Piqué and Iniesta lead Spain to 1–0 Euro triumph over the Czech Republic

Piqué and Iniesta lead Spain to 1–0 Euro triumph over the Czech Republic

The FC Barcelona defender scores the game's lone goal four minutes from time, heading in a cross from his Barça teammate

The Spanish national team got off to a good start at the UEFA Euro 2016 France, beating the Czech Republic, 1–0, on Monday afternoon in Toulouse. Spain thoroughly dominated from start to finish, but they were unable to beat goalkeeper Peter Cech until the 86th minute, when FC Barcelona's Gerard Piqué headed in from close range after taking a perfectly timed cross from his Barça teammate, Andrés Iniesta. 

Iniesta, who turned in a brilliant performance, was named Man of the Match. The midfielder almost singlehandedly commandeered the midfield, passing with laser-like precision and perplexing the Czech defense with bewildering changes of pace and direction that essentially put Spain on the attack for the better part of 90 minutes.

In addition to Iniesta and Piqué, their Barça cohorts Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba also started for Spain. All four played the full match. Spain, thus, leads Group D along with Ivan Rakitic's Croatia, which beat Turkey and Arda Turan on Sunday. Spain and Turkey square off Friday, 17 June 17 at 9.00pm CET.

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