Euro 2016

Qualifying group C

Ukraine 0 – Spain 1

Ukraine: Pyatov; Fedetskiy, Kucher, Rakitskiy, Shevchuk; Rotan (Zinchenko 87’), Stepanenko, Yarmolenko, Garmash (Rybalka 58’), Konoplyanka; Kravets (Seleznyov 87’). 4-2-3-1.
Spain: De Gea; Mario Gaspar, Nacho, Etxeita, Azpilicueta; Fàbregas (Mata 64’), San José, Thiago; Isco, Paco Alcacer (Busquets 84’), Nolito (Jordi Alba 75’). 4-3-3.

Goals:
0-1. 22. Mario. Steered far post header down past Pyatov from Thiago centre.

Spain rounded off the group stage beating Ukraine 0-1 on Monday evening, their ninth win in ten matches. Already assured of top spot in the table, Vicente Del Bosque made no less than ten changes from the line-up which started against Luxembourg. And it was one of the new boys Mario Gaspar who opened the scoring, the Villarreal right back heading in a Thiago cross with just over twenty minutes gone. Two minutes later Fàbregas, playing his 100 th game for his country, was brought down in the area by Kucher, but Pyztov guessed correctly to save the Chelsea midfielder’s spot kick. The East Europeans needed to win though to have a chance of qualifying for the finals as the best of the third placed sides, and only a string of excellent saves by De Gea prevented them from getting back in the match. San José did get the ball in the net only for the referee to rule out the strike for what he considered to be a previous foul, but in the end Del Bosque closed ranks, bringing on Jordi Alba and Busquets for two of his forwards to protect the result. Spain will be going to France in search of a third title in a row, and their hosts have to settle for a place in the play-offs.