Date: June 17, 2016
Result: Spain 3 Turkey 0
Scorers:
Spain: Morata 34, 48, Nolito 37
Turkey: none
Venue: Stade de Nice, Nice
Match overview:
Champions Spain cruised into the knockout stages with a thrilling display in Nice, sweeping aside Turkey in a smooth 3-0 victory. Turkey were unfortunate bystanders as the Spanish found their stride, dictated by the brilliant Andres Iniesta in midield and finished in style by forwards Nolito and Alvaro Morata.
Key moment:
Spain’s second goal, a slick passing move, played out from the back and finished off by Nolito. The only touch Turley got on the ball as it passed from the length of the pitch was when Turkish defender Mehmet Topal miscued his header into the path of Nolito.
Man of the match:
Nolito and Alvaro Morata grabbed all the headlines with their goals, but Andres Iniesta gave another masterclass in midfield.
Matter of fact:
Spain’s third goal involved 21 passes involving all the team members with the exception of Gerard Pique & David De Gea.
Talking point:
Amazingly, Spain were unchanged for the first time in 53 matches under Vicente Del Bosque. The coach’s continued selection of the inexperienced Nolito had been questioned but the Celta Vigo forward answered his critics with a wonderfully measured assist for Morata’s opener and a goal himself, an instinctive finish for his fifth goal in as many games for Spain.
Alvaro Morata scored twice and dovetailed perfectly with the livewire Nolito. With Morata, a penalty-box operator, and Nolito buzzing around him, Spain had a clear sense of purpose – a cutting edge to finish their slick midfield possession.
Stats:
Goal attempts
Spain: 18
Turkey: 6
Attempts on target
Spain: 6
Turkey: 0
Corners:
Spain: 7
Turkey: 3
Line-ups:
Spain
13 David De Gea
03 Gerard Pique
05 Sergio Busquets
06 Andres Iniesta
07 Alvaro Morata
10 Cesc Fabregas (08 Koke 71)
15 Sergio Ramos
16 Juanfran
18 Jordi Alba (02 Cesar Azpilicueta 82)
21 David Silva (21 Bruno 63)
22 Nolito
Starting formation: 4-3-3
De Gea – Juanfran, Pique, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba – Fabregas, Busquets, Iniesta – David Silva, Morata, Nolito
Turkey
01 Volkan Babacan
03 Hakan Balta
06 Hakan Calhanoglu (05 Nuri Sahin 46)
07 Gokhan Gonul
08 Selcuk Inan (11 Younes Malli 71)
10 Arda Turan
14 Oguzhan Ozyakup (11 Olkay Sahan 63)
15 Mehmet Topal
16 Ozan Tufan
17 Burak Yilmaz
18 Caner Erkin
Starting formation: 4-3-3
Volkan Babacan – Gokhan Gonul, Mehmet Topal, Hakan Balta, Caner Erkin – Ozan Tufan, Selcuk Inan, Oguzhan Ozyakup – Hakan Calhanoglu, Burak Yilmaz, Arda Turan
Yellow cards:
Spain: Sergio Ramos 1
Turkey: Burak Yilmaz 9, Ozan Tufan 41
Referee: Milorad Mazic (Ser)
Attendance: 33,409
