The National's Sport cover for the Tuesday, June 14 issue, featuring Gerard Pique as he scored the lone goal in Spain's opening victory at Euro 2016.
Ian Hawkey writes of how it was the rare fast start for Spain at a major tournament and how it made it look, at least, like they have turned the page on a down period that followed a disappointing 2014 World Cup.
More Euro 2016
• Andy Mitten's diary: Support far and wide for Northern Ireland's Evans brothers
• Full coverage: Visit The National's dedicated Euro 2016 microsite
• Complete guide: Previews, fixtures, predictions and more
"Pique's goal came as a relief. It will gee him up, too. He has spent the last two years anticipating being booed by sections of Spain's support at home matches, a puzzling phenomenon that owes a little to the public perception of Pique as rather too pro-Catalonia – his home region, where many citizens want great autonomy from the rest of Spain - and very anti-Real Madrid.
"The goal was made in Barcelona, though cheered from Vigo to Valencia. Pedro, once of Camp Nou, passed to Andres Iniesta, a Barcelona player since his teens. Iniesta crossed for Barcelona-born Pique to nod past Petr Cech.
“None of the Spaniards who had crossed the Pyrenees booed Pique in Toulouse. The champions are up and running, persistent rather than brilliant in their first 90 minutes. Del Bosque will hope Spain still have higher gears they can switch into.”
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