Silva looking for gold against Czech Republic

Posted Monday, June 13, 2016 by Marca.com

If gold medals were given for the aesthetics of the beautiful game David Silva would win easily every year, and that's exactly what the crafty Spaniard and his colleagues will be after again as La Roja kick off their Euro 2016 campaign in Toulouse against the Czech Republic.

Vicente Del Bosque's side have a point to prove after failing dismally at World Cup 2014, just two years after a stunning retention of their European trophy.

On that occasion the heavily fancied Italians were dismantled 4-0 in a one-sided final.The question mark now is whether a mixture of the old guard and a new 'Golden Generation' can carry on where their contemporaries left off in Kiev.

If a last-warm-up defeat against the 137th-placed team in the world, Georgia, is anything to go by, the answer is a resounding no.Tomas Rosicky will lead a Czech team that are all comfortable in possession and who'll stand toe-to-toe with their opponents in the main.

And with goalkeepers still a sore point for Del Bosque, especially in light of recent allegations as to David De Gea's conduct, it could be Petr Cech's ample frame that stands between the holders and a first-game victory.

Injuries and suspensions

Although he was left on the bench as a precaution against Georgia,

Alvaro Morata's thigh injury hasn't hindered him in training and as such, there's every reason to believe that the striker will start this game.

Sergio Busquets has recovered from a clash of heads in that 1-0 defeat and will also feature.Both sides have a clean bill of health otherwise with no suspensions to be served.HistoryLa Roja very definitely have the upper hand in this particular fixture.

In the four previous meetings between the sides, Spain have yet to lose, winning three and drawing the other.Czech Republic have only managed a solitary goal in those matches - Jaroslav Plasil's 29th minute opener in the March 2011 game cancelled out by to David Villa strikes in the space of three second half minutes.

Player to watch:

Alvaro MorataJuventus have had another stellar campaign and that's been due in no small part to the prowess of their centre-forward.Strong, quick and direct, he is a handful for any defence.Predominantly playing on the shoulder of the last defender, the timing of Morata's runs will be crucial.Andres Iniesta and Silva are expert at playing the ball in behind for the mobile striker to run onto, ensuring that the Czech's will be on high alert at all times.