Euro 2016: Group Results, Standings, Tables and Updated Schedule After Monday

Spain began their campaign to win a third consecutive UEFA European Championship with an edgy 1-0 victory against the Czech Republic in Toulouse, France, on Monday.

Despite dominating most of the game, Vicente del Bosque's side failed to take the lead, and it looked as if they were heading for a frustrating 0-0 draw before Gerard Pique headed home the winner three minutes from time.

Meanwhile, in Group E, well-fancied Belgium were downed 2-0 by an excellent Italy side, Emanuele Giaccherini and Graziano Pelle netting in either half at the Stade de Lyon, in Lyon.

The Republic of Ireland and Sweden shared the spoils in the opening Group E match of the tournament, as Ciaran Clark's 71st-minute own goal cancelled out Wes Hoolahan's opener early in the second half.

Read on for a full recap of Monday's action, along with the results and latest standings.

Group	Result
D	Spain 1-0 Czech Republic
E	Republic of Ireland 1-1 Sweden
E	Belgium 0-2 Italy

#	Team	MP	W	D	L	F	A	D	P
1	Croatia	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1	3
2	Spain	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1	3
3	Czech Republic	1	0	0	1	0	1	-1	0
4	Turkey	1	0	0	1	0	1	-1	0

#	Team	MP	W	D	L	F	A	D	P
1	Italy	1	1	0	0	2	0	+2	3
2	Republic of Ireland	1	0	1	0	1	1	+0	1
3	Sweden	1	0	1	0	1	1	+0	1
4	Belgium	1	0	0	1	0	2	-2	0

For the full upcoming schedule, visit the tournament's official site.

Belgium vs. Italy 

Italy manager Antonio Conte set his side up playing three at the back and in such a way that they were playing with four in attack when going forward, per Italian football writer Paolo Bandini:

It made for a very entertaining clash with the talented Belgian side proving a threat on the break, the likes of Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku all dangerous going forward.

While the Belgians started the better, Italy's defence held firm and they took the lead through Giaccherini's ice-cool finish just after the half-hour mark.

He was supplied by the ball of the tournament so far from Leonardo Bonucci, the defender sweeping the ball beyond the defence from the halfway line for Giaccherini to collect with a great first touch and sweep right-footed past Thibaut Courtois, per Squawka:

At 1-0 down after the break, the Belgians had the better of the second half in attacking terms, but such was Italy's organisation at the back that the Red Devils had few prime opportunities, the best of the lot being wasted by Lukaku in the 53rd minute, per Match of the Day:

The Belgians kept piling forward and looked as though they may snatch a draw, but in the end, it was Italy who netted in stoppage time after an excellent counter-attack.

Pelle volleyed home a fantastic finish after he was well picked out 10 yards from goal by Antonio Candreva on the right.

Italy moved to the top of Group E with the win and laid down a significant marker after they carried out Conte's plan to perfection.

Republic of Ireland vs. Sweden

Ireland dominated the opening half against Sweden, as Jeff Hendrick forced a smart early save from Andreas Isaksson in the first 10 minutes and rattled the crossbar with a long-range strike just after the half-hour mark.

Robbie Brady also saw a stinging shot from outside the box whistle over the crossbar, but the best chance of the opening half fell to John O'Shea, who failed to turn the ball into an open net after Clark knocked Brady's delivery into his path, per Match of the Day:

Ireland were not disheartened by having failed to capitalise on their dominance in the first half and came bursting out of the blocks after the break, with Hoolahan netting a brilliant opener in the 48th minute.

He hooked home a fantastic half-volley from the left of the box after Seamus Coleman did fine work in getting to the byline and clipping a cross into space, per the Times' Henry Winter:

Sweden responded well to going behind and looked genuinely threatening for the first time in the match, with Martin Olsson enjoying plenty of space down the left flank.

Their efforts were rewarded 20 minutes from time when Zlatan Ibrahimovic linked up well with John Guidetti and drove to the byline before drilling in a cross that Clark turned home as he attempted to stop it from reaching Seb Larsson.

Neither side could find a winner in what remained of an entertaining encounter, and in the end, a 1-1 draw was a fair result considering how Ireland faded after they had gone 1-0 ahead.

Spain vs. Czech Republic

Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech was kept busy in the opening 45 minutes in Toulouse.

He saved Alvaro Morata's close-range effort in the 16th minute—a yard either side from the Juventus man and it would have been a goal—and then from Jordi Alba and David Silva in quick succession just before half-time.

The Czechs were hanging on at the break and were still in the scoreless game when the first 45 minutes were over, despite Spain's dominance, per Squawka:

It was more of the same when play resumed for the second half, but the 2008 and 2012 European champions were frustrated again as Morata's deflected cross hit the woodwork before Sergio Ramos failed to scramble home from inside the six-yard box in the 47th minute.

A Spain goal seemed inevitable, but it was Pavel Vrba's side who had the best chance early in the second half. Roman Hubnik forced a smart save from David De Gea having met a brilliant free-kick delivery on the stretch.

The Czech side continued to press in their best spell of the match, and Cesc Fabregas was forced to make a brilliant clearance from Theodor Gebre Selassie's headed chance in the 65th minute, per STV Sport:

Spain wrested back the ball but looked increasingly frustrated as the clock ticked down, and they continued to be denied by some staunch Czech defending.

Silva had a chance from the edge of the box 20 minutes from time but curled an attempt wide, and Aritz Aduriz failed to find the target with an ambitious overhead kick.

But just when it looked like the Czech Republic would be rewarded for their excellent efforts at the back, they were undone in simple fashion three minutes from time.

The imperious Andres Iniesta found some space on the left edge of the penalty area and curled a delicious right-footed cross on to Pique's head, and the Barcelona man duly turned the ball home, per ITV Football:

It was no more than La Roja deserved, but it was far from a perfect performance. Del Bosque's side will need to improve drastically if they are going to go deep once again in Euro 2016.