Lethal weapon Adrián salutes Spain's team effort

After Spain found an end product to all their good work in defeating the Czech Republic 2-0 on Wednesday, match-winner Adrián was at the front of a queue of players willing to articulate the soaring confidence in Luis Milla's team.

Nominally, Adrián may have operated as a solitary forward but he was never alone as an attacking Spain side took control of the Group B encounter in Viborg and, on this occasion at least, had their dominance of possession reflected on the scoresheet.

"We are all delighted," the 23-year-old from RC Deportivo La Coruña, who was named the Carslberg Sport Man of the Match, told UEFA.com. "Obviously I'm made up with the goals, but the whole team are. We played really well against a good team, one of the tournament favourites." Adrián's double, comprising 27th and 47th-minute strikes from Juan Mata passes, was not only timely in the context of the game but also in the wake of Spain's failure to finish off England at the weekend.

"After the first game there was talk of us lacking a cutting edge, but we stayed calm," Adrián said. "Let's remember that England were very tough opponents for our first match and they played well. I am happy to have got the goals today, but they weren't just my doing but the result of the team's hard work."

As well as for the clinching goal that proved beyond them on the first matchday, Spain's display was also notable for the presence on the left flank of Iker Muniain. The 18-year-old Athletic Club winger brought a directness to the Spanish attack, justifying Milla's faith in him. "The gaffer has shown confidence in me and I tried to give everything to help us get the win. I want to make a contribution, that's the way I am. If I try things on the pitch, it is because I want to help drive the team forward," the teenager told UEFA.com.

With Spain having secured the three points at the second attempt, playmaker Thiago Alcántara felt suitably emboldened to declare that "Spain have a great team". The schemer, aided and abetted once more by his midfield minders Javi Martínez and Ander Herrrera, went on: "You can see our quality from the goalkeeper to the forwards. I think we have all eventualities covered by the players we have here in Denmark, both on the pitch today and in the squad."

Forward Daniel Parejo, whose participation as a 74th-minute substitute almost heralded a third Spanish goal, also applauded a job well done by the side in white. "We played well again, we created chances and while the result the other day wasn't fair on us, today it was," he told UEFA.com. If the football gods smiled on Spain, they probably raised a glass of Rioja to them as well on the strength of that showing.