Spain Draw on Unlikely Strengths to Edge Belarus in Euro 2016 Qualifiers

Spain defeated Belarus 1-0 in Borisov on Sunday night to continue their charge toward Euro 2016 qualification. The win leaves them on 15 points after six games, just three shy of group leaders Slovakia on 18. A David Silva effort on the stroke of half-time sealed the result.

Initially it seemed as though it would be a bit of a stroll in the park for La Furia Roja. They averaged a shade under 70 percent possession in the first half, per UEFA.com, and after quickly racking up the corners and shots, the spectacle threatened to turn into a landslide victory. Belarus barely threatened—their front line, sparse of talent, led by former Blackpool striker Sergei Kornilenko.

But the match proved to be far more difficult than even the most generous estimation, with Belarus growing into the second half and beginning to create clear-cut chances. It prickled the visitors and forced them to draw upon unfamiliar strengths to grind out the win.

Sergei Grits/Associated Press

The manner of breakthrough on the scoreboard wasn't the usual, and in fact it felt strange to see Spain threaten most obviously on goal utilising a method we typically don't associate them with: set pieces.

As good as Cesc Fabregas' passing was, as positive as Alvaro Morata's runs were and as honest as Pedro's intentions stand, every single set piece La Furia Roja won—and there were a lot of them throughout the game—worried the Belarus defence.

Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique at corners are a natural threat, and the former will feel as though he could have bagged a brace in Borisov on Sunday. The deliveries from Santi Cazorla and David Silva are pitch-perfect, and now that Spain utilise a No. 9, they have an extra player who has that penalty-box nous—the timed runner or the circumstantial nuisance we all hate to defend.

Spain went a little flat in the second half, and a familiar feeling of staleness descended upon the performance—something not unfamiliar to followers of the team after all this time under the command under Vicente del Bosque.

The wily tactician has done what he can to freshen up the side in the wake of their abysmal FIFA World Cup 2014 exit—a time he admitted to reporters as being his lowest point in the job—but still, the flavour of play quickly sours.

"

Play becomes stagnant & repetitive in the centre. The wings are rarely utilised for anything other than build-up. Alba the only ATT variable

— Chris (@MoarFootball) June 14, 2015"

With Spain looking uninspired and, frankly, unmotivated to force themselves to grab a second goal, Belarus upped the ante and turned the flow of the game on its head. And that's where Spain's second unlikely strength came into play: Iker Casillas saved the day with some excellent goalkeeping.

Kornilenko sprung the offside trap and forced an excellent one vs. one stop from the Real Madrid man, who then committed to two more key saves to ensure a clean sheet in Spain's favour. Given the mounting chatter that David de Gea will soon usurp him for club and country, this was the perfect response borne of a veteran soldier. A few key aerial claims sealed the slender 1-0 victory, as Morata splashed at the other end, squandering several chances to extend the lead.

It was another mildly uninspiring display from Spain, but it's difficult to take too much stock from an international match taking place after the end of the domestic season. Belarus' local players are in the middle of their league campaign, but La Roja brought all the understandable rust and reluctance to the fore, making things tougher.

It might not be coming up roses for Del Bosque in 2015, but he's winning games and finding results no matter the circumstances. 

Follow @stighefootball.