Reigning world and European champions Spain kept their perfect record in the Euro 2012 qualifying Group I after easing past the Czech Republic 2-0 on Friday with first-half goals from Juan Mata and Xabi Alonso.
Spain, already qualified, now top the group with seven wins from seven games. The Czechs are second on 10 points, two ahead of Scotland who have two games to play.
Spanish coach Vicente Del Bosque started with three strikers -- Mata, David Silva and Fernando Torres.
The tactic paid off six minutes into the game as Xavi set up Mata for a left footer from inside the box that curved past helpless Czech keeper Petr Cech, Mata's Chelsea teammate.
In the 23rd minute, Silva found an unmarked Xabi Alonso who scored a comfortable second goal for Spain from near the penalty spot with a low shot.
"We had a very good start, we managed to score," Del Bosque told reporters after the game.
"Spain scored fast and that affected the whole game," added his Czech counterpart Michal Bilek.
Things could have got worse for the Czechs, who were confined to their half of the pitch for the first 35 minutes.
But Silva was denied by the Czech defence and Xavi sent his free kick from 25 metres just above the bar.
The hosts picked up some courage before halftime, but Michal Kadlec and Tomas Rosicky failed to find the target and the Czechs' lone striker Milan Baros missed a cross in front of a gaping net.
Czech sweeper Tomas Sivok failed to convert a close-range header just after halftime -- a swansong for the toothless hosts who moreover lost midfielder Tomas Hubschman, sent off for a foul on Xabi Alonso.
Spain's substitutes created scoring chances in the second half, but David Villa sent the ball over the bar and Javi Martinez was denied by Cech and then saw his long-range attempt deflected into the bar.
"We dominated the game and we felt very happy throughout the game," said Del Bosque.
"We have come to win and just managed to do that. The Czechs did not make big problems and Spain controlled the ball most of the time. Simply, Spain was better tonight," he added.
Bilek admitted he could see a huge difference between the teams as Spain demonstrated its quality.
"It was clear that they wouldn't want to play at half-throttle, they wanted to win of course, and they showed their immense strength today," he said.
The Czechs' chances of qualifying have narrowed as they are likely to sink to third place on Saturday, with Scotland facing minnows Liechtenstein.
The playoff berth will be decided on October 11 when the Scots travel to Spain and the Czechs are playing in Lithuania.
"I have trust in the team. I believe we will handle the game well next Tuesday, and that we'll make it to the playoffs," said Bilek, while Del Bosque promised Spain would "play against Scotland as we did today."
Source: AFP
