Lamine Yamal has carried on his superb goal-scoring form, helping Spain secure a 3-1 win over Czechia in the UEFA Nations League and consolidating his bid to win the prestigious Ballon d’Or award later this month.
asserted
Spain → carry → award
The world champions moved three points clear of England at the top of Group A3 after Thomas Tuchel’s side demolished Croatia 7-0 earlier in Rijeka on Saturday.
asserted
side → move → Saturday
Spain cruised into a two-goal lead with Yamal and captain Rodri Hernandez on target, but Jiri Slama gave the Czechs a chance by pulling one back with 20 minutes to go.
asserted
Slama → cruise → minutes
However, Mikel Merino wrapped up Spain’s win late on after Ladislav Krejci was sent off for the Czechs, as Spain racked up a 41st consecutive unbeaten game, including the World Cup final win over Argentina in July.
asserted
Spain → wrap → July
Yamal, who scored in the second minute of Spain’s first two games against England and Croatia, waited as long as the sixth minute before breaking the deadlock.
asserted
who → score → deadlock
He is the first player to score a goal within the first 10 minutes of three consecutive men’s international matches.
asserted
He → score → matches
“They are well-drilled; I thought it would be one of the hardest games, and that’s how it was,” Rodri told a Spanish broadcaster after Spain claimed a third win from three group games.
asserted
Spain → drill → games
“It was tricky but we got some chances.
asserted
we → get → chances
There are some matches in which you can’t generate that much, but the team was able to manage the match.”
asserted
team → be → match
The former Manchester City midfielder scored for the first time for Spain in more than two years.
asserted
midfielder → score → years
“It’s always special to score for the national team.
asserted
It → ’ → team
I’d not been scoring many goals; let’s see if I’ve found that dynamic – it’s important, we all have to chip in with the goals,” he added.
asserted
he → score → goals
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente made several changes in Oviedo from Tuesday’s win over Croatia, including handing debuts to full-back Ivan Fresneda and striker Roberto Fernandez.
asserted
Fuente → make → Fresneda
It was one of Spain’s star names, though, who lit up the game early on, something he is beginning to make a habit of.
asserted
he → light → habit
The 19-year-old winger, a leading candidate for the Ballon d’Or, produced an exquisite finish from the right of the box, curling into the top corner after taking a touch to earn himself room to shoot.
asserted
winger → lead → room
“We’re doing well; I’m very happy.
asserted
I → do → ?
I was eager to return to the national team after the World Cup, and there’s no better way than this,” said Yamal.
asserted
Yamal → return → this
Spain coach De la Fuente put his hands to his head in apparent shock at the quality of Yamal’s superb strike, his 12th in his last nine games for club and country.
asserted
Fuente → put → club
“I think he never stops surprising us – I think all of us.
asserted
I → think → us
He has so much talent, so much quality, that we still haven’t seen the best version of Lamine by a long shot,” said De la Fuente.
asserted
Fuente → have → shot
“He has a lot more to offer because he’s so classy, so talented, with so much potential.”
asserted
he → have → potential
The winger’s Barcelona teammate, Rodri, doubled Spain’s lead after 35 minutes, arriving in the box to drill into the top corner after the ball fell nicely for him.
asserted
ball → double → him
De la Fuente took off Yamal at half-time to give the young Barcelona star a break before Tuesday’s visit to face Croatia, and the pace of the game slowed.
asserted
pace → take → game
The Czechs pulled one back through Slama, who produced an excellent low finish across David Raya after Adam Hlozek played him in.
asserted
Hlozek → pull → him
Arsenal stopper Raya was fortunate a few minutes later when he conceded possession with a misplaced pass while out of his goal, but the visitors could not capitalise.
uncertain
visitors → concede → goal
Raya also spilled the ball badly and Ryan Naderi turned home, but the goal was disallowed for a foul on Robin Le Normand.
asserted
goal → spill → Normand
Czechia’s determined efforts to battle back were derailed by Krejci’s red card, with the defender shown a second yellow for pulling back Fernandez, before Merino rounded off Spain’s win.
asserted
Merino → battle → win
The Aporia
