fans in Prague something to cheer about.
Czechia did grab a consolation in the reverse fixture, too, and there is every chance they repeat the trick, with Spain yet to keep a clean sheet in the Nations League and potentially having one eye on the closing group-stage clash with England.
Alternative Bet: Mikel Merino anytime goalscorer @ 2/1
De la Fuente’s shuffled pack is likely to include Mikel Merino, who came off the bench to score a match-winning brace in La Roja’s last match against Croatia.
Merino is a super sub for both club and country, netting five times in his last eight substitute appearances for Spain, but he is also a threat when handed a rare start.
The Arsenal midfielder has been dangerous from the off on the international stage, scoring seven goals in his last eight starts for La Roja, and his ability to time late runs into the box could prove handy against a team likely to sit deep.
Czechia v Spain Bet Builder Tip
Alex Baena 1+ shots on target
Tomas Soucek 1+ shots
Vladimir Coufal to be booked
Pays 7/1
Alex Baena is another likely starter in a much-changed Spain side, especially with Lamine Yamal sitting out this clash in preparation for Sunday’s showdown with England.
The Atletico Madrid playmaker proved a handful for Czechia in the reverse fixture, racking up three shots on target in 45 minutes, while five goals and three assists in 12 La Liga appearances shows he is playing with confidence.
Whether a rotated Spain defence can fare as well as a second-string attack is up for debate and a Czechia side desperate for points should generate some chances.
Tomas Soucek was sorely missed during the last international camp and his eye for goal could prove handy. The towering midfielder has averaged a shot every 18 minutes for West Ham United this season and has registered an effort in each of his last seven starts for his country.
Soucek’s former club teammate Vladimir Coufal may have a less productive evening. The veteran full-back will have his hands full with Spain’s array of talented wingers and a second booking of the Nations League campaign looms.
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Key Match Stats
Spain have won 41 and lost only two of their 53 games under Luis de la Fuente.
Czechia are without a win in seven matches, losing six.
La Roja have gone four games without a clean sheet.
The Czechs have failed to score in only three of their last 14 matches.
Spain dominate the head-to-head, winning five and drawing the other two of this pair’s seven meetings.
Only England (13) had outscored Spain (12) after four rounds of Nations League fixtures.
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
