Spain looking to rekindle spark

Defending Euro champion drops first qualifier since 2006

Coach Vicente del Bosque denied Spain was caught in a downward spiral after the holder slumped to a stunning 2-1 loss to Slovakia in Euro 2016 Group C qualifying on Thursday.

Del Bosque decided to stay on after his team was knocked out in the first round of the World Cup in Brazil in June and, although he has brought in a number of new faces, it was a familiar story at the MSK stadium in Zilina.

After exiting the World Cup by losing its first two matches, Spain bounced back with a rejuvenated team to thrash Macedonia 5-1 in its first Euro 2016 qualifier.

But the same problems in Brazil resurfaced in Slovakia: Casillas, once considered among the best goalkeepers in the world, again let a shot that was powerful but stoppable past him. Diego Costa couldn't mesh with Andres Iniesta and David Silva in the tight spaces Spain's passing game causes, and its defense proved brittle when faced with counter attacks.

Despite fielding a starting 11 who all played at the World Cup, it fell to Alcacer to score his second goal in as many games to finally break through Slovakia's defense when he timed his move to stay onside and reach Jordi Alba's lobbed pass.

Del Bosque sent Alcacer and forward Pedro Rodriguez on in the second half at the cost of pulling defenders Raul Albiol and Juanfran Torres.

"I took off Albiol and Juanfran because Slovakia was not attacking anymore," del Bosque said. "With Cazorla, Pedro and Alcacer, we wanted more attacking power."

The decision led to the equalizer but also left Spain undermanned when Stoch played a one-two with Marek Hamsik before beating Santi Cazorla to head home a cross for the winner that sent the home crowd into raptures.

Casillas was both at his best and his worst early in the match.

He was caught wrong-footed but reacted in time to make a superb one-handed save on Robert Mak's strike in the 11th.

But moments after Costa headed Cesc Fabregas' pass by the bottom of the post, Casillas made an error in Slovakia's opener that was rare to see before his poor displays in Brazil.

Casillas misjudged the free kick Kucka struck hard but right at him, falling to one side and letting the strike glance off his fists and into the net.

Spain didn't force Slovakia goalie Matus Kozacik into action until the 38th minute, when he got low to parry Iniesta's dipping effort.

It was Spain's first defeat in a qualifier for the European Championship or World Cup since it was beaten by Sweden in 2006.

"This was completely unexpected," said del Bosque. "We didn't fail; they won this on their own merits. We played with patience but their keeper made some standout saves.

"I think that we at least deserved a draw and I don't think we are on a negative run. We should have scored more goals, but then came a lethal counter attack.

"We cannot have any complaints about the players. We showed patience but we were not effective and their keeper was superb."

The home side defended doggedly and took what was probably their only genuine chance of the second half to prompt wild celebrations among the crowd.

"We tried to go on the attack and freshen things up," del Bosque said.

"Pedro for his speed, Alcacer to have someone else in the area and Cazorla for his passing ability. The whole team tried. Nobody likes to lose."

Slovakia, 40th in the world rankings, tops the group with a maximum six points from two matches, with Spain, Ukraine and Macedonia all tied for second with three.

Besart Abdurahimi scored in injury time to lift Macedonia to a 3-2 win at home over Luxembourg, while Ukraine won 2-0 at Belarus.

Defender Aleksandr Martynovich scored an own goal in the 82nd to gift Ukraine the lead before Serhiy Sydorchuk added another goal in stoppage time.

Spain's next match is in Luxembourg on Sunday when forward Costa, who has been in fine form for Chelsea but has not scored in six appearances for La Roja, will try to end his international slump.

Spain can take solace that the top two from the nine groups qualify automatically for the tournament in France. The best third-placed team also qualifies automatically, and the other eight teams can qualify through a playoff.