European Blues : Round 1 Review
The blues boast six players at this years continental showpiece and after the first round of matches have been concluded we take a look at the performance of Chelsea players at the tournament taking place in France.
Gary Cahill played the full ninety minutes for England as a late looping header from Berezutski denied the English side what would have been a deserved three points. Dier had given England the lead with a well taken free kick after England had dominated proceeding for long spells but Russia restored parity late on to keep group B finely poised after Wales had earlier beaten Slovakia 2:1 in the group opener.
Cesc Fabregas and Pedro Rodriguez featured for Spain as they overcame a stubborn Czech side who had former blue Petr Cech delivering series of fine saves to keep the scoreline healthy for the Czech's.Gerard Pique nodded home the winner with only three minutes remaining following a perfectly weighted cross from Andres Iniesta. Fabregas played seventy minutes of the encounter before being replaced by Alcantara. What was perhaps his most crucial performance came early in the second half as he made a goal line clearance to keep the score sheet blank.Pedro was introduced eight minutes from the final whistle but had a hand in the winning goal after spreading the pass from which Iniesta found Pique.Cesar Azplicueta was an unused substitute.
There was a clash of the blues in Group E second fixture with blues pair Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois coming up against incoming boss Antonio Conte's Italian team.Eden hazard was the captain for Belgium who fell behind to a neat finish from Giaccherini and were made to rue missed chances by a swift late counter attack completed by Grazziano Pelle which ruined any hope of an equalizer by the red devils.
England will play next against Wales while Spain take on Turkey.Belgium will play Northern Ireland.
Visit again for a review after round two matches.