Skipper Javi Martínez sees Spain on right track

No sooner swallowed the bitter pill of England's late equaliser in the Group B opener on Sunday than Spanish eyes refocus and turn to the challenge of the Czech Republic, the early pool leaders.

For coach Luis Milla, given two days between the matches to assemble his next team, one central component will surely fit straight back into the lineup for Wednesday's Viborg encounter. Step forward Spain's midfield unit of holding player Javi Martínez, the more up and down Ander Herrera, and Thiago Alcántara, whose command of playmaking duties earned him the Carlsberg Sport Man of the Match award for the 1-1 draw with England.

That the trio worked to such effect in dominating the middle of the park in Herning – notably in winning 60% of possession – gives affirmation to a Spanish side now faced with the only team to navigate undefeated the two-season qualifying process for this UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Denmark.

"The three of us felt good and worked well together against England," said Javi Martínez, the squad's captain and a player capped at senior level. "We moved the ball around nicely, often from one wing to the other to try to work space. We are on the right track."

The big No4 – who, aged only 22, has just completed his fifth season as an Athletic Club regular – will be tasked with protecting his centre-backs whenever the ball is turned over to the Czechs' midfield trio of Bořek Dočkal – double goalscorer in the 2-1 win against Ukraine – Tomáš Hořava and Lukáš Vácha.

He certainly does not expect Spain to have things all their own way. "We recognise that to win this tournament you have to play five finals," he said. "The England game was the first of those finals and now we have another against the Czech Republic. The Czechs will be another tough side, they are physically strong."

Milla's men will want to avoid the kind of brief lapse – which punctuated so many other good moments on Sunday – that allowed England to pinch a point at a stage in the match when, if anything, a second Spanish goal looked imminent. Central defender Alberto Botía, who caught the eye along with left-back Didac Vila Rosello, believes the key to Spain's progress will be killing sides off when the opportunity presents itself.

"We defended well together. We also passed the ball well and were able to take it back off England quite a lot throughout the game. But as a team we have to be able to finish opponents off. Against the Czechs we simply have to win," concluded the 22-year-old Real Sporting de Gijón player.