Paris: Alvaro Morata and Nolito both hit a brace as Spain warmed up for the defence of their European Championships crown by thrashing South Korea 6-1 in a friendly on Wednesday. The Spaniards were slightly under-strength as coach Vicente Del Bosque rested players from Real Madrid and their city rivals Atletico following their exertions in the Champions League final on Saturday. But it hardly mattered as a dominant Spain scored three times before the break through David Silva's sublime free-kick, Cesc Fabregas and Nolito.
Morata netted a second-half double and Nolito grabbed his second as Spain recorded a morale-boosting thrashing of the Koreans, whose consolation seven minutes from time came from Ju Se-Jong. Arsenal full-back Hector Bellerin, who made the squad of 23 following Real defender Dani Carvajal's injury in the Champions League final, made an appearance in a side that again included a strong Barcelona presence in the form of Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets.
In other friendlies, world number two ranked Belgium needed an equaliser a minute from time from Everton's Romelu Lukaku to save their blushes in Brussels against Finland. Kasper Hamalainen gave the 61st ranked Finland, who came into the match on the back of four straight defeats, a 53rd minute lead. Despite fielding the likes of Chelsea's Eden Hazard, Belgium lacked creativity and struggled to break down disciplined and defensive opponents in a half-empty stadium.
In a match between two qualified sides, Czech Republic got the better of Russia 2-1 in Innsbruck, Austria. Aleksandr Kokorin gave Russia a sixth-minute lead but Tomas Rosicky equalised from a volley with the outside of his foot on 49 minutes. Russia hit the post four minutes from time but in the last minute, Tomas Necid bagged the winner.
Results: Spain 6 (Silva 30, Fabregas 32, Nolito 38, 54, Morata 50, 88) bt South Korea 1 (Ju 83), Czech Republic 2 (Rosicky 49, Necid 90) bt Russia 1 (Kokorin 6), Estonia 2 (Kruglov 24, Liivak 90) bt Andorra 0, Latvia 2 (Zjuzins 50, Rudnevs 70) bt Lithuania 1 (Cernych 83), Norway 3 (Johansen 1, Helland 41, Sorloth 67) bt Iceland 2 (Ingason 36, Sigurdsson 81-pen), Poland 1 (Jedrzejczyk 60) lt to Netherlands 2 (Janssen 33, Wijnaldum 76), Belgium 1 (Lukaku 89) drew with Finland 1 (Hamalainen 53)
