Spain vs. Slovakia: Score, Grades and Reaction from Euro 2016 Qualifier

The Slovakian team that faced Spain on Thursday wasn't devoid of talent. Far from it. Martin Skrtel is a regular for Liverpool, for example, while Marek Hamsik stars for Napoli. 

Still, coming into this European qualifier, nobody would have expected Slovakia to upset mighty Spain. Indeed, the bigger question might have been how many goals Spain would win by. Slovakia just wouldn't abide, however, earning a remarkable 2-1 win over the Spaniards off of goals from Juraj Kucka and Miroslav Stoch.       

The result was all the more shocking when you consider that Spain just don't lose qualifiers, as Sid Lowe of The Guardian tweeted:

And Spain truly dominated this game in every category except the one that counts, the score, per Dermot Corrigan of ESPN FC:

Footy is a funny game sometimes.

Despite Spain dominating possession in the first 10 minutes, it was Slovakia who had the first great chance on the counter. Hamsik played a perfect through ball down the right flank to Peter Pekarik, who quickly whipped a low cross into the box. Robert Mak was waiting in the center of the box and ripped a first-time effort toward goal, but Iker Casillas was up to the task and made a brilliant save to keep things level.

Minutes later, a perfect cross from Cesc Fabregas was met by a leaping Diego Costa, but the Chelsea striker did something he hasn't done lately—he missed the target, deflecting his header just wide.

That miss would seem particularly egregious in the 17th minute, when Slovakia took a shocking lead.

After winning a free kick outside of the box, Vladimir Weiss tapped the ball to Kucka, who ripped a shot to the right of the wall. The effort actually was sent to the middle of the goal, but Casillas misjudged it and couldn't keep it out of the net. It was a shot that he surely would love to have another crack at, and perhaps was a bit more fuel for the fire for his many detractors. 

You can judge for yourself, via Bleacher Report UK:

One thing is for certain: Kucka knew how to celebrate in style, per ESPN FC:

That lead would hold to the half despite Spain creating a few chances, including a corner just before stoppage time that saw a free header for Costa saved and then a dramatic bicycle-esque effort from Sergio Busquets turned aside, both by keeper Matus Kozacik. 

After 45 minutes, Slovakia shockingly were holding onto a 1-0 lead.

But Spain came out buzzing in the second half. David Silva had a brilliant chance to either chip the keeper or cross the ball across the box to a teammate into the empty net, but instead could only send a limp effort into the hands of Kozacik just minutes into the half. 

Shortly after, a Juanfran cross found Fabregas in the box, but his first-time effort on goal was deflected free for a corner by the Slovakian defense. The Spaniards looked primed to equalize. 

But the second half quickly took on a rather familiar pattern. The Spaniards dominated possession but could never quite push past the bus Slovakia had parked in the area around the box. The Slovakians would occasionally win back possession and would look to quickly break, but more often than not, would simply sloppily give away possession. Rinse and repeat.

Then second-half substitute Paco Alcacer finally pulled things even in the 82nd minute. 

Jordi Alba ripped an early cross into Alcacer, who slipped past the defense into the box and was all alone. It was the simple matter of picking a side and letting it fly, and Alcacer calmly did that, leaving Kozacik no chance. While it appeared Alcacer may have drifted just offside, Slovakia also appeared to have gotten a bit liberal at a bad time with their offside trap, and it cost them dearly.

Or it nearly did, at least. Just minutes later, a lovely cross into the box was improbably, perhaps miraculously, headed home by Stoch to give Slovakia the lead once again.

Petr David Josek/Associated Press

The fact that Santi Cazorla had been brought into the game but was essentially playing in a defensive position was a key factor in the goal. Spain had made the decision before they scored the equalizing goal to bring in attackers at the expense of defenders.

On the game-winning header, it was a decision that came back to bite them.

Spain buzzed down the stretch, they sent numbers forward and they attacked, but they just couldn't cut it. Despite all odds going against them, Slovakia had stolen the most unbelievable three points in European qualifying you could possibly imagine. 

Petr David Josek/Associated Press

After the match, Alcacer—who was the one man who provided Spain with the final touch they so desperately needed—wasn't quite so graceful in his postgame interview as he was on the pitch, per Juan Arango of the BBC:

Two goals doesn't seem like "nothing." But you can certainly understand Spain's frustration after losing a match they dominated in every facet except the scoresheet.

For Spain, the questions coming into the game will only be repeated more loudly now. Is Casillas deserving of a first-team place in goal? Does Costa fit the style of play the country has typically employed? Who will be the new Xavi? 

It's hard to put this summer's World Cup in the past when performances like this one for Spain remind everyone of the disaster that was Brazil. The Spaniards have some major issues to address before the 2016 Euros, that much is certain. 

Grades

Position	Player	Grade
GK	Iker Casillas	D+
D	Jordi Alba	B-
D	Gerard Pique	C
D	Raul Albiol (Off 57')	C
D	Juanfran (Off 80')	C
M	Sergio Busquets	B-
M	Koke	B-
M	David Silva (Off 70')	C
M	Andres Iniesta	C+
M	Cesc Fabregas	B
F	Diego Costa	B
Substitutions
M	Pedro (On 57')	C+
M	Paco Alcacer (On 70')	A-
M	Santi Cazorla (On 80')	D

Position	Player	Grade
GK	Matus Kozacik	A
D	Tomas Hubocan	B+
D	Jan Durica	B+
D	Martin Skrtel	B+
D	Peter Pekarik	B+
M	Juraj Kucka (Off 83')	A
M	Norbert Gyomber	C+
M	Viktor Pecovsky	C+
F	Vladimir Weiss (Off 53')	C
F	Marek Hamsik	A
F	Robert Mak (Off 61')	B+
Substitutions
F	Michal Duris (On 53')	A-
F	Miroslav Stoch (On 61')	A
M	Filip Kiss (On 83')	B

Man of the Match: Marek Hamsik

From beginning to end, he was the best player on the pitch. He was at the heart of almost all of Slovakia's most dangerous attacks. He was Slovakia's quarterback but also gave Spain's center-backs all they could handle on the break. He was excellent from beginning to end.

In this case, the man easiest to pick out on the pitch due to his big hair was also the match's most dangerous man. He may be under-appreciated a bit by some since he didn't score one of the two goals, but he was Slovakia's main man in this one.

What's Next?

Petr David Josek/Associated Press

The Spaniards are going to have to lick their wounds rather quickly, as they next face Luxembourg on Sunday, while Slovakia are going to have to try to put this victory in the past as soon as possible, as Belarus come calling next.

Slovakia now sit atop Group C with six points and won't want to give away any points, with a great chance now of finishing in the top three of this group. Meanwhile, Spain remain at three points but should be just fine in a group that appeared to be incredibly soft before qualifying began.

Perhaps Slovakia changed that perception just a bit.