Spain lack of finishing touch, frustrated by Sweden

Spain dominated for 90 minutes in their European Championship debut against Sweden but were once again frustrated by their inability to turn possession and chances into goals on Monday.

The Spanish controlled over 80 percent of possession and had 17 shots in the game, but were unable to get the ball past a solid Robin Olsen in the visitors' goal as their forwards misfired once again.

Spain coach Luis Enrique gave a start to 18-year-old midfielder Pedri, who became the youngest player ever to represent Spain in the finals stage of a tournament, while Koke kicked off in midfield and Alvaro Morata was preferred to Gerard Moreno in attack.

The Spanish totally dominated the ball in the first half in a hot Estadio de la Cartuj in Seville, enjoying 80 percent of the ball and pinning the Swedes back in their own half.

However, their inability to put the ball into the opposition net once again raised its head with Swedish keeper Robin Olsen getting down well to deny Dani Olmo's header after 16 minutes.

Koke fired wide when he should have hit the target in the 24th minute when the ball dropped for him in the Swedish area and then failed to keep his shot down after a late run five minutes later, but the best chance fell to Morata in the 38th minute after Marcus Danielson's defensive howler left him clean through on goal.

The striker curled the ball past Olsen, but also put it wide of the post and the chance went begging.

Two minutes later, Alexander Isak, who had barely got in sniffing distance of the ball all game almost made the Spanish pay for their profligacy as he took advantage of defensive hesitancy to beat Unai Simon only for Marcos Llorente to make a vital block to deflect the ball onto the post.

The second half saw Spain continue their dominance, but at a lower pace and consequently it was harder for them to create chances and once again Isak carved out the best chance after beating three defenders only for Marcus Berg to put the ball over when it looked easier to score.

Luis Enrique reacted by replacing Rodri and Morata with Thiago Alcantara and Pablo Sarabia although they left his side without an out and out striker on the pitch, until Gerard Moreno and Mikel Oyarzabal came on for Ferran Torres and Dani Olmo, who moments earlier had seen a shot blocked after good work from Llorente.

The changes saw Spain up the pace and they camped outside the Swedish area in the closing minutes, but they failed to fashion a clear chance until the last minute when Moreno got a flick onto Sarabia's cross only for Olsen to make a reflex stop.